Arthritis is the inflammation of joints and the most common form of arthritis is Osteoarthritis. It affects millions of people every year.  Arthritis occurs when the protective cushion around the bones (also called cartilage), wears down or gets damaged. Although it can affect any joint in the body, major weight-bearing joints like Hip & Knee are the most commonly affected.

There are more than 100 types of arthritis. Arthritis can be Degenerative, inflammatory, infective, or following injury. The symptoms are pain & stiff joints. Since arthritis is mainly age-related, a lot of the older population is impacted by it, and they continue to suffer in pain thinking that pain & disability is a part of growing old. I would like to emphasize that being old doesn’t mean you have to suffer in pain. Pain & disability is not a part of aging and every person must be able to lead an active & pain-free life.

Arthritis impacts the mobility of the person and that in turn impacts the activities of daily life and even employment. If the patient is overweight then there is an extra load on the joints and symptoms get worse. To lose excess weight one needs to be active, but this becomes difficult due to pain and stiffness. And it becomes a vicious cycle. It is very important to keep the weight under control and lead an active lifestyle.

My advice would be to keep the symptoms of arthritis-like pain and stiffness under control rather than adjusting your life to continue suffering and becoming less and less mobile. Our body is designed to remain mobile and active. There has been significant progress in the treatment modalities of Arthritis in both surgical and non-surgical techniques. The technological advancement in surgical techniques helps the patient to return to normal within a matter of days.

You can also add food items like :

1. Garlic
2. Ginger
3. Walnuts, Almonds, and Pistachios
4. Flaxseed
5. Oily fish such as salmon and tuna
6. Olive Oil

These food items are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, Monounsaturated fats, Calcium, and Vitamin D3. Studies show that these help in either reducing the inflammation or improving the nutritional deficiencies associated with Arthritis. It is very important to keep the joints healthy by regular exercise and eating healthy and going out in the sun on a regular basis.

About the author- Prof (Dr.) Anil Arora, Principal Director & Head of Department – Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement Surgery, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Patparganj