Danbury Hospital Doctors Discuss Living Well With Arthritis

DANBURY — More than 140 people turned out recently for a Medical Town Meeting at Danbury Hospital to learn more about how to manage their arthritis.

The high turnout illustrates the fact that arthritis is a very pervasive problem, affecting about 50 million people, according to David Trock, MD, chief of rheumatology at Danbury Hospital.

“Chronic pain is the No. 1 cause of disability and time off from work,” he told the audience. The Medical Town Meeting was sponsored by Danbury Hospital, the Connecticut chapter of the Arthritis Foundation and the Danbury Office of Physician Services on “No Pain, No Gain… Living Well with Arthritis.”

While having arthritis cannot be changed, sufferers can take steps to live a more pain-free and independent life, according to Dr Trock. He spoke along with Lawrence Cohen, MD, a doctor of physical medicine, and Melissa Ferrandino, a physical therapist at Danbury Hospital’s Main Street Physical Rehabilitation Center.

The three experts agreed that the right combination of early diagnosis, medication to treat pain and halt disease progression, physical therapy and learning to use good body mechanics can help alleviate problems. In addition, Dr Trock and Dr Cohen discussed a few alternative medicine treatments that have been shown to help.

“Your quality of life and how you’re affected is up to you,” said Ms Ferrandino.

She recommends improving one’s quality of life by doing therapeutic exercises and learning how to project joints by proper bending. Therapeutic exercise, she said, can break the arthritis cycle and increase range of motion, strength, and endurance.

“Learn to work exercise into daily life,” she said, emphasizing that water exercise is especially good for arthritis sufferers.

Dr Trock emphasized the importance of early diagnosis and intervention. He alluded to the efficacy of good medications on the market today, several more which will soon to be approved by the Federal Drug Administration.

He also recommended trying complementary medicine therapy treatments, especially massage and whirlpool tubs. He said that over-the-counter supplements, including fish oil, MSM, antioxidants, SAMe and DHEA, are helpful. But see your doctor before trying anything.

Dr Cohen is a proponent of complementary treatment for arthritis, especially to help pain. He has had good success with prolotherapy and neuraltherapy, which help improve the body’s inflammatory process to heal itself.

For more information on arthritis treatment, complementary therapy and physical therapy, see your doctor, Dr. Cohen said.