Most Americans Over 50 Suffer Some Type of Joint Pain (Poll)

By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Sept. 13, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Aching joints are frequent for folks over 50, nevertheless it’s nonetheless necessary to speak to a physician about it reasonably than endlessly self-medicating, consultants say.

Now, a brand new ballot from the University of Michigan breaks down joint ache, its impression on those that responded to the survey and the way they’ve chosen to react to this painful situation.

Findings from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging embrace that 70% of individuals over 50 expertise joint ache not less than sometimes. About 60% have been informed they’ve some type of arthritis.

Among those that have arthritis signs, about 45% stated they’ve ache day by day and 49% stated it considerably limits their common actions.

“If you are feeling joint pain frequently, or it interferes with your normal activities, you don’t have to go it alone,” stated Indira Venkat, senior vice chairman of AARP Research. The group was one of many supporters for the ballot. “Talk with your health provider about how you are treating your joint pain and additional strategies that may help.”

About 80% of these with joint ache stated that they had not less than some confidence they might handle it on their very own.

About 66% achieve this with over-the-counter ache relievers resembling aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or naproxen (Aleve). About 26% reported taking dietary supplements, resembling glucosamine or chondroitin. About 11% use cannabidiol (CBD), derived from marijuana, whereas 9% use marijuana.

About 18% use prescription-only non-opioid ache relievers, 19% get steroid injections, 14% take oral steroids, 14% use opioids and 4% use disease-modifying antirheumatic medicine.

“There are sizable risks associated with many of these treatment options, especially when taken long-term or in combination with other drugs. Yet 60% of those taking two or more substances for their joint pain said their health care provider hadn’t talked with them about risks, or they couldn’t recall if they had. And 26% of those taking oral steroids hadn’t talked with a provider about the special risks these drugs bring,” stated Dr. Beth Wallace. She is a rheumatologist and researcher on the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare system, the VA Center for Clinical Management Research and Michigan Medicine.

“This suggests a pressing need for providers to talk with their patients about how to manage their joint pain, and what interactions and long-term risks might arise if they use medications to do so,” Wallace stated.

Guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology for osteoarthritis and the extra uncommon rheumatoid arthritis search to cut back the chance that may occur with long-term use or for these taking a number of medicines that may have an effect on sufferers’ abdomen, liver, blood stress, blood sugar, temper or sleep.

The pointers for osteoarthritis, which may be attributable to put on and tear, emphasize weight reduction, train, self-management applications with arthritis educators, tai chi, yoga, braces, splints and kinesiotaping, acupuncture or acupressure, cognitive behavioral remedy and making use of warmth, chilly or topical ache relievers on aching joints.

For remedy, the rules concentrate on short-term use of over-the-counter medicines in low doses, together with steroid joint injections in acceptable sufferers. They suggest in opposition to most dietary supplements, opioids and different prescribed drugs.

About 64% of survey respondents who’ve joint ache do use train and 24% have had bodily remedy. Far fewer used non-drug choices resembling braces.

Certain teams of older adults look like extra prone to expertise worse joint ache, stated ballot director Dr. Preeti Malani, a Michigan Medicine doctor with coaching in infectious illnesses and geriatrics.

“Those who say their overall health is fair or poor were twice as likely to say they have moderate or severe joint pain as those in better health. The difference was nearly as great between those who say their mental health is fair or poor than those who reported better mental health,” she stated in a Michigan Medicine information launch.

“And older adults with fair or poor physical or mental health were much more likely to agree with the statement that there’s nothing that someone with joint pain can do to ease their symptoms, which we now know to be untrue,” Malani said. “Health providers need to raise the topic of joint pain with their older patients, and help them make a plan for care that might work for them.”

The telephone ballot was administered in January and February 2022 amongst 2,277 adults aged 50 to 80.

More info

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has extra on osteoarthritis.

SOURCE: Michigan Medicine – University of Michigan, information launch, Sept. 12, 2022