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N- • # * Herald & Lantern 7 March '84 35 Rx ■ ^

Continuing with our miniseries on arthritis, today we will discuss ‘ osteoarthritis”. also known as • degenerative joint disease”. This is an extremely common disorder, estimated to affect some 40 million Americans. 15 million of whom will have sufficient symptoms to seek medical attention each year. Ancient in origin, evidence of degenerative joint disease i referred to as DJD from here on), has been found in the skeletal remains of prehistoric man <40,000 B.C.E.) Classical symptoms include joint pain, particularly during motion and when bearing weight; stiffness after periods of rest, intensification of symptoms during damp, cold weather, combined with aching. Joints may creak or make grating sounds and redness and swelling of the affected joints may appear. Joints may appear gnarled and painless bony bumps ap-

pear symmetrically on toe joints or the fingers of both hands. Two types of DJD are recognized at this time. In secondary DJD, also known'as "traumatic arthritis”. the symptBms are related to the excessive use of a joint combined with injury. Mickey Mantle’s • throwing arm problems and Joe Namath s knee injuries are well-known examples Primary DJD is often seen as a disease of the aging process. Symptoms most often first appear in one's, 50’s and 60’s, usually in thd large joints that bear the most weight — the hips, shoulder^; knees and spine RECALLING LAST week's discussion of joint anatomy, we can understand why these key joints are most affected. The car tilege which wraps the bones like a shock absorber

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by Dr. Robert C Beitman

Births

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is worn away over one s life-time, allowing additional pressure to reach the bone, beneath. This pressure changes the character of the bone"'and fluids lining the joint protectively may also diminish. The joint becomes less free in movement as a result and inflammation may develop, as well as bony spurs which can add to the discomfort t Muscles surrounding the affected joint can go one of two ways. They may become pinful and stressed from lack of use because of an attempt to avoid pain by not using the joint. Muscles can go into spasm •in response to pain. Continued spasms. without relief can lead to changes in the shape of the joint and

its ability to move The causes of DJD are simply not kivown Although most common in later years, it can appear early in life as well. It occurs in both men and women. Under age 45 more commonly in men. over 45 more commonly in women Sometimes DJD seems to run in families. It is known that the gnarling nodes that can appear on fingers and toes are often.hereditory. mostly in women DUE TO the advanced age of many Cape May County residents, types of arthritis are extremely famiiar diagnoses for area physicians. Upon hearing, your symptoms your family physician will want to make sure which type of arthritis you have. Your

joints will be checked by physical examination and X-rays are often taken to study the joints for signs of . DJD. On occasion it may be helpful to draw some fluid out of the joint for special lab analysis Because the areas which are affected are so individualized. so is treatment Severely advanced cases may benefit 'from surgery — for example hip. knee or other joint replace ment Sometimes limited surgery in the form of scraping away the bony spurs which have formed may be a consideration Weight loss in the abesa may yield good results by reducing the pressure on weight-beaming joints Use of a cane or walker may similarly help to reduce pressure In some cases exercises intended to strengthen muscles around the af

fected joints may help TK'ere are several categories of drugs which can be tried in an eh'ort to v reduce pain Unfortunately there are no drugs to cure DJD as yet Special physical therapy techni ques including-exerci.se> in .warm water, cold com presses, electrical nerve stimulation'and ultrasound treatments may be ap propriate in certain cases Aside from weight loss when appropriate, no nutn t ion/diet ary measure ha\c been found to have a coo vincing relationship to prevention or cure of •osteoarthritis NEXT W E E K RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS Health Watch is a publiceducation project < of the Cape May County Unit tH the American Cancer Society.* of which Dr Beitman is co-chairman

The following Births have been reported hy-'area hospitals: Burdette Tomlin Robert Giles to Martin and Linda Craven Adams of Court House. Feb. 19. Jolynne Mae to John and Patricia Johnston Boyle of Villas, Feb. 20. Arthur Leroy IV to Arthur and Carolyn Lapworth Shivers III of Court House. Feb. 21. Elizabeth Ann to Frank and Sandra Barnhart Aceardi ol Wildwood Crest. Feb. 23. Jesse Charles to Charles and Kathy Ellingsen Woods of Court House, Feb. 23. Christopher Michael to Charlotte Bisceglia of . North W'ildwood, Feb. 21. Nikolaos to Vasilios and Theresa Bremer Arikidis of Wildwood Crest, Feb. 25. Lauren Judith to Carl and Patti Russell Heiimig of North Wildwood. Feb. 25. Mandie Arlene to Mark and Jacqueline Fox' Pricketl of North Cape May. Feb. 26. Christine Diana to Richard and Lorraine Sharp Matthews of Green Creek, Feb. 29. Kevin Samuel to Kevin and Sandra Bryan Rooney of Villas, Feb. 29. Travis Michael to Michael and Connie Weber King of Dennisville, Mar. 1. Salvatore John to Peter y and Janis McKissick LaMonica of Cape May, Mar. 1. Mark Philip to John and Claire Mohr Gray of Villas, Mar. 1. Shore Memorial Daughter to David and Mary Hutchinson Priggeraeier of Stone. Harbor, Feb. 22. . Daughter to Louis and Deborah Lubowiecki North nip of Marmora, Feb. 23. Son to Henry and Debra Laffitte MoUer of North Cape May, Feb. 24. Daughter to Nathan and Patricia Scott Doughty of Court House, Feb. 24. Son to Ronald and Denise Bellwoar Schmid of Ocean City, Feb. 24. Daughter to James and Susan Horvath McCarthy of Green Creek, Feb. 25. Daughter to David and Hope Shook Miller of Wildwood Crest, Feb. 25. Daughter to Pete and Karen Carter Falotko of Ocean City, Feb. 25.

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