Bariatric Surgery for Joint Pain & Arthritis Relief
Many people become susceptible to joint pain as they age due to the wear and tear of the bones over the years. Excess body weight or obesity might make the condition worse.
Dr. Venugopal Pareek, a bariatric surgeon in Hyderabad, says that excess body weight can exacerbate joint pain and arthritic conditions. In his experience, he saw many cases and treated them successfully. People in this stage experience pressure and stiffness, which makes certain everyday activities, such as walking, climbing stairs, or exercising, harder. We know that without physical activity, losing weight is highly difficult.
However, many patients become more comfortable after losing weight, especially with the help of bariatric surgery. Are you overweight and having joint problems? Consider weight loss before undergoing any orthopaedic procedure.
How does excess weight result in joint pain?
While we stand, walk, climb, run, and do other activities, most of our body weight falls on the lower half of the body, especially on the knee joints and the hip joints. Most of the activities exert a great amount of pressure on the body. Experts say that your knee joint can experience around 4 to 6 kilograms of excess pressure for every kilogram of your excess body weight. So the more your weight, the more stress is exerted on your joints.
Over time, the excess pressure can lead to wear and tear of your joint, which may cause various problems like aches, pain, and stiffness. People who are obese or overweight are also more vulnerable to musculoskeletal injuries, like fractures and dislocations.
Many of you don’t know that body fat can create and release certain chemicals, which may lead to inflammation. This can make joint problems in the lower part of the body worse, which sometimes causes joint pain in the upper limbs.
Long-term effects of obesity or overweight on the joints?
Over time, the excess body weight can cause a common and painful joint condition called osteoarthritis (OA). OA is a degenerative joint condition where cartilage (which acts like a cushion between the bones) deteriorates, which makes the bones rub against each other. The friction between the bones results in severe pain, irritation, and swelling.
Obesity is one of the major risk factors of osteoarthritis due to the increased pressure on the joints. According to some studies, a person with a body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 35 is 4 to 5 times more vulnerable to developing osteoarthritis. The more they gain weight, the worse their joint problems become.
In some cases, osteoarthritis might cause irreversible joint damage, in which a joint replacement might be the only option left. Experts say obese people are at a higher risk of needing a knee replacement compared to normal-weight people.
Even if the surgery goes well, they are at higher risk of complications like postsurgical infections, or the synthetic joint parts might become loose or fail. Dr. Venugopal Pareek, a bariatric and laparoscopic surgeon in Hyderabad, says that to undergo any orthopedic procedure or have a hernia repair surgery, the BMI should be <35 so that the complications can be minimized.
How can bariatric surgery help with arthritis and joint pain?
Bariatric surgery has many advantages, the most important of which is the ability to lose excess weight quickly and effectively. Excess weight puts pressure on joints, and losing it takes the pressure off, which eventually provides relief from pain and stiffness.
Many clinical studies have proven that bariatric surgery can benefit patients in many ways. Symptoms like joint discomfort and stiffness gradually begin to improve following surgery. Patients can perform daily activities such as walking, standing, and other activities easily and more comfortably. However, the damage that has already happened to the joint can’t be reversed, but it can slow down further damage or possibly stop its progression.
Dr. Pareek says that many of his patients are impressed with the outcomes of the surgery—their joint problems become better and better as they continue to lose weight.
The levels of chemicals that cause inflammation and other problems start to drop as you lose body fat. This helps to relieve symptoms from other joints in the body and also prevents the activity of inflammatory conditions like arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
If you are obese, have joint problems, and are thinking of an orthopaedic surgery, then get an opinion from an expert bariatric surgeon. A joint replacement might be too risky, especially if your BMI is more than 35. When your joint damage is irreversible and if doctors consider joint replacement to be the only option, then losing weight and proceeding with the surgery might be the best and safest way. Bariatric surgery is one of the quickest and safest ways to lose weight.
Weight loss that follows bariatric surgery can reduce the risk of complications such as post-surgical infections and blood clots. Furthermore, it also lowers the risk of joint dislocations and implant failure and might also help with recovery following surgery.
Many patients of Dr. Venugopal Pareek have undergone successful joint replacement procedures within 6 to 12 months after bariatric surgery. Surprisingly, in some cases, the need for joint replacement was either delayed or completely prevented; their condition became better due to weight loss. For more detailed information, call +91 91777 77715 to book your appointment with the doctor.
