Managing arthritis

A common myth that has gained currency among a lot of people is that as the cold months become more extreme in the Philippines (usually January and February), arthritis, or rayuma as it is known in the vernacular, will again take its toll among the many arthritis sufferers.

There is medical basis in that statement, says Dr. Juan Javier Lichauco of the Rheumatology Allergy and Immunology Center of St. Luke’s Medical Center which was put up to provide a premier diagnostic and treatment facility for the three major fields of immunologic conditions.

Lichauco says the reason why arthritic patients seem to suffer more pain during the cold months is because of the change in the barometric pressure in the afflicted joints.

What are immunologic diseases? There are allergies, immune-deficiency, reproductive immunologic condition and autoimmune disorders.

Autoimmunity occurs when the immune system is hyper-responsive and produces antibodies that attack a person’s own body with symptoms varying on the kind of disorder and the part of the body affected.

These could be in the form of multi-organ involvement like lupus which is characterized by the inflammation on vital organs like the skin, lungs, heart, brain, liver and kidneys.

Although the exact cause of lupus is unknown, a combination of genetic and environmental factors such as viruses have been implicated.

Symptoms of the disease commonly include fatigue, weight loss, falling hair, photosensitive rash, recurrent oral or nasal ulcers, joint pain and swelling.

With only a handful of rheumatologists in the country today, Lichauco wants people to understand that there are more than 100 types of arthritis and soft tissue rheumatism.

Some are curable, some are not. A form of curable arthritis is gout, one brought about by elevation in uric acid and can be prevented if given the proper medication.

But there are others like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is the most dreaded type due to its deforming and crippling consequences and is commonly found among middle-aged females.

Affected areas like the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands and knees can be enflamed all at the same time with symptoms ranging from redness, swelling, pain to warmth.

Inflammation is symmetric with joints of both sides of the body affected. Early diagnosis is the key to prevent progression and disability.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which affects children, can be very disabling and if left untreated, can stunt growth.

As people grow older, the most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. Overweight and certain types of individuals may also develop it due to the increased load on their knee joints and the nature of their jobs like athletes.

Cartilage breakdown from wear and tear is seen in osteoarthritis, which is characterized by bony enlargement of the affected joint but like other forms of arthritis, may hamper the daily activities of patients.

Although there are medicines that can control and alter the course of arthritis, there is nothing more important than consulting a rheumatologist to establish the presence of the disease.

Lichauco advises arthritic patients to maintain an ideal body weight, undergo some lifestyle modification and most importantly, have some form of low-impact exercise like swimming, biking (even stationary bikes will do) and brisk-walking.

Physical therapy is an important aspect of treating patients with arthritis. It involves exercises to improve muscle strength and modalities such as ultrasound and paraffin wax to restore mobility. In severe cases, surgery is required to alleviate pain and improve function.

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(For more information, call the St. Luke’s Rheumatology, Allergology and Immunology Center at 723-0101 local 4725.)