Can a Knee Replacement Save Your Marriage?

Jan 8, 2021 | Press/Media

I was recently interviewed for an article written by Holly Pevzner for healthcentral.com on the difficulties in relationships faced by those with OA and how knee replacement may help. Below is an excerpt of the article and a link to the full article.

Can a Knee Replacement Save Your Marriage?
by Holly Pevzner Health Writer
January 5, 2021

 

ANYONE WHO HAS or knows someone with osteoarthritis (OA) also knows the physical pain it can cause. But OA can damage relationships as well as joints—by straining spouses even as it wears down cartilage in the hands, knees, hips, and spine. That’s because “partners often act as caregivers, bearing the brunt of daily home tasks, which can be distressing and isolating,” notes clinical psychologist, Supatra Tovar, Psy.D., who practices holistic psychotherapy in Pasadena, CA. Still, research shows that spouses also have the power to help improve their loved one’s OA and better their marriage. We’ll tell you how.

 

A Sometimes Backfiring Burden

The role of caregiver puts a lot of responsibility on a spouse’s shoulders. “It can feel like a big sacrifice that easily becomes overwhelming,” says Tovar. Not only that, but when caregivers turn taskmasters, the intention can totally backfire. For instance, even though staying active is critical for the 32.5 million Americans with OA, a report in the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine found that when husbands with osteoarthritis felt that their spouses were pressuring them to move more, they actually spent less time being active.

 

No “I” in “Team” When It Comes to OA

At the same time, needing to rely on your spouse’s caregiving support can strain marital happiness, too. “Being cared for by your spouse may lead to feelings of helplessness and uselessness that can wear on your mental well-being,” says Tovar. However, when couples view the management of a chronic illness, like osteoarthritis, as a shared responsibility between partners, it often results in improved condition management, according to a report published in the American Psychologist Journal. Translation: The team approach brings better health.

At the same time, needing to rely on your spouse’s caregiving support can strain marital happiness, too. “Being cared for by your spouse may lead to feelings of helplessness and uselessness that can wear on your mental well-being,” says Tovar. However, when couples view the management of a chronic illness, like osteoarthritis, as a shared responsibility between partners, it often results in improved condition management, according to a report published in the American Psychologist Journal. Translation: The team approach brings better health.

READ MORE: Go to Full Article on healthcentral.com