CDC Report: Over 54 Million Americans Suffer from Arthritis; Disease Currently Afflicting 1 in 4 Adults, MD Expects Issue to Effect More

NEW YORK – According to a recent report courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 54.4 million Americans – a number which translates to 1 out of every 4 people – currently suffer from some form of arthritis. While a disorder most commonly associated with the onset of age, reports indicate that it is not exclusive to the older set- currently, 300,000 children in the United States have been diagnosed with some form of juvenile arthritis as well, although the reason for the rise of occurrences in young people are currently not known.

Arthritis is a blanket term covering any disorder that affects joints in the human body, with symptoms generally including joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and decreased range of motion. While there are over 100 types of arthritis, the most common forms are osteoarthritis – the most common form – and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis can affect both the larger and the smaller joints of the body, including the hands, wrists, feet, back, hip, and knee, and is typically acquired from daily wear and tear, or as a result of injury. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is a disorder in which the body’s own immune system starts to attack body tissues, including joint lining and cartilage which eventually results in erosion of two opposing bones. Other, less-common types include gout, lupus, fibromyalgia, and septic arthritis.

For his take on the issue, we asked renowned New York Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr Harvey Manes MD for his take on the issue. Manes, well known for his involvement in the first ever ankle replacement, was the youngest board-certified orthopedic surgeon in America.

“At some point Osteoarthritis with effect every older person on the planet. It has to do with the fact that we are living longer and we are more active then in years past. Luckily we have terrific medicine and surgery to help. More specifically, there are herbal pain relief creams such as my own [Dr. Harvey’s Herbal Motion] which help reduce the pain and inflammation of arthritis and restore range of motion.”

DR. HARVEY MANES, M.D., P.C.

Contributing factors to the onset of arthritis include advanced age, family history, previous injuries to the joint/s in question, and obesity, which can significantly increase the pressure and wear on many joints in the body. While there is currently no known cure for arthritis, there are several treatments available, including physical therapy, lifestyle changes, orthopedic braces, and medications to reduce inflammation, and more extreme cases, joint replacement surgery.