Everything Related to Orthopedics
Posts tagged arthritis
Arthroscopic Surgery
0469 days
As painful as arthritis is, many patients want to put off joint replacement surgery as long as possible. The recovery time is long with joint replacement and there is no guarantee that the implants will last the patient for the remainder of their life.
One road that many surgeons and patients opt for first is arthroscopic surgery or “scoping”. In arthritic joints, there are often pieces of cartilage that end up floating around causing more irritation. The surgeon makes a small incision alongside the joint in order to clean it out. They use tiny instruments to clean out any floaters or parts of tissue and cartilage that is causing inflammation. This procedure is relatively minimally invasive and most patients don’t even require an overnight stay at the hospital.
Scoping out the joint will only provide a patient temporary relief from their arthritis. There is no way to help tissue and cartilage redevelop within a joint, so the symptoms are sure to return. The length of time this procedure will provide relief for varies from patient to patient. Sometimes scoping out a joint will provide relief for one month or even up to six months. For some patients however, there might not be any pain relief at all.
Many times arthroscopic surgery is recommended for younger patients suffering from arthritis. Doctors try to avoid joint replacement surgery as long as possible in younger patients because there is a higher risk that they will need another surgery down the road as the implants wear down. More than one arthroscopic surgery is not typically performed on a joint. If the patient begins to suffer from symptoms again, a more invasive and permanent solution will most likely be necessary.
Risk Factors for Arthritis
0480 days
Arthritis is one of the most common and widespread diseases in America and it can affect anyone. Research continues every day to find a cure for arthritis but, for the over 40 million Americans who suffer from this disease, a cure can’t come soon enough. While there is no one certain factor that determines if a person will develop arthritis, there are certain risk factors that can increase the chances of developing it.
A majority of people who suffer from arthritis are elderly. As we age, our bones become softer and more susceptible to damage. Years of wear and tear on the joints and cartilage can cause the tell-tale swelling and pain associated with arthritis. Just because you age however doesn’t necessarily mean you will develop arthritis in your joints. People who are overweight are at an increased risk for arthritis. For every 10 pounds that you are overweight, pressure on the knees is increased by 30 to 60 pounds. Women who are overweight are 4 times more likely to develop arthritis while overweight men are 5 times more likely.
Another risk factor in the development of arthritis is previous injury. If you have had injuries to your joints, you are at a higher risk for developing arthritis. While these injuries may fully heal, damage has already been done to the cartilage. The area will never be quite the same as it was before the injury. Injuries can cause the joint to become more susceptible to further damage and quicker wear of the joint cartilage.
All hope is not lost however, you can help prevent the onset of arthritis. As long as you keep active and eat a healthy, well balanced diet you can help prolong the life of your joints.
