An estimated 47.5 million adults suffered with chronic joint symptoms in 2001, and 2 million of theses adults had symptoms so severe that their daily activities were limited. Despite this, 10.3 million adults with chronic joint symptoms have not visited a doctor for treatment, according to a report.
Arthritis and chronic joint symptoms are major causes of disability among U.S. adults. According to researchers, seeking a doctor’s care could limit damage to joints and improve health and overall functioning for patients.
The report is based on a national telephone survey, conducted in 2001, of more than 200,000 adults.
Participants were asked whether they had chronic joint symptoms, whether they had sought medical care for the symptoms and whether the symptoms limited their physical activity.
Those least likely to seek medical care included younger adults, men and Hispanic individuals. People with no health insurance, less education or who had good health overall were also less likely to see treatment, according to the report.
Moreover, findings indicated that people living in the Northeast sought treatment most often, while people living in southern or western states were least likely to seek care.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report May 9, 2003;52:416-419
While this government report is oriented toward having Americans see doctors for solutions for joint pains, we know better don’t we?
The last thing anyone with joint pain would typically want to do is see their doctor, as they will only mask the problem with Band-Aid drugs. The 10 million Americans who are avoiding doctors are likely the smart ones.
However, that does not mean that you should never use drugs for joint pain. You need to be wise about it but do not need to be a martyr while addressing the underlying causes of the disease.
I have personally helped nearly 3,000 patients recover from rheumatoid arthritis and have a great deal of experience with it.
While supplements like glucosamine might be useful for arthritic pain, it is clearly not treating the underlying cause. I have seen incredibly beneficial reductions of joint paints for those who followed the dietary advice outlined in my new book The No-Grain Diet.
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