What I’ve learned about obesity, joint pain, and hemophilia bleeds

It’s never easy to talk about weight. Like many people, my weight has wildly fluctuated throughout my adult life, sometimes by as much as 60 pounds or more. I’ve struggled to find a happy medium between healthy food choices and enjoying the occasional indulgence.

I haven’t been in tip-top shape recently, my stamina is down, and I’ve had more joint pain than usual, particularly in my knees when I move around. I lament that my aging must’ve sped up over the last few years. Slacking on my exercise routine probably didn’t help.

Correlating weight and pain

At a recent hemophilia conference, I was surprised to learn from a physical therapist that every pound of weight in our body puts approximately 4 pounds of pressure on our joints. Sometimes hemophilia bleeds cause knee damage, pain, and osteoarthritis. Yet, sometimes excess weight can be the culprit. This extra pressure can cause damage on its own.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that people who are overweight are more likely than people with a healthy weight to get osteoarthritis in the knees. The impact of obesity on joint health affects many people, most of whom do not have hemophilia like I do.

Additionally, the physical therapist said, the extra pressure from excess weight can make someone with hemophilia more susceptible to bleeds — a double-edged sword! I let that fact sink in. Maybe there is more to the equation than I had realized.

The Arthritis Foundation noted that fat can be a culprit in inflammation. My personal experience is that when I’m coping with inflammation, my joints often experience swelling, which makes me more susceptible to bleeds.

Recommended Reading

February 28, 2020 News by Vanessa Pataia

Obesity Likely Factor in Joint Bleeds and Pain in Hemophilia, Experts Say in US Survey

The impact of losing weight

The COVID-19 pandemic was rough on many of us, and the months of significant routine change had a large impact on me. One issue I had was gaining almost 20 pounds. I know I’m not alone in this, as I heard many people refer to their “COVID-10,” “COVID-15,” or even “COVID-20” weight gain. But until I heard the physical therapist’s discussion, I hadn’t correlated it with my increased joint pain or the increased bleeding in my knees and hips. Dang!

I’ve also been struggling with gastrointestinal issues lately. While the GI problems forced me to implement dietary changes, they’ve affected more than just my stomach and acid reflux. So far, I’ve lost 10 pounds, and now I understand that it has decreased the pressure on my joints by about 40 pounds. The difference is noticeable: My knees are in less pain and my mobility is improving.

Trying to lose weight can seem overwhelming — I’ve been there. My body mass index used to be higher, and I was considered obese. At the time, all I could think about was how much I needed to lose to get to the weight my doctor felt was best for me. That made it harder to move forward, because the journey seemed impossible.

Small goals mean the world to me now and have been a big part of getting myself on a healthier course. Knowing that losing just 10 pounds can take 40 pounds of pressure off my joints gives me hope. Benefits can be seen anywhere along a weight loss journey. I’ve certainly noticed them in the past month.

Note: Hemophilia News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Hemophilia News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to hemophilia.