Arthritis and Aging

Contrary to popular belief, there is joy that comes with aging. There’s seeing your children bloom into responsible self-sustaining adults. There’s having the time to do what you want during the day. There are decades-long friendships that bring immense satisfaction.

But does suffering from arthritis have to be part of aging? Is arthritis inevitable, as you grow older?

“There are some who think it is unavoidable,” says Susan Levy, M.D. “And certainly, we see an increase in arthritis as people age “

But there’s a catch.

“Some people may not have any symptoms of arthritis although they may still show indications of arthritis,” says Dr. Levy, who is the medical director at Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital and Courtland Gardens Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

In other words, you could have arthritis but have no, or very minimal, physical ailments of the disease. And that is very good news. Staying physically active, getting a handle on stress and remaining – or getting to – a healthy weight can make all the difference.

Over the counter medication can be all that is needed for moderate arthritic symptoms, Dr. Levy says. “And some people can see a benefit from chrondroitin and glucosamine, the dietary supplements are commonly used for arthritic joint pain. “There is clinical evidence that chrondroitin and glucosamine can benefit some people,” she says.

But you may want to save your money if looking into other herbal options. “There is not really good evidence about other herbal remedies.” Dr. Levy says.

Exercising muscles around the joint to build strength and flexibility can help. And listen to your body when it comes to how much exercise is too much, she says. “Your own discomfort will tell you.”

If you are suffering with severe problems that do not go away such as swollen joints, see your doctor immediately. You don’t have to suffer in silence. To make an appointment, call 410-601-WELL (9355).

-Sandra Crockett

Gardening Doesn't Have to Stop with Arthritis Diagnosis

With the sun out in Baltimore, many gardeners are ready to start planting their own fruits, vegetables, berries and herbs. While joint pain can make gardening more difficult, it is a wonderful activity for maintaining joint flexibility, bone density and range of motion. Experts agree that physical activity decreases pain, improves function and delays disability. The Arthritis Foundation offers the following tips for gardeners who are ready to hit their yards:

1) Ask for help. Know your limits.

2) Gentle stretches loosen joints and help prevent injury. Practice correct posture. Instead of using your fingers to lift an object, try using the flat palm of your hand, your forearms or even your elbows. Keep items close to your body as you carry them.

3) Try container gardening if you have difficulty bending or kneeling. Tomatoes, peppers, herbs and many flowers lend themselves to container gardening. For a vertical garden, use a trellis for vines, such as sweet peas. Raised beds should be built narrow enough to reach comfortably across.

4) Use joint-friendly tools and gadgets to help your plant, water, weed and prune. Look for tools that allow you to use your whole arm, not just your fingers and wrist. Try sitting on a caddy or a scooter wagon while weeding to give your joints a break.

For more tips on gardening and arthritis, visit www.letsmovetogether.org. To learn more about the latest in arthritis treatment at LifeBridge Health, visit the Center for Joint Preservation and Replacement at the Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore.

Dr. Barry Waldman featured in the Baltimore Sun today

The Baltimore Sun this week featured a question-and-answer column on arthritis with Barry Waldman, M.D., co-director of the Center for Joint Preservation and Replacement at the Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. The column also appeared in the Cape Cod Times.

Here's a transcript of the conversation:

Question: What is arthritis?

Answer: The word means inflammation of the joint. This inflammation causes the cartilage in the joint to wear out. As it wears out, it causes four problems: pain, redness, swelling and deformity.

Q: Are all those symptoms usually present?

A: No. They don't have to be. And there are all kinds of arthritis. The one we're most familiar with is osteoarthritis, the premature wearing out of the joints. There are other kinds caused by a number of diseases called inflammatory arthritis.

Q: Who is most susceptible to osteoarthritis?

A: Past trauma and family history can play a role. But the vast majority of people just get it, and we don't know why.

Q: How is it diagnosed?

A: Generally by X-ray.

Q: What are the most common symptoms?

A: Pain and swelling. The pain tends to be worse when sedentary. With activity, the joint hurts less.

Q: Why?

A: We don't know, but cartilage tends to be healthier when it's moving.

Q: When should someone seek treatment?

A: When the symptoms are interfering with things they want to do, whether it is walking or exercising.

Q: Does delaying treatment make the condition worse?

A: We encourage people to see a doctor because there are some kinds of arthritis that can be slowed with medication.

Q: Some people say weather makes their arthritis worse. Does research support that?

A: There have been a lot of studies done on arthritis and weather, and it seems that weather doesn't make a difference in arthritis pain.

Q: What are the treatment options for osteoarthritis?

A: The best early treatment is exercise. Getting the muscles stronger around the joint will help. The next thing we try is acetaminophen, otherwise known as Tylenol. Then we move on to anti-inflammatory medicines like Motrin or Aleve. If that doesn't work, there are medicines we can inject into the knee or shoulders. We can try anti-inflammatories like cortisone. We have one injectable medicine made of cartilage that can act as a cushioning agent.

Q: Do over-the-counter remedies such as glucosamine help?

A: There was recently a large study that National Institutes of Health did that found that glucosamine and chondroitin didn't help. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons now recommends against taking it.

International Center for Limb Lengthening at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore

The International Center for Limb Lengthening (ICLL) is widely recognized as the most experienced center for limb lengthening and reconstruction in the world, committed to providing the most comprehensive and technologically advanced treatments available for children and adults with upper and lower limb length discrepancies, short stature, limb deformities, nonunions, bone defects, bone infections, joint contractures, and arthritis.

In addition, the ICLL has become a major referral center for the Ponseti method of clubfoot treatment and distraction treatment of Perthes disease, two new methods for the treatment of two common pediatric disorders. The ICLL also offers a state-of-the-art gait laboratory for motion and function analysis and other specialized studies. With an international reputation for excellence, the Center's physicians have treated patients from all 50 United States and more than 50 countries from six continents around the world.

The ICLL, part of the Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics (RIAO), opened at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore in July 2001 in a brand new six-story facility designed by the Center's co-founders, Dror Paley, M.D., John E. Herzenberg, M.D., and Michael Mont, M.D. Paley and Herzenberg were the first team in the United States to dedicate their practices to limb lengthening and deformity reconstruction. Janet D. Conway, M.D., and Shawn C. Standard, M.D., and a podiatrist, Bradley M. Lamm, DPM, F.A.C.F.A.S., complete the team.

International Patients
Because many of our patients come from overseas, we offer special services. Each year, many patients from more than 40 countries come to the ICLL for special medical treatment. Our patients benefit from proven expertise, state-of-the-art research, and cutting edge treatments offered by the orthopedic specialists at the RIAO.

For more information about the International Center for Limb Lengthening, call 410-601-WELL (9355).