Living with osteoarthritis. In conversation with Dr Barry Sheane

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide and thousands here in Ireland. It can affect any joint in the body, but it commonly affects the weight-bearing joints of the knees and hips.

In this conversation with Gráinne O’Leary, CEO of Arthritis Ireland, Dr Barry Sheane, consultant rheumatologist at the Sports Surgery Clinic, Dublin, discusses living with #osteoarthritis and answers key questions about the condition. Amongst the issues discussed are causes of osteoarthritis, symptoms, how OA is diagnosed and treated. Dr Sheane also looks at pain management in osteoarthritis, the role of physical activity and diet, managing if you’re living with other conditions and the role of surgery.


BePrOActive is supported by Pfizer, Grünenthal, the Sports Surgery Clinic and Flexiseq.

[DonnyDump]

My doctor basically told me there was nothing he could do and there was a long waiting list for surgery. What a joke. I’m better off developing my own management/treatment plan. Fortunately videos like this are very helpful. Wish I had a go like this man.

[prettyredbird]

Very informative. I have suffered from osteoarthritis since in my early 30s. All the information here is so true to helping one with this disease. I found there was not any mention of heat as a treatment. Heat is a great reliever of pain as well as icing. I use both heat and cold equally, depending on the need. I keep a heating pad and heated lap blanket at hand. I only use them for a short time. Because to much heat can be bad just as over icing. I have found a 20 minute soak in a warm bath with bath salts help greatly.

Stress was not mentioned here. I had to find a new job because the stress levels was causing my OA to flare up a lot. So it's important to maintain a low stress level in our lives. Finding balance as to the type of work our OA can tolerate is important.

Something very important that wasn't mentioned: having support from spouse/partner, family, friends, etc makes a big difference in attitude with people that have OA. Having a loving, supportive, understanding positive atmosphere helps greatly. Just because we have OA doesn't mean we have changed as a person. It just means we have to change our style in life to accommodate OA. We may have days that we can do more and others less depending on what the activity is or the weather or a possible illness hits us that effects us. People with OA know that it effects others in our lives. We all have to make adjustment some of these are simple...others are more difficult. Talking about OA and educating ourselves and others are big steps in being more understanding and supportive. And a great sense of humor also helps.

[Nan-]

Thanks from me, in Illinois USA
You have better info than we tend to get here!

[marialow]

She didn’t listen to a thing he said. She just waited till he finished talking then asked pretty much the same question again and again. He was very patient.

[shad]

I am fortunate to watch the video because I am having osteoarthritis since 22 years now and am in constant pain and recently I have developed abdomen and left side heart pains and I am extremely getting worried because it could be a side effects from pain killers I took for many years.

[NorsePJ]

What are the best exercises for hand osteo? Thanks!

[izlandsisterztv]

That’s what I trying to do, maintaining my optimal weight. I’m living with osteoarthritis in both hips and the thought of surgery scares me.

[derrenpearson]

About time they had better treatments as its been around since ancient times

[mosytube]

If it’s not wear and tear, then why does being overweight or being older increase risk?

[ancientdiscoverys]

What if you have no pain but experience cracking noise when moving knees? Is that a sign of OA?

[computername]

I was already fit and healthy weight and eating a healthy diet when the pain started. Exercising 6-12h a week, cycling, swimming, walking. So I can't improve that. I am loosing strength and fitness now as even light activities cause an increase in inflammation, which will damage the tissue further. So what now. I can't get a Rheumatologist to look at my properly. I think I might have an underlying condition but I can't get it diagnosed

[jynclr]

Oof. I was overweight at 21, so .. no. LOL I think one's "optimal weight" should have been some sort of formula. To mention age assumes we were at our optimal weight at that age when some of us may have been either over or under weight, so that's not too terribly helpful. But thank you for this video. The rest was interesting.

[judynist]

I have maintained my weight all my life, exercised 4times a week, and have severe osteoarthritis all over my body. I am 66 years old so I don’t believe you saying weight and exercise reduce chances of getting osteoarthritis. Also X-rays are an excellent way to see the location and severity of the disease.