Osteoarthritis: Surgeon Weighs In When Medication Is Not Enough

Osteoarthritis: Surgeon Weighs In When Medication Is Not Enough

Osteoarthritis patient numbers have been steadily rising over the past three decades and millions of adults over 50 deal with daily illness-induced pains and limited mobility. Although weight control and exercise might slow the progress of the illness, medical intervention is required to manage advanced cases.

May 6, 2022. The number of people with osteoarthritis—a degenerative joint disease—jumped by 113% over the past three decades. Given that over 32M of adult Americans are affected by the disease and the cases continue to rise, people who might be prone to developing osteoarthritis tend to need guidance as to how to deal with it.

Osteoarthritis mostly affects people over 50 and is found in the knee, hip, and shoulder joints, among others. Studies show that the disease usually afflicts people who are overweight, do not engage in physical activity, have genetic prevalence, or suffer from certain chronic disorders.