Different names for the same thing!

woodbon

Hi, Something thats been annoying me for a while is the different words doctor and other medics use to describe osteoarthritis to the you, the patient.
Why do a lot of doctors now refer to it as 'wear and tear' or degenerative joint disease' when the proper name is Osteoarthritis. Do they think we are too simple to understand, if they give us a simple explanation of the meaning of the term or that we will be frightened by the word arthritis? Personally, I think degenartive joint disease sounds more frightening than OA, as it seems to imply that the illness will get worse and worse. We know it does sometimes, but the first time I had that term used to me, I straight away thought of my mothers Motor Neurone disease which she died from 2 years after diagnosis and of course, nothing like that was meant at all, but I didn't like to ask, and I had a bad few hours until I looked it all up.
I'm sorry I'm ranting, but a simple name thats used by most doctors in this country, at least, would I'm sure give paitents a better understanding of their problem. I don't like 'wear and tear' partly as this seems to imply that the joints have been overused in the past and the best thing if something is wearing out is not to use it too much, when gentle exercise is good for OA. I'll stop now, I've gone on too long! Apologies :oops: Suex

valval

hi it is annoying the terms they use i must admit wear and tear is what i got first as well before we got to inflammation arthritis wonder what they will call it next val

dreamdaisy

I think they use the term 'wear and tear' to try and explain why it has happened. It is a very different beast to an auto-immune based version and perhaps it is more of a degenerative thing in the damage that is caused. What's in a name? I now have two sorts of this pestilence, PA and OA - perhaps I am now officially an OAP! DD

Pherstun

I feel some doctors do 'dumb down' to sometimes explain to people what is going on with them, by using terms that are more easily understood. I also get a bit annoyed and think they feel I can't understand when I likely know a lot more than they think I do, but they don't know that. Maybe if when talking to the specialist you use the 'proper' terms they will stop doing it.

skezier

Hi Sue,

Its ridiculous isn't it why they have to call it all different things... hen I was a teenager they told me I had early on set degenerative changes... the idea was it would be called that as I wouldn't have liked being told I had oa

I asked them and they said oa and that caused its own problems cus that's what my gran had and i was a kid

this one isn't so much a rose by any name as a thorn by any name eh Bit of standardisation though... not much to ask is it

Hope your doing ok and Jerry is a lot better now? Love and a ((( ))) Cris xx

woodbon

Hi for me the name an illness that's given to me does mean something, for instance wear and tear seems to suggest that it a good idea to not use the effected joint even if its not hurting, but we know it isn't. Also, when I was told wear and tear, I blammed my job, as a carer, for giving it to me, when thats not so. I may be just being pedantic, but if I am to be a 'partner' in my treatment, I want accurate information.
Hang on, my soap box is creaking a bit, I'd better give it a rest! Sorry to winge on, but its been one of 'those' weeks. Love suexx

skezier

Hi Sue,

Well its not really being pedantic... they should call it by its name and eliminate all the confusion of wear and tear etc...

I was told as a kid I had worn out my knees.... I couldn't get that but blamed, like you, my self... its wasnt what i did it was just the luck' of the bones....

Its misleading and does tend to make you take the blame for it all... a lot to carry eh?!

Now I getting on the soap box with you..... I honestly don't think its given the credence it deserves and you know I think they avoid saying oa cus than they have to treat you! It needs a bit of standardisation cus this wear and tear thing belittles what its actually doing to us...

Right i shall jump off this box and go and try to rid my self of the hatred and resentment I feel towards oa

Hope your keeping ok apart form the bones? love Cris xx