A lot of us take our joints and bones for granted until
something goes wrong – and then we’re stuck. This
month, we take a look at some of the conditions that
affect our joints and bones – and more importantly, how
they can be treated, or avoided.
OSTEOPOROSIS
Osteoporosis is one of the most serious
health issues facing Australia today.
More than 1 million people around the
country are currently estimated to have
osteoporosis.
Women are more prone to
osteoporosis, largely due menopauserelated
hormonal changes. After
menopause, oestrogen – which plays an
important role in maintaining bone density
– is produced at lower levels. As a result,
bones begin to lose density, becoming
brittle and more prone to fracture.
There are very few symptoms –
people are often completely unaware
there is a problem until they experience
a related fracture. However, there are a
number of lifestyle-related risk factors
– low calcium intake, low vitamin D
levels, excess caffeine intake, smoking
and excess alcohol consumption are
all associated with a reduction in bone
density.
Additionally, a number of health
conditions are known risk factors
for developing osteoporosis later in
life, including coeliac disease and
Crohn’s disease (as
they interfere with
the body’s ability to
absorb nutrition),
kidney and liver
disease, rheumatoid
arthritis and thyroid
disease.
MANAGING OSTEOPOROSIS
Your likelihood
of developing
osteoporosis is
heavily influenced by
your diet – particularly
your calcium intake.
The good news is it’s
never too late to improve
your diet – even if you’ve
been diagnosed with
osteoarthritis, you can still
improve your bone’s health
by eating healthily and
getting plenty of calcium.
Calcium is most
commonly found
in milk and dairy
produce, but it’s also in leafy greens
(eg, kale, bok choy, broccoli, spinach),
Brazil nuts, almonds and a variety of
tinned fish, such as salmon.
Exercise is essential for preventing
and treating osteoporosis. Strength
training (or lifting weights) in particular
has been demonstrated to improve
bone strength and density – but you
don’t need to turn yourself into a
professional bodybuilder; moderate
weights are ample. Additionally,
weight-bearing activities such as
walking, sport or dancing can also
be helpful.
BURSITIS
The body requires cushioning between
the bones and soft tissue, and this role
is filled by bursae – small fluid-filled
sacs which are positioned throughout
your body.
Individual bursa can become
inflamed, causing pain and restricting
movement. This is known as bursitis.
This is usually due to joint overuse –
sports and manual labour are both
common causes – but it can also be
the result of a pre-existing condition
such as gout, diabetes or rheumatoid
arthritis.
Septic bursitis, on the other hand,
is caused by an infection. In this case,
the bursa can become filled with pus
– which can leak into the bloodstream,
potentially causing blood poisoning.
Symptoms of bursitis include pain
and swelling, accompanied by heat.
Pain will often be worse at night, and the
joint will likely be stiff or feel tender when
moved. In the case of septic bursitis,
swelling is likely to be accompanied by
redness, as well as fever.
The symptoms of bursitis and arthritis
are similar, so diagnosis is usually
confirmed by physical examination,
draining fluid from the affected bursa
(particularly for septic bursitis), x-rays
(to rule out possible causes), and
ultrasound.
TREATING BURSITIS
Once symptoms have been diagnosed,
treating bursitis is a relatively straightforward
process. The joint must be rested and
the injurious activity discontinued. To
minimise pain and swelling, cooling
treatments such as ice packs or gels
are often recommended in tandem
with painkillers. In some cases,
anti-inflammatory steroids may be
prescribed.
Septic bursitis will typically require
treatment with antibiotics, and
sometimes the infected bursa will be
drained.
Occasionally, surgery may be
necessary to provide relief from pain.
However, this is a last resort if other
treatments have not been successful.
GOUT
Gout is a form of arthritis, distinguishable
by the suddenness of onset. While
other forms of arthritis take months or
years to develop, an attack of gout can
appear overnight.
The initial attack usually presents
as a painful, reddened swelling of the
joint, often the big toe. The condition
is caused by excess uric acid in the
bloodstream. This acid then forms
crystals, gradually creating deposits
around bone joints. These crystallised
deposits subsequently cause painful
swelling, tenderness and redness of
the skin.
If left untreated, symptoms will
typically resolve of their own accord
within a week or two, but modern
medical treatments can reduce their
severity within a few days. Gout can
be indicative of poor diet and excess
alcohol consumption, so it’s important
to address the underlying causes.
A build-up of uric acid within the
bloodstream is often attributable
to over-consumption of purine-rich
foods, such as meat, certain seafood
(eg, sardines), offal and fructose
sugars. However, dietary habits are
not always the sole cause – being
male or having a family history of
gout increases your likelihood of
developing the condition.
Once diagnosed, you will be advised to
reduce the levels of uric acid within your
body. This may require dietary changes
or medication. For most people, gout
management will involve a combination
of both.
A variety of treatments may be used
– including NSAIDs, corticosteroid
injections/tablets or colchicine – to help
manage the pain, as well as reduce the
length and severity of an attack.
If gout is not properly managed,
crystallised uric acid can form large
growths known as “tophi”. Over several
years, these growths can protrude from
the skin, causing additional pain. More
worryingly, if they are left untreated they
will grow larger, potentially interfering
with surrounding bone and cartilage
structures. High levels of uric acid also
increase the likelihood of developing
kidney stones.
Fortunately, with the right treatment
and careful eating, gout can be
managed effectively and attacks
kept to a minimum.
We associate joint and bone
issues with the elderly, but arthritis,
osteoporosis and bursitis, can
affect people at almost any age.
Unfortunately, many people ignore
the early warning signs, minimising
their seriousness, or dismissing them
as being a “normal” part of getting
older. But if you’re experiencing
pain, stiffness, reduced mobility or
discomfort, get it checked out by your
doctor. The sooner your symptoms are
assessed, the quicker you’ll be able to
regain a sense of wellness, strength
and mobility.
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