Do you know what Selena Gomez, Toni Braxton, Lady Gaga and Nick Cannon have in common? The answer is Lupus - an autoimmune disease in which the patient's immune system starts attacking the healthy organs and tissues of the body. If we speak of India, the problem is not as common as it is in most Western countries and affects 1 in 1000. Despite the condition being rare, we cannot simply deny the fact that there are people out there fighting it, with the majority being women.
Understanding the most common type:
Systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE is the most common type of lupus which predominantly targets the connective tissues and lining of the blood vessels, leading to their inflammation. Experts specialising in joint replacement surgery in Thane suggest that the symptoms of lupus vary from one patient to another and are primarily dependent upon the organs that have been involved. In the majority of the patients, it initially appears as fatigue, malaise, loss of appetite and weight loss. However, it has also been seen that many patients complain of chronic joint pain, affecting the same joint on either side of the body. This is often accompanied by noticeable weakness.
How Lupus affects your joints
It has been estimated that nearly 95% of the patients suffering from loopers are likely to experience joint-related problems like arthralgia, commonly referred to as joint pain. This can increase the risks of conditions like arthritis, tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Arthritis triggered by Lupus - As mentioned earlier, lupus can lead to inflammation in the connective tissues, giving rise to inflammatory arthritis. The condition is marked by severe stiffness and tenderness in the joints. This is more likely to affect the joints are the extremities such as the fingers, wrists, ankles and knees.
- Tendonitis triggered by lupus - The condition can also cause your tendons to get inflamed, leading to severe pain and discomfort.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome triggered by Lupus - The inflammation triggered by lupus can lead to excessive pressure on the central nerve in your wrist, giving rise to carpal tunnel syndrome which is categorized by tingling sensation and numbness in the hand.
If you think that lupus only affects the joints, it's time you think again. The best orthopaedic doctors in Pune suggest that lupus can also affect the muscles leading to myalgia or muscular pain. In fact, it can also lead to bone-related conditions like osteoporosis and avascular necrosis.
Managing pain for a better quality of life
Lupus patients have a very close connection with musculoskeletal pain of different types. There are several treatment modalities available for the management of the same. We have mentioned some of these:
- Take the pain medication that has been prescribed by your doctor. It is important to make sure that you have assessed all the pros and cons of these medications as there might be some side effects that you need to look out for. It is very important to discuss with your doctor if you wish to make any changes in the dosage.
- Try going for physical therapy, which is one of the best-known ways of relieving musculoskeletal pain and stiffness. This involves some simple exercises that can be easily done at home on a regular basis.
- Never compromise on your sleep and make sure that you are getting enough hours to rest. This can help to alleviate the pain, as well as help in the management of other symptoms related to lupus
- Use heat therapy by applying heat to the concerned area. You can use hot towels, hot water bottles or a blanket. Soaking the affected area in hot water can also help to give instant relief from the pain.
If you want to know more about lupus and how you can manage it effectively, consult the experts from the best orthopaedic Hospital in Mumbai today.