Arthritis surge a joint venture for busy doctors

At 76, Richard Friedman is still a tiger on the tennis court—despite having arthritis. When his knees started seriously aching 15 years ago, he was not about to give up the game. Instead, he went to a rheumatologist who prescribed regular injections of a synthetic joint lubricant, a treatment that so far has the problem under control.

“I play singles four days a week, usually against guys who are 25 years younger than me,” said Brooklyn-raised Mr. Friedman, a stockbroker and lifelong athlete.

Mr. Friedman represents a surge of arthritis patients that has shifted New York City's rheumatology practices into overdrive and has hospitals adding staff and expanding patient-treatment space to meet the growing demand.

All in all, it's a good time to be a rheumatologist, says Dr. Steven Abramson, director of the division of rheumatology and co-director of the Musculoskeletal Center of Excellence at NYU Langone Medical Center.

“Breakthrough medicine has changed the environment,” he explained. “Doctors and patients are less tolerant of chronic disease than they used to be.”

Most of these new arthritis patients are taking advantage of new treatments (medicine didn't have much to offer them 20 years ago). The majority, like Mr. Friedman, have osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease of the cartilage associated with age and athleticism that already affects between 20% and 30% of the U.S. population and is on the rise. Obesity also plays a role for many osteoarthritis patients, with excess weight making joints wear more quickly. Sports-related joint injuries from a patient's younger days can have the same effect.