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Aches and pains: Coping with arthritis
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| H&N photo by Steve Kadel Florence Baldock, 85, who suffers from arthritis, swims at the Klamath County Family YMCA three times a week in a water wellness class. |
By STEVE KADEL
H&N Staff Writer
Anita Stevenson of Dorris had a total joint replacement in her right knee three years ago to cure the effects of arthritis.
She was back at her doctor’s office Thursday for X-rays of her left knee, which has bothered her for 12 years. Again, the problem is arthritis.
“It’s gotten now that when I step down on it, it will go out,” she told Dr. Michael Casey, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at the Klamath Orthopedic Clinic.
Stevenson, 61, is an avid fisherman whose hobby is being curtailed by the knee.
“It’s getting so it prevents me from going downhill,” she said. “When it affects my fishing, something has to be done.”
Stevenson uses ibuprofen to reduce the pain. But that doesn’t solve the problem when the knee “goes out” two or three times a week and bothers her for the rest of the day.
Casey said Stevenson might be a candidate for arthroscopic surgery, a less invasive surgical way to treat injuries. Stevenson was pleased with the diagnosis.
“He’s a great doctor,” she said.
Arthritis is one of the afflictions in which Klamath County ranks higher than the state average, according to a survey conducted last summer by the Healthy Active Klamath Coalition and the Klamath County Health Department.
About arthritis
Casey said there are three types of arthritis.
Inflammatory arthritis is a disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or Lupus, requiring frequent and aggressive treatment by a rheumatologist.
Post-traumatic arthritis results from direct injury to a joint. An example is a torn anterior-cruciate ligament of the knee, which can lead to arthritis at an early age.
The most common type is osteoarthritis, which Casey refers to as “wear-and-tear arthritis.” He said with the average American lifespan of almost 80 years, more people are living long enough to develop osteoarthritis.
Casey said it’s 10 times more common than the other types of arthritis.
Occupations such as farming are considered high risk for joint injuries, including arthritis, according to the Oregon Department of Human Services. Casey said that’s because hard, repetitive work puts more stress on joints.
Osteoarthritis is more common in women than in men, Casey said.
“It keeps getting more common as decades go by,” he said.
Those who develop early osteoarthritis can ward off the effects by modifying their activities, Casey said. Another way to treat it is with over-the-counter anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or common aspirin. There are many other treatments that require a prescription, although Casey said there isn’t a one that stands out as the best.
Prevention possible
Lifestyle has something to do with avoiding arthritis.
“One of the ways to stay generally healthy is to stay active,” Casey said.
He emphasized that being overweight aggravates the effects of arthritis, so keeping a “reasonable” body weight is important.
“Klamath County has been documented with a serious problem of obesity,” Casey said.
He said people with persistent pain or a disability that affects lifestyle should see a doctor, starting with their primary care physician.
“Our society has become more active, less tolerant of disabilities, and is living longer,” Casey said. “All of that makes it more likely they’ll see us.”
When surgery helps
Those who need surgery can sometimes see a benefit with arthroscopic surgery, which requires a shorter recovery time than traditional surgery. Casey said shoulders or knees that are damaged can frequently be repaired before a patient develops irreversible arthritis.
Jeannette Gansberg, executive director of Klamath Orthopedic Clinic, said doctors from the clinic performed 647 knee replacement surgeries during the past two years. They did 427 hip replacements and 61 shoulder reconstructions during the same period, she said.
Casey said close to 98 percent of those hip, knee and shoulder replacements were performed because of arthritic conditions.
“We try the non-surgical treatments first,” he said.
One simple suggestion is to use a cane. Casey said that can sometimes be beneficial for relief from hip and knee arthritis.
Read more about arthritis in Sunday's print edition of the Herald and News.
About the series
Editor's note: In this eight-part series, we’ll look at eight health conditions that rank Klamath County residents as the unhealthiest in Oregon. Stories will run on consecutive Sundays.
