A Woman’s Perspective
Surveys Show That Women Have More Severe Pain in Their Knees
Women report greater levels of knee pain than men, but are less likely to have talked with a surgeon about knee replacement as a treatment option.
This is one of the key findings of a study, conducted in 2004 by Harris Interactive® on behalf of DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., comparing women and men’s experiences with knee pain and approaches to treatment. Other significant gender differences uncovered in the study include the following:
Women are less likely to:
- Describe their health as “excellent/very good”
- Have a discussion with their surgeon about knee replacement as an osteoarthritis (OA) treatment option
Women are more likely to:
- Be diagnosed with other health conditions in addition to their OA, including depression, allergies, and asthma
- “Primarily” see a rheumatologist for treatment of OA as opposed to an orthopaedic specialist
- Describe their “most painful day” and their pain on a “typical day” as “extremely/very painful”
- Experience the following on a daily basis:
- Lower back pain and stiffness
- Crepitance—the sound or feel of bone rubbing on bone
- Pain in the hips, groin, inner thigh, or buttocks
- Try more OA treatments, including medications (both over-the-counter and prescription), herbal supplements, magnets, relaxation therapy, and water therapy
- Say their OA has a considerable impact on their quality of life
- Have difficulty with daily activities such as walking, standing, bending, and/or climbing stairs
According to the results of the study, women seem to be more prone to suffer from OA and may experience pain at a more intense level than men. While women also take more medications and other actions to treat the pain and stiffness of OA, they may not be discussing their full range of treatment options with a qualified medical professional.