Young People Aren’t Treating Arthritis
May 30, 2019
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Arthritis is often considered a disease of the middle-aged and seniors, but Dr. Nikesh Seth often sees young patients with arthritis. There are many types of arthritis, and a myriad of factors can cause them. However, even though Top Doc Dr.
Arthritis is often considered a disease of the middle-aged and seniors, but Dr. Nikesh Seth often sees young patients with arthritis. There are many types of arthritis, and a myriad of factors can cause them. However, even though Top Doc Dr. Seth treats some younger patients, there is, unfortunately, a disparity when it comes to younger generations seeking arthritis diagnosis and treatment.
In the UK, Lowri Wynn Morgan was 27 when she was diagnosed with arthritis. By that point, she had already been on so much medication for her pain that she was in a life-threatening situation. Her pain was diagnosed as “general aches and pains,” and Morgan took the prescribed pain medication to help her get through the day. When she received the proper diagnosis of arthritis, she and her family were shocked.
The medication she took caused partial hair loss and impacted her speech—which was critical, considering she was an attorney. The pain medication led to sepsis, and when she went to the ER, she was told she was just three hours away from death. Looking back, she now knows she had early signs of juvenile idiopathic arthritis at just five years old. Morgan suffered intense knee pain even at that time, unable to handle stairs, but her parents thought she was playing or exaggerating.
It’s estimated that this type of arthritis affects one in 1,000 children. Less than 0.5 percent of young people (18-34) are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Although arthritis in young people exists, it is not often discussed, and the reality isn’t well-known. According to the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, a diagnosis for a young person is tough because their pain is pushed aside as growing pangs.
Contact Integrated Pain Consultants Today!
If you or your child has any type of pain, that’s the body’s way of saying something’s wrong. It may not be arthritis, but it’s important that it isn’t dismissed due to a person’s age. If you are looking for help with arthritis or any type of pain, schedule a consultation with Integrated Pain Consultants today.