New National Survey Uncovers the Surprising Impact that Knee and Hip Pain Has on Women's Emotional Well-Being

Seventy-six percent of women surveyed agreed that the effects of their joint pain go far beyond mobility, impacting many aspects of their life

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DePuy Synthes

Aug 20, 2018, 08:35 ET

WARSAW, Ind., Aug. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- While many who suffer from knee or hip pain know that it impacts their everyday activities, results from a new survey show the significant emotional impact of joint pain. This includes impact on romantic and social relationships, ability to pursue hobbies and overall mood. The survey of more than 500 women ages 45-65, including those who have had joint replacement surgery and those planning to have joint replacement surgery, revealed:

90 percent of respondents agree that they are not able to live life to the fullest because of their joint pain,
Nine out of 10 respondents say their joint pain negatively impacts their mood,
Two-thirds of the respondents have avoided a social situation because of joint pain,
More than half of respondents said their joint pain makes it personally challenging to feel like a part of the family,
89 percent of respondents feel like they can participate in their life again after joint replacement surgery,
Two out of three respondents who had joint replacement surgery say their relationship with their spouse or partner improved, with 60 percent of respondents reporting improved intimacy.

"In my practice, I talk daily with women experiencing knee and hip pain who feel like they are living their life on the sidelines," said Anna Kulidjian*, MD, MSC, FRCSC, Associate Clinical Professor, Joint Reconstruction and Limb Preservation, Program Director Orthopaedic Oncology at Scripps Clinic-Green Hospital. "The women surveyed are in the prime of their life yet have a heavy emotional cloud over them because they aren't living the life they want, due to their hip and knee pain."

Currently impacting nearly 27 million Americans, osteoarthritis is one of the most common reasons for severe hip or knee pain. As a progressive, degenerative condition, osteoarthritis is the wear and tear of the joints. By 2030, it is expected that approximately 20 percent of Americans – 70 million people – will be at an increased risk for osteoarthritis.

"We conducted this survey to explore how joint pain can impact day-to-day life beyond mobility and the shift in outlook once the pain was addressed," said John Wright, MD, Integrated Leader Medical, Clinical and Pre-Clinical Affairs at DePuy Synthes and former Clinical Director of Orthopedic Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital. "Most women surveyed agreed that addressing their joint pain has helped improve their mood and strengthened their relationships with family and friends. This underscores the importance of women recognizing and acting on their joint pain earlier to avoid compromising their overall quality of life."

This survey was commissioned by DePuy Synthes as part of its ongoing patient education campaign. If you or someone you love may be experiencing joint pain, visit www.TimetoHitPlay.com to find more information about joint replacement options, find a doctor in your area, and learn about how everyday women overcame their joint pain and returned to what they enjoyed most.

About the Survey
DePuy Synthes commissioned the survey which was conducted online by Edelman Intelligence between June 4 - 15, 2018 in the United States among 253 women 45-65 years old who had knee and/or hip replacement surgery in the last five years and 271 women 45-65 years old who are planning to have knee and/or hip replacement surgery in the next two years.

Important Safety Information
The performance of hip or knee replacements depends on age, weight, activity level and other factors. There are potential risks and recovery takes time. People with conditions limiting rehabilitation should not have these surgeries. Only an orthopaedic surgeon can determine if hip or knee replacement is necessary based on an individual patient's condition.

About DePuy Synthes
DePuy Synthes provides one of the most comprehensive orthopaedics portfolios in the world. DePuy Synthes solutions, in specialties including joint reconstruction, trauma, craniomaxillofacial, spinal surgery and sports medicine, are designed to advance patient care while delivering clinical and economic value to health care systems worldwide. For more information, visit www.depuysynthes.com.

*Dr. Anna Kulidjian is a consultant to DePuy Synthes Joint Reconstruction.

SOURCE DePuy Synthes