Oct. 26: Asthma
Today: Arthritis
Nov. 9: Cancer
Nov. 16: Diabetes
Nov. 23: Coronary heart disease
Nov. 30: Heart attacks
Dec. 5: Strokes
Dec. 12: Tobacco
She was back at her doctor’s office Thursday for X-rays of her left knee, which has bothered her for 12 years. Again, the problem is arthritis.
“It’s gotten now that when I step down on it, it will go out,” she told Dr. Michael Casey, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at the Klamath Orthopedic Clinic.
Stevenson, 61, is an avid fisherman whose hobby is being curtailed by the knee.
“It’s getting so it prevents me from going downhill,” she said. “When it affects my fishing, something has to be done.”
Stevenson uses ibuprofen to reduce the pain. But that doesn’t solve the problem when the knee “goes out” two or three times a week and bothers her for the rest of the day.
Casey said Stevenson might be a candidate for arthroscopic surgery, a less invasive surgical way to treat injuries. Stevenson was pleased with the diagnosis.
“He’s a great doctor,” she said.
Arthritis is one of the afflictions in which Klamath County ranks higher than the state average, according to a survey conducted last summer by the Healthy Active Klamath Coalition and the Klamath County Health Department.
About arthritis
Casey said there are three types of arthritis.
Inflammatory arthritis is a disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or Lupus, requiring frequent and aggressive treatment by a rheumatologist.
Post-traumatic arthritis results from direct injury to a joint. An example is a torn anterior-cruciate ligament of the knee, which can lead to arthritis at an early age.
The most common type is osteoarthritis, which Casey refers to as “wear-and-tear arthritis.” He said with the average American lifespan of almost 80 years, more people are living long enough to develop osteoarthritis.
Casey said it’s 10 times more common than the other types of arthritis.
Occupations such as farming are considered high risk for joint injuries, including arthritis, according to the Oregon Department of Human Services. Casey said that’s because hard, repetitive work puts more stress on joints.
Osteoarthritis is more common in women than in men, Casey said.
“It keeps getting more common as decades go by,” he said.
Those who develop early osteoarthritis can ward off the effects by modifying their activities, Casey said. Another way to treat it is with over-the-counter anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or common aspirin. There are many other treatments that require a prescription, although Casey said there isn’t a one that stands out as the best.
Prevention possible
Lifestyle has something to do with avoiding arthritis.
“One of the ways to stay generally healthy is to stay active,” Casey said.
He emphasized that being overweight aggravates the effects of arthritis, so keeping a “reasonable” body weight is important.
“Klamath County has been documented with a serious problem of obesity,” Casey said.
He said people with persistent pain or a disability that affects lifestyle should see a doctor, starting with their primary care physician.
“Our society has become more active, less tolerant of disabilities, and is living longer,” Casey said. “All of that makes it more likely they’ll see us.”
When surgery helps
Those who need surgery can sometimes see a benefit with arthroscopic surgery, which requires a shorter recovery time than traditional surgery. Casey said shoulders or knees that are damaged can frequently be repaired before a patient develops irreversible arthritis.
Jeannette Gansberg, executive director of Klamath Orthopedic Clinic, said doctors from the clinic performed 647 knee replacement surgeries during the past two years. They did 427 hip replacements and 61 shoulder reconstructions during the same period, she said.
Casey said close to 98 percent of those hip, knee and shoulder replacements were performed because of arthritic conditions.
“We try the non-surgical treatments first,” he said.
One simple suggestion is to use a cane. Casey said that can sometimes be beneficial for relief from hip and knee arthritis.
Read more about arthritis in Sunday's print edition of the Herald and News.
About the series
Editor's note: In this eight-part series, we’ll look at eight health conditions that rank Klamath County residents as the unhealthiest in Oregon. Stories will run on consecutive Sundays.
Oct. 26: Asthma
Today: Arthritis
Nov. 9: Cancer
Nov. 16: Diabetes
Nov. 23: Coronary heart disease
Nov. 30: Heart attacks
Dec. 5: Strokes
Dec. 12: Tobacco
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| Rocky roads |
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