The Impact of Hip and Knee Arthritis on Mental Health: Coping Strategies
If you experience pain in your hip or your knee, you can speak about this with your doctor – who will refer you for examination or treatment of that particular pain. But, often, osteoarthritis depression and anxiety are neglected, making the situation worse.
The social effects of arthritis are not a priority discussion for many patients. They either don’t want to bother their care provider with their concerns, or they are too consumed by the pains themselves to have any care or concern for their mental health outlook. Unfortunately, isolation and prioritising pain is a difficult mindset to overcome. If you are experiencing a negative impact of arthritis on your daily life and mental wellness or are concerned about the link between osteoarthritis and depression, please reach out to your doctor, or contact a mental health organisation to discuss your concerns.
How Does Arthritis Affect Mental Health?
Arthritis and mental health are linked quite closely. Loss of movement and increased pain can lead to a loss of independence and gradual rejection of social activities. Arthritis can also impact employment opportunities, reducing income and causing uncertainty about the future.
Arthritis patients are at high risk for depression and anxiety. That’s not to say all patients are affected, however, a significant enough number do experience negative mental health to make it worthwhile discussing coping strategies.
Social isolation, particularly for social butterflies, can have a devastating impact on mental health. Withdrawal from social situations may be a result of being too overwhelmed by pain, and making future plans that might be cancelled at the last minute due to high pain levels can seem pointless. Over time, some patients disconnect from their social groups, which reduces their support network and can result in a build-up of resentment.
Arthritis may also have a negative impact on the quality of sleep, with some sufferers finding it difficult to fall asleep or to stay asleep. Poor sleep has a known disruptive effect on mental health in the general population. It can lead to loss of concentration, irritability, and difficulty finding joy in everyday life. Coupled with the pain of arthritis, poor sleep can change your outlook on life and pain tolerance quite suddenly.
Relationships can become incredibly strained when one person (or both) is experiencing immense pain. Organising appointments, speaking with specialists, managing medications and other tasks can have a knock-on effect on stress levels. Additionally, in cases of joint deformation or the need for mobility aids, some can find the impact of body consciousness can place further strain on an already tense situation.
What are the Coping Mechanisms for Arthritis
Arthritis patients preparing for surgery are given extensive literature on post-op care. But for those not yet ready for surgery it’s a pressing question: how to cope with arthritis pain?
With the pain having the potential to impact daily activities, many resort to medications for pain management. However, not all medications work for all people. Developing coping skills can help to combat pain as well as its potential to disrupt your mental health.
Hot and cold packs can help to ease inflammation or encourage stiff joints into action. These are ideal to use in the morning when stiffness can be at its most challenging. Modifying your movements can also help ease the pressures placed on the most affected joints. Managing weight distribution as you move, and altering the way you carry out day-to-day tasks can reduce the build-up of pressure and reduce the pain load that comes from daily activities.
For those who find daily movements too painful, it may be tempting to withdraw completely. However, there are other ways to balance osteoarthritis and mental health. Giving some structure to your day, allowing for necessary rest periods, or scheduling a coffee with friends somewhere particularly accessible rather than somewhere difficult to access can help you maintain your social life with some modifications.
Mindfulness can also be a wonderful tool to stay in control of your pain, rather than allowing the pain to control you. Yoga and meditation are often cited as key combatants in poor mental health too. Yoga can help keep your joint flexibility with low-impact exercise that doesn’t place too much pressure, while meditation can help focus your mind on something other than pain so that it doesn’t become overwhelming.
Slightly related, engaging in creative hobbies can also channel your mental energy into some positive activities, with a sense of achievement helping to create a positive mental feedback loop. Whether it’s a large project or something small, engaging in creativity allows you to express yourself and encourages a positive mental outlook. Depending on the chosen activity, this could also help keep you socialising in a manageable manner.
Your doctor may recommend some pain medications and/or physical therapy to help improve your physical range of motion. These can also help improve your mental health by encouraging you to achieve your goals, even if they seem small in comparison – you’ll feel rewarded as you achieve more of your goals.
What are Some Coping Strategies You Can Use to Improve Your Mental Health
Experiencing arthritis and mental health concerns together can be an overwhelming situation. There is help available, and there are a few tried and tested approaches to maintaining your mental health.
If you previously moved frequently and easily without giving it a second thought, the sudden need to be more mindful of your movements and limitations can be incredibly frustrating, even causing anxiety or depression. Making some changes to your movements can be difficult at first, but as you become more experienced in dealing with your physical challenges, you’ll become more in tune with your body and able to recognise when you’re about to overdo it.
Making some changes such as going for a swim instead of for a run can help active people continue their activity levels without the same harsh impact on the joints. For those who may have a sedentary lifestyle, spending much of their day at a desk, working with a physical therapist to find the right movements to practice daily can help relieve some pressure in high-pain areas.
Support groups can also help boost your mental health by giving you a space to talk through your experiences and concerns with others who understand your perspective. Talking with non-sufferers can be frustrating, for although they may try to sympathise, they can’t give you the same level of understanding as others in a similar situation. Support groups can also enhance your understanding of pain causes; while sharing coping strategies amongst peers might help you find the perfect solution that you may not have thought of yourself.
One way to combat the detrimental social effects of arthritis, and keep your mental health in check, is to recognise your limitations. Everyone has them, but arthritis patients are faced with the added challenge of recognising their newly imposed limits. To counter this, you may find that creating a daily schedule and routine allows you to achieve all your tasks without rush and stress while enabling you to schedule the necessary breaks that prevent overworking the painful joints.
Osteoarthritis, Depression, And Anxiety
Due to the nature of arthritis, many patients will find that they need to rethink their day-to-day lives just to maintain the same quality of life that they had before. Fitting in extra appointments and rests into your day can be a struggle, but it’s important to prioritise both your physical and mental health.
Initially, finding the right balance of coping mechanisms for you can be a struggle. Not all approaches work for all people. Sometimes, an existing negative mental health record can be further exacerbated by an additional, restrictive, condition.
Working with your health care provider to find the right balance. They may even have recommendations for local support groups with good reviews from existing members or can share their insights into other activities that may suit you personally.
The road to rediscovering your balance between physical ability and positive mental health is a unique journey. If you have concerns for your own, or someone else’s, mental health, please contact your doctor to discuss how they can help.
Compassionate Care and Expertise at Victorian Bone & Joint Specialists
At Victorian Bone & Joint Specialists, we understand that the journey to joint surgery—whether for hip or knee arthritis—can be a daunting one. Many patients experience anxiety around the idea of surgery, including concerns about pain, recovery, and long-term outcomes. Our team recognises that this emotional weight can be just as impactful as the physical pain caused by arthritis.
That’s why our specialists take a holistic approach to patient care. From the very first consultation, patients are supported through open, clear communication and thorough education about their diagnosis and treatment options. The team is committed to ensuring every individual feels heard, informed, and empowered to make the best decision for their health.
With extensive local and international training, the surgeons at VBJS bring world-class surgical expertise to Melbourne. They are leaders in minimally invasive procedures, robotic-assisted joint replacements, and advanced hip and knee techniques—offering patients both confidence and exceptional care. Whether you're undergoing joint preservation or full joint replacement, you are in experienced and trusted hands.
By combining medical excellence with compassion and understanding, the team at VBJS helps reduce pre-operative anxiety and creates a positive, patient-centred experience from start to finish.