Excess Weight Causes Joint Calcification
Complaints such as not being able to climb stairs or knee pain, which we are used to hearing frequently especially from middle-aged and overweight individuals, may actually be symptoms of a very serious illness.
Joint arthritis, which reduces a person's mobility and seriously reduces their quality of life, poses a threat especially to obese individuals.
Be careful after 40!
Joint calcification, or “osteoarthritis” as it is called in medical terms, is one of the most common joint diseases. This disorder, which is the most common cause of knee and hip pain, can cause the structure of the joint cartilage to deteriorate, wear and tear, thinning, and sometimes cartilage loss. In addition, as a result of changes in the bone tissue under the joint cartilage, bone growths and protrusions (osteophytes) develop at the edge of the joint. As a result, osteoarthritis is a disease that disrupts the normal structure of the joints, causing movement restrictions and pain. This disease affects everyone, young or old, in the same way, but is more common in especially active individuals over the age of 40.
It is more common in women
Osteoarthritis, especially in the knee and hand joints, is more common in women.
Osteoarthritis usually begins after age 45. It is most common in people in their 50s and 60s. It is rare to see it before age 40. Osteoarthritis is not a hereditary disease, but some types of osteoarthritis are passed down through families.
Treatment of joint calcification caused by obesity is quite difficult.
The most important cause of joint calcification, which develops in many people, especially in the knees and hips, is obesity. Excessive load on the joints due to obesity causes joint calcification to develop rapidly and progress severely. Treatment of these patients is quite difficult.
Joint injuries may cause arthritis in the future.
A trauma or major surgery to the joint can cause osteoarthritis to develop years later. Some congenital joint diseases can also cause osteoarthritis to develop in later ages. In addition, some professions cause some joints to be used more, and these joints wear out early.
In advanced patients, the severity of pain increases continuously.
The most common symptoms are pain and stiffness in the joint. The pain increases after movement and towards the evening. Joint stiffness, on the other hand, passes within a few minutes with rest. In advanced patients, the pain can become very severe and constant. In patients with this condition, the severity of the pain does not decrease with rest or at night. For example; it may be difficult for a patient with arthritis affecting the knee to go up and down stairs, sit down and stand up, and squat. The joint cannot move comfortably and normally as before. Swelling in the joint, osteophytes developing in the bone, namely a rheumatic disease that manifests itself with pain and limited movement in the joint, or an increase in intra-articular fluid can cause the joint to appear swollen. In this case, the joint is sensitive and painful when touched. An X-ray may be required to diagnose the disease. However, some blood tests, advanced tests such as MRI or tomography may be required to determine the causes.
Regular exercise and paying attention to excess weight play an important role in treatment.
The main purposes of joint calcification treatment are to relieve pain, correct movement restrictions, help daily life activities to be performed without any problems and prevent the progression of the disease. There is no treatment that provides complete recovery from this condition. It is not possible to renew worn cartilage tissue. Reducing body weight to the ideal weight, reducing the load on the joint with regular exercises and increasing muscle strength are very beneficial. It is very important to distribute daily tasks and recommended exercises in a balanced way throughout the day. For joint pain, simple painkillers can be applied first, some medications in the early stages and intra-articular injections. In appropriate cases, hot or cold applications also provide pain-relieving effects.
