There are many patients who are suffering from joint pains. There was a patient from West Bengal a 57-year-old, Purnima Majumder was suffering from pain in both hips from the last five years. While the pain did not interfere with her daily activities initially, it has worsened steadily over the past year and left her to a stuck bed. When she visited a hospital for her checkup she was diagnosed with a Rare Autoimmune disease called Rheumatoid Arthritis, which was not treated till now, said by Dr. Sunil Kini, senior consultant, joint replacement and arthroscopy surgeon.
In certain people, the disease can affect a large variety of bodily systems, including skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels. Rheumatoid arthritis can be a chronic inflammatory condition that can affect more than just the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis happens when the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues incorrectly. The solution for Rheumatoid Arthritis is Hip Replacement Surgery.
The doctor said such a situation occurs when the immune system attacks the body and the tissues. It causes the joints to become excessively inflamed and affects other organs within the body. Rheumatoid Arthritis is two to three times more prevalent in women compared to men, with a prevalence estimated at about 0.7% in India.
Signs and symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis are swollen joints, joint stiffness, fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Early Rheumatoid arthritis affects your smaller joints first especially the joints that link your fingers to your hands and toes. The signs also extend over the hands, knees, elbows, hips, and shoulders as the disease progresses. In most cases, on either side of your body, symptoms occur in the same joints.
If the immune system attacks the synovium the lining of the membranes covering your joints, rheumatoid arthritis is detected. The subsequent inflammation extends the synovium, which can finally destroy the cartilage and bone in the joint. Weaken and stretch together the tendons and ligaments. The joint is gradually losing its balance and form.
There are certain risk factors as well for rheumatoid arthritis which affects Hip replacement are: Rheumatoid arthritis can arise at any age, but it stars more frequently in the middle age. Some conditions such as asbestos or silica can increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. People particularly women aged 55 and younger who are overweight or obese tend to be at a somewhat greater risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. If a family member has rheumatoid arthritis, you may be at increased risk for the condition.
After seeing all her reports doctor said that she needs a complex Hip Replacement Surgery to disable the pain and regain mobility. After this surgery patients ’ both hip joints were replaced and surgery was performed successfully. The main challenge for a doctor was, the implant was to be placed against her socket, which had no bone.
“Although the conventional cups could not be used due to the lack of bones inside and around the hole, we had to use cages with screws designed to fix up and down the normal areas of the pelvis,” said the doctor. Some patients have weakened bone due to rheumatoid arthritis and disuse. When intraoperative fractures may occur, one must be careful in handling them.
Doctors suggest patients with autoimmune arthritis should seek early treatment as the symptoms are mostly controllable. Timely intervention, medications, and physiotherapy can prevent the rapid growth of arthritis with lifestyle changes.
If the arthritis is severe and symptomatic, the only alternative providing pain-free mobility is Hip replacement surgery. Some of the happiest patients are those with autoimmune arthritis because the regained pain relief and mobility give them a new lease of life and freedom.