Can Mid-Age People Get Arthritis? The Surprising Truth
AUG , 2025 .4Mins
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Dr. Praveen Mereddy
When we think of arthritis, we often picture challenging and aching joints of the older population. Surprisingly, arthritis does not always wait for retirement. It can affect young people, even teens and children.
Arthritis affects nearly 15% of India’s population, over 210 million people, making it more common than diabetes, AIDS, or even cancer. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent form, with about 60% of all arthritis cases, and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is found to afflict an estimated 0.75-1% of the population in India.
Let's explore unexpected ways arthritis can manifest in youngsters, how to identify the signs, and why catching it early can make all the difference for a more active future.
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a disease that causes painful inflammation and stiffness in the joints. It is characterised by the swelling and tenderness of one or more joints, accompanied by joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age.
Prevalent Conditions Which Affect Children And Adolescents With Arthritis:
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA): Formerly known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, this is the most common type of arthritis in children under 16. It causes persistent joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): An autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the joints, resulting in pain, swelling, and stiffness, commonly in the hands and feet.
Psoriatic Arthritis: Linked to psoriasis, this type of arthritis causes joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and changes in the skin and nails.
Lupus-related Arthritis: Occurs in people with lupus (an autoimmune disease). It leads to joint pain, swelling, and tenderness, usually without severe joint damage.
Reactive Arthritis: Develops after infections in the gut or urinary tract and may also cause eye or urinary symptoms.
One of the biggest contributors to disability in India is knee problems, found in over 150 million people. Knee arthritis is predicted to become a leading cause of physical disability in India within the next ten years.
Between 1990 and 2019, the number of osteoarthritis cases in India doubled, from 23.46 million to over 62 million. Out of the 18 million people who have Rheumatoid Arthritis globally, roughly 0.7–1% of adults are in India. Though usually mostly found in adults over 55 years of age, the number of young people (10- 24 years) affected is on the rise ( from 34.1 per 100,000 in 1990 to 36.3 in 2019.
Early Symptoms of Arthritis
Even before a formal diagnosis, arthritis may manifest subtle signs that are easy to miss or ignore in young and active bodies.
Joint Pain: A dull ache in knees, wrists, or ankles—worse after activity or persistent even at rest.
Morning Stiffness: Joints feel tight or frozen, especially after waking or sitting still, unlike regular post-activity stiffness.
Fatigue: Unusual tiredness or mood changes, often mistaken for school stress.
Swelling: Puffy or warm joints, often without injury; one side may appear different.
Limited Motion: Difficulty with everyday tasks like writing or climbing stairs; kids may avoid favorite activities.
When to See a Doctor
It is essential to consult with a doctor, especially if symptoms persist for weeks or interfere with your daily activities
You experience joint pain that doesn’t improve with rest
You notice swelling or warmth in your joints
Your range of motion becomes limited
Symptoms worsen over time
Early detection and treatment can help prevent further damage to the joints and improve the quality of life.
Living with Arthritis
Arthritis can be especially challenging for children, teens, and young adults. It may interfere with playing sports, attending school, or completing simple tasks like writing or using devices. Flare-ups and fatigue may affect social life and emotional well-being, leading to feelings of frustration or isolation.
The estimated number of children suffering from JIA in India is between 350,000 to 1.3 million. More precise statistics are unavailable due to scarce epidemiological information.
In people aged between 18–34, 8 out of 1,00,000 people have rheumatoid arthritis, and nearly 30% of osteoarthritis cases occur in people under 40. This shows that arthritis can strike at any age, and its profound impact on younger lives cannot be ignored.
How Is Arthritis Diagnosed?
It is challenging to diagnose arthritis early, particularly in young people. But it is nevertheless essential.
Through early diagnosis and prompt medical intervention, permanent damage can be prevented.
What is The Treatment for Arthritis?
Arthritis does not have a direct cure. The treatment focuses on controlling symptoms and improving joint function.
Medications: Patients are given pain relievers and anti-inflammatories. Disease-modifying drugs (DMARDs) tailored to the arthritis type are also found to be effective.
Physiotherapy: It is good for building strength, enhancing flexibility, and maintaining joint function.
Lifestyle management: Patients are advised to manage weight and engage in optimum exercise. Posture correction also reduced joint pain.
Steroid injections: These are effective in providing targeted relief to inflamed joints..
Surgery: If other treatment options are not viable or effective, joint repair or replacement is done through surgery.
At STAR, we have a team of exemplary orthopedics specialists, state-of-the-art facilities and diagnostics, and highly competitive financial packages for self-funding patients as well as those with private health care. Reach out to STAR Hospitals today for a consultation and take the first step toward managing arthritis with confidence.
FAQs
Q. Can Teens get Arthritis?
A. Yes, they can. While arthritis is often linked to ageing, certain types—like Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)—can affect children and teens as young as 6 months old. These are usually caused by the autoimmune system, meaning the body’s system mistakenly attacks healthy joint tissue. Sports injuries and genetic factors can also lead to early-onset arthritis.
Q. Is Arthritis curable?
A. Arthritis is not curable, but it can be treated or managed effectively. With early diagnosis, medications, lifestyle changes and physical therapy, many young people experience long periods of remission, with little or no lasting joint damage. The result is to reduce inflammation, protect joints and support long-term mobility
Q.How is Arthritis different from growing pains?
Growing Pains occur during the evening or night -JIA occurs during the morning with stiffness and gets worse after rest
Growing Pains are located in Muscles (thighs, calves). JIA is located in the Joints (knees, wrists, fingers)
No Swelling during Growing Pains. Swelling during JIA is often present
Duration: Growing Pains come and go. JIA pain has been persistent for weeks or longer
Other symptoms: Growing Pains. Have no other symptoms. JIA symptoms include fatigue, fever, rash, and limited mobility
The age group for growing pains is 3–8 years. JIA can begin at any time before age 16.
Dr. Praveen Mereddy
