From the Editor's Desk
Dr. Saravana Bharathy. S. P
Consultant
Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine
PAIN NO MORE!
Orthopedic Screening campaign, Dr. Mehta’s Multi-Speciality Hospital.
“Move today, so tomorrow doesn’t stop you.”
Why this camp Matters
- 1 in 5 adults in India live with chronic joint or spine pain.
- Osteoarthritis is now the 2nd most leading cause of disability in India (ICMR 2024).
- 60–70% of adults over 40 have some degree of spinal degeneration.
- 70% of people delay treatment until surgery becomes the only option.
- Vitamin D deficiency affects over 80% of urban urban Indians, worsening joint pain & fractures.
- Delayed knee pain treatment increases risk of disability by 3 times.
What we screen in this camp
- Knee or Spine X-ray – detects arthritis, spondylosis, disc issues
- Vitamin D Test – critical for bone strength
- CBC & CRP – picks up hidden inflammation & arthritis
- Orthopaedic Doctor Consultation
- Physiotherapy Assessment
Red flags you should not Ignore
- Pain lasting more than 3 weeks - Osteoarthritis / Disc Degeneration
- Morning stiffness > 30 mins - Inflammatory arthritis
- Numbness / tingling in arms or legs - Nerve compression
- Knee locking / giving way - Meniscus / Ligament tear
- Back pain + weight loss / fever - Infection / Malignancy
- Night pain disturbing sleep - Red flag spine pathology
Conditions We Treat Most Often
- Osteoarthritis – knee, hip, shoulder
- Cervical spondylosis – neck pain, dizziness, hand numbness
- Lumbar spondylosis – back pain, sciatica, leg weakness
- Sports injuries – ACL, meniscus tears
Why Acting Early Is a Game-Changer
- Early intervention reduces pain, saves long-term costs, and safeguards mobility.
- 80% of knee replacements could have been avoided with early action
- Most spine issues respond exceptionally well when addressed early.
- Posture, pain, and pressure decide your future mobility.
Proactive Steps That Transform Recovery
- Losing just 5 to 10% body weight can significantly reduce knee pain by lowering joint load.
- Exercise: strengthening (quadriceps/core), walking, low-impact aerobic activity.
- Physiotherapy and guided exercise outperform rest for long-term recovery.
- Medications: short-term NSAIDs, topical anti-inflammatories, and judicious use of analgesics — always under doctor guidance.
- In selected patients: steroid injections, hyaluronic injections, orthotics, or minimally invasive procedures may help. Surgery (arthroscopy, joint replacement, spinal decompression or fusion) is for clearly selected cases.
