By: Bel Marra Health | Blood Disorders, Joint Health | Tuesday, November 17, 2015 - 16:00 PM
Hemophilia, a disorder that makes it difficult for the body to control blood
clotting, can increase the risk of joint diseases and bleeding into joints.
For some time now, doctors who treat people with hemophilia have noticed
that adults with severe cases of the blood clotting disorder experience joint
diseases. They say this is happening due to repeated bleeding in the joints.
What is particularly upsetting is that in some cases the damage that can take
place after a hemophilia joint bleed can be permanent.
About 20,000 American men have hemophilia. While women can get the disorder,
it is rare in the female population. Right now there is no cure for hemophilia.
Hemophilia and joint pain can make life miserable for some sufferers.
Hemophilia and joint damage
Hemophilia with joint damage is much the same as joint damage experienced by
people who suffer from arthritis. The hemophilia joint damage happens in the
cartilage and the synovium around the bones. The snynovium is a lining that
lubricates the joint, as well as removing debris from the joint. There are
blood vessels in the synovium, so that’s why bleeding into joints is common in
people who have this disorder.
When there is blood in the joint, the snynovium tends to absorb it. Since
blood has iron in it, the lining gets thicker. As the synovium thickens, it
contains more blood vessels. Scientists believe it causes more bleeding as a
result.
During bleeding, enzymes from the snynovium, which is swollen, start to
destroy cartilage around the bones. As a result, you can get bone rubbing on
bone, which can be very painful. As joint bleeding continues, movement may
become restricted in a particular area.
Signs that you have a joint bleed
Joint bleeds are most common in the shoulders, fingers, wrists, knees, hips
and toes. When the joint fills up with blood you can experience pain, but there
are other signs you could be experiencing a hemophilia joint bleed. It is best
to address the early signs before they progress to a more severe level.
Here are some examples of early signs:
- You have
an “aura”
- Bubbling
or tingling feeling in the joint
- Joint
feels warm inside
The following are later signs of a joint bleed:
- Joint
stiffness
- Joint
swelling
- Skin over
joint feels warm
- Joint is
painful
- Difficulty
moving joint
- A child
won’t straighten, put weight on, or use his/her arm or leg
How does joint damage affect a hemophiliac?
Hemophilia joint damage can be a challenge to deal with. It can
certainly have an impact on daily activity. The joint damage can cause
bleeding in the same joint over and over again, as well as loss of
motion in the joint. In some cases, people still maintain range of
motion yet experience a loss of strength in the muscles around the
joint. Of course, pain is common when using the joint, but it can also
be present when the joint is in a resting position.
When a hemophiliac has joint damage in the knee or ankle they can
also have difficulty running, dancing or riding a bike. In severe cases,
walking without pain is impossible. For some people, doing tasks like
carrying heavy loads, kneeling, getting up and down stairs, or getting
in and out of the car can be much harder.
For those who suffer joint damage in their elbows, something as
simple as getting dressed, using a fork and knife to eat, or writing can
be painful exercises.
Treating damaged joints in hemophilia
Hemophilia disease treatment is based on the severity of the
condition and on the type of joint damage that a patient may have. In
some situations orthopedic approaches can help manage pain and improve a
person’s function so they can get on with their daily activities.
However, in other cases, especially where repeated bleeding takes place,
procedures called synovectomy can be performed. Synovectomy is
conducted three different ways: two are through injection-like
procedures and one is surgical. It requires the joint to be opened up
and the synovium to be removed.
Joint replacement is also a way to treat damaged joints in hemophilia. Knees and hips are the most common replacement.
Preventing hemophilia and joint pain with exercise and nutrition
You can prevent hemophilia joint problems with exercise and good
nutrition. Studies have long demonstrated that strong muscles help to
support our joints, so a regular exercise routine is a good measure to
take against joint pain. Physical fitness has also been shown to
decrease the number of spontaneous bleeds. Steady exercise on a weekly
basis can help people to maintain range of motion.
It’s important to retain a healthy weight. Excess weight can put a
lot of pressure on joints. The U.S. Department of Agriculture suggests a
diet rich in whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and low in fats,
added sugars and salt.
Since medications and supplements can interfere with blood flow, it
is very important that you discuss taking anything with your doctor
first.
A person with hemophilia will have the condition for life, but over
the years as we have learned more about the disorder and how to manage
it, more people with the blood clotting and joint pain have reported
living a more engaging life. It is not easy, but keeping track of
symptoms, regularly visiting the doctor, maintaining a healthy
lifestyle, and being surrounded by supportive family and friends, can
make coping with the disorder easier.
