10 Arthritis Myths Debunked

Experts untangle 10 common myths and misconceptions about arthritis and it's treatment.

- By Mary Anne Dunkin

Chances are, some of the common ideas that you have always heard and perhaps believed about arthritis are not completely – and maybe not at all – true. Some may be rooted in long-held misunderstandings (arthritis is the unavoidable aches and pains that come with aging). Others are outdated, made obsolete by new medications (rheumatoid arthritis will leave you wheelchairbound). Still others are based on beliefs that medical research has disproven (people with arthritis shouldn’t exercise).

The danger of these myths is that they cloud our understanding of arthritis, put us at risk of ineffective or unsafe treatments or cause us to forgo treatments we need. They also can cause us to settle for less – less pain relief, less enjoyment of life – because we’re operating under mistaken beliefs.

We asked experts in several fields about the most common arthritis myths they encounter and what the facts really are.

Because there are many forms of arthritis and individuals are affected in different ways, these experts speak only in generalities. When it comes to your own arthritis, it’s important to consult and work closely with your rheumatologist and health care team.

1. “Wear and tear” arthritis, or osteoarthritis, affects only older people.

Different forms of arthritis affect people of all ages – and most are