For the first time, an international meet with experts from 47 countries concluded in Pune on arthritis. A disorder that is so common but yet the burden of the disease has to be measured. Professor Lars Lidgren, chairman, International Bone and Joint Decade opened the meet in Pune and explained that the focus of the meet was on the burden of musculo-skeletal disorders and rheumatism in developing countries.

According to Lidgren, generally up to 25 percent of people suffer from joint diseases, osteoporosis and spinal disorder. Lidgren along with several experts spent a day at Bhigwan village, 100 kms from Pune where the first ever population study was taken up to study the burden of rheumatoid arthritis. The study was undertaken as part of the Centre for Rheumatic Disease (CRD)’s community oriented programme initiated by Dr Arvind Chopra.

While Lidgren felt that there should be patient empowerment programmes, concern was also expressed about the need to promote pediatric Rheumatology. “An entire session was devoted to children suffering from arthritis. Data from various sites across the world was presented. In Pune we have a child as young as eight – nine months suffering from arthritis,” said Chopra who was selected as the Bone and Joint Decade (BJD) Ambassador at the meeting.

Just what are these aches and pains all about-

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic, debilitating inflammatory disease that causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints. The onset usually begins in middle age, but it also affects children and young adults. The ratio of women to men affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis is 3:1. In India, Rheumatoid Arthritis affects close to 1 percent of the population, which would mean around 10 million people.

Causes and symptoms
The cause of Rheumatoid Arthritis is not known. However, genetic and environmental factors may contribute to the disease.

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis include inflammation of the joints, swelling, difficulty in movement, and pain. The most commonly affected joints are the hands and feet. Other symptoms include loss of appetite, fever, loss of energy, and anemia.

Rheumatoid Arthritis affects joints symmetrically, so patients feel pain in their joints on both sides of their body at the same time.

MYTH: Arthritis affects only older people

FACT: Arthritis affects any age, including children. There's no question that the incidence of arthritis increases with age, but nearly three of every five sufferers are under age 65.

MYTH: Arthritis is just minor joint ache and pains

FACT: Arthritis can be permanently debilitating.

MYTH: Arthritis is like old age - it cannot be treated

FACT: Modern medicine has several new treatments for rheumatoid arthritis which millions of patients in the US, Europe and now India can have access to.