Hip osteoarthritis is a major concern in the elderly, and a lot of cases, it is much harder to diagnose than originally thought. For example, it has recently been found that X-rays are not a reliable method for diagnosing the disease.
The immediate repercussion of this is that vital treatment for strengthening bones and muscles, as well as relieving pain are delayed, sometimes until pain is severe or even more injuries have occurred. The traditional methods of diagnosing the disease, then, are not nearly as effective as they can be, and some sort of change is needed. Those behind this study recommended that if there is a high suspicion of hip osteoarthritis, they should be treated for it whether or not an X-ray reveals a positive diagnosis.
For those that have never suffered arthritis pain, it can be very easy to dismiss joint pain as not being a real threat to health. But, arthritic pain can prohibit exercise, limit mobility, and these things increase the risk of diseases pertaining to the cardiovascular system, such as stroke, heart attack, and other conditions, like diabetes, obesity, and an increased chance of falling. Arthritis treatment is extremely expensive, with estimates saying that over $185 billion is spent in the United States every year when it comes to both treatment of the disease itself and of the complications that can arise from it. Now, consider the fact that the population of people over the age of 60 has doubled from where it was 30 years ago, and it’s expected to keep rising at an even faster pace in the next 30 years. When these two things are put together, a very dire situation is created.
Many people that suffer from moderate to severe osteoarthritis benefit from having an in-home caregiver helping them out. Even a part-time caregiver coming over for a couple hours every other day can take away a lot of the stress of the day by assisting with meals, helping with laundry and tidying up the house, and provide companionship. For a person that has difficulty moving around, this is a big thing in itself. When leaving the house is tough, being around others becomes a rare opportunity. Having someone to just sit and talk with you is a very welcome gift in this situation, and it’s one that’s importance cannot be overstated.
Treatment can be expensive, but the repercussions of not treating the disease are even worse. Treating someone for stroke recovery is far more costly than helping someone with arthritis pain. Usually over the counter painkillers like Tylenol and light exercises are enough to effectively treat this disease, especially if it is caught in early stages. Surgery may be needed at times, but this is rare. However, the emergency treatment of a stroke or a heart attack, and the months of recovery afterward are far more costly and difficult to overcome. From any standpoint, prevention is the far superior choice, even if there isn’t a definite diagnosis for hip osteoarthritis just yet.
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