It's a sign of old age: Kinga Vereczkey and myths about rheumatoid arthritis

Despite how common arthritis is, the general public seems to know little about it. To raise awareness, rheumatologists, like Kinga Vereczkey, try to educate people about the truths behind the popular myths surrounding rheumatoid arthritis. Some examples are:

Kinga Vereczkey-Porter Image Credit: arthritiswa.org.au

Arthritis is a sign of old age 
This misconception is due to the number of grandparents who have arthritis. The truth is that the disease can develop at any age. Inflammation in the joints and surrounding tissues can manifest in people as young as 25 years old. According to the vice president of public health for the Arthritis Foundation, most sufferers are actually under the age of 65.

Arthritis can be cured by special diets 
This myth has been held about roughly all diseases but is particularly untrue for rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology specialists, like Kinga Vereczkey, clarify that no specific kind of food can cure osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. However, eating healthily can lead to weight loss, which relieves arthritis symptoms like joint pain.

Kinga Vereczkey-Porter Image Credit: healthydietingandeating.com

Arthritis sufferers should avoid exercise 
When a person is in pain, their first instinct is to cease all movement in an attempt to alleviate it. However, people with osteoarthritis should exercise regularly to reduce the pain and strengthen their joint muscles. Of course, exercises should be mild and low-impact in nature. Doctors, like Kinga Vereczkey, often recommend walking, biking, Tai chi, and yoga.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients will be bedridden 
In the past, when rheumatoid arthritis was less understood, sufferers were sometimes confined to wheelchairs at the worst of its onset. However, treatments have improved greatly in the last 20 years, and early detection can prevent arthritis progression. These days, treatments and medication help patients manage the symptoms and allow doctors to detect symptoms early, thus preventing the onset of full-blown rheumatoid arthritis altogether.

Kinga Vereczkey-Porter Image Credit: thearthritiscenter.com

To read more about Dr. Kinga Vereczkey and her practice, follow this Twitter account.

Cut loose: Kinga Vereczkey-Porter focuses on joint hypermobility syndrome

People who don’t know a thing or two about joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS) may likely display prejudice and put labels on those ‘loose joints.’ But rheumatologists like Dr. Kinga Vereczkey-Porter would say that JHS is a serious condition that requires attention, understanding, and respect.

Kinga Vereczkey-Porter | Image Credit: vibrationtraining.net

JHS is a multi-system connective tissue disorder condition involving an abnormality in collagen, a type of protein found throughout the body that helps connect tissues together. Collagen defect results in tissue laxity, leading to increased flexibility or uncommon large range of movement of the joints. Patients with JHS can bend into bizarre positions and perform contortionist tricks, such as bending their thumbs backwards, reaching their wrists, and reaching the back of their head with their legs. Though some of the tricks are considered an asset, physicians warn that benign hypermobility syndrome can lead to overuse injury, joint pain, sprains and dislocations, and osteoarthritis.

Kinga Vereczkey-Porter | Image Credit: static.ddmcn.com

Rheumatologists, including Dr. Kinga Vereczkey-Porter, would say that JHS is usually hereditary and can appear as a symptom of serious conditions, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, and Marfan syndrome, thereby early diagnosis and treatment are advised. JHS is normally managed through exercise and physiotherapy, which is a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach to treating physical problems involving the body’s systems such as the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and respiratory system.

Kinga Vereczkey-Porter | Image Credit: drhasson.co.uk

Dr. Kinga Vereczkey is a rheumatology expert and the director at Sanford Specialty Clinics. To learn more about her and her specialty, visit this Twitter page.