Questions and Answers - Recent questions and answers in Osteoarthritis

Answered: What are the benefits of joint replacement?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:51:26 +0000

With a new joint, like a new hip or knee, you'll hurt a lot less, and you may even be pain-free. Depending on your age, you may be able to use your joint normally and move it around with a full range of motion. This should make everyday tasks like walking and household chores much easier.

In some cases, you may be able to start playing sports -- low-impact stuff like golf or cycling -- that were impossible before your surgery.

Answered: What are the symptoms that could make you consider getting a joint replacement?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:50:06 +0000

You might consider a joint replacement if you have symptoms in your knee or hip such as:

If you have these problems, your doctor may first suggest you try physical therapy, medication, and other treatments besides surgery. If all those fail, the time may be right to think about getting a joint replacement.

Lots of pain
Stiffness
Limping
Weakness
Swelling
Poor range of motion
Problems walking or doing other everyday activities

How is arthritis treated?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:49:19 +0000

Answered: Can you rest too much if you're trying to manage knee pain?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:48:53 +0000

Don’t rest too much. Too much rest can weaken your muscles, which can worsen joint pain. Find an exercise program that is safe for your knees and stick with it. If you're not sure which motions are safe or how much you can do, talk with your doctor or a physical therapist.

Answered: Is there a risk of infection when you have joint replacement surgery?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:47:56 +0000

Any type of surgery raises your chances of infection, and that's true of joint replacement procedures. About 1 out of 100 people who have a joint replaced get an infection after the surgery. It can show up right after the procedure, or months or years later. And if you're obese or have diabetes, you may have greater odds of getting an infection after joint replacement.

Answered: What are treatment options for knee osteoarthritis?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:47:29 +0000

Possible treatments for knee osteoarthritis include:

Pain medication
Exercise and physical therapy
Weight loss
Nutritional supplements

Answered: Can ice or heat help knee pain?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:46:28 +0000

For the first 48 to 72 hours after a knee injury, use a cold pack to ease swelling and numb the pain. A plastic bag of ice or frozen peas works well. Use it for 15 to 20 minutes three or four times a day. Wrap your ice pack in a towel to be kind to your skin. After that, you can heat things up with a warm bath, heating pad, or warm towel for 15 to 20 minutes, three or four times a day.

Answered: How can I avoid a fall to help with knee pain?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:45:47 +0000

A painful or unstable knee can make a fall more likely, which can cause more knee damage. Curb your risk of falling by making sure your home is well lit, using handrails on staircases, and using a sturdy ladder or foot stool if you need to reach something from a high shelf.

Answered: What are non-drug treatments for osteoarthritis?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:45:14 +0000

There are non-drug treatments available for osteoarthritis, including:

Exercise
Massage
Acupuncture
Heat or cold compresses
TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) using a small device that emits electrical pulses onto the affected area
Nutritional supplements

Answered: What is osteoarthritis?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:44:35 +0000

Osteoarthritis is the wear-and-tear type of arthritis. It's a condition in which cartilage, the natural cushioning between joints, wears away. When this happens, the bones of the joints rub more closely against one another with less of the shock-absorbing benefits of cartilage. The rubbing can make it harder to move and results in pain, swelling, stiffness, and, sometimes, the formation of bone spurs.

Answered: How do doctors diagnose knee osteoarthritis?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:43:51 +0000

First, your doctor will give you a physical exam and ask you about your symptoms and medical history. Tell your doctor what makes the pain worse or better. Your doctor may recommend tests such as:

You may get blood tests to rule out other conditions that could be causing the pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis, which is a different type of arthritis that's caused by problems in the immune system.

X-rays
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans

Answered: How does athletics play a role in knee osteoarthritis?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:41:01 +0000

Soccer or tennis players, and long-distance runners, may be more likely to get osteoarthritis in their knees. And all athletes should take care to avoid injury. But remember: Regular, moderate exercise strengthens joints and can make osteoarthritis less likely. In fact, weak muscles around the knee can lead to osteoarthritis.

Answered: Do genes play a role in knee osteoarthritis?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:40:25 +0000

There are some gene changes (mutations) that might make a person more likely get osteoarthritis in their knees. Some people also inherit genes that make them more likely to have problems in the shape of the bones that surround the knee joint.

Answered: What leads to osteoarthritis of the knee (degenerative arthritis of the knee)?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:39:19 +0000

Osteoarthritis is the "wear and tear" kind of arthritis. It becomes more likely with age, but young people can get it, too. For some people, it may be hereditary. For others, osteoarthritis of the knee can happen because of injury, infection, or from being overweight.

Answered: How is osteoarthritis of the knee treated?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:36:00 +0000

The main goals of treating osteoarthritis of the knee are to ease the pain and help you move better. Your treatment plan may include a combination of the following:

Weight loss, if you're overweight
Exercise
Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs
Shorts of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid into the knee.
Complementary therapies (creams that go on your skin, acupuncture, and supplements)
Devices such as braces
Physical and occupational therapy
Surgery

Answered: How do you diagnose osteoarthritis in an ankle?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:33:00 +0000

To diagnose ankle osteoarthritis, your doctor probably start by asking your questions about your symptoms and past medical issues. They'll check your ankle for swelling, see how well it moves, and if you have any pain while you're moving it.

You'll get an X-ray of your ankle. If it shows the space between your bones is narrow, that could mean you've lost cartilage. The X-ray can also show a bone spur, a clue that you might have arthritis.

Occasionally doctors will want you to get other imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a CT scan.

Answered: How is bone marrow aspirate concentrate used to treat knee osteoarthritis?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:31:51 +0000

Knee osteoarthritis is a common condition that happens when the cartilage that cushions the knee joint starts to wear down. This treatment uses cells from your body and injects them into your knee joint to encourage healing. Bone marrow has substances that help cartilage regrow and to calm inflammation. People who’ve had it showed good improvements. But the treatment is still new and a lot remains unknown about how it works.

Answered: What tests are done to help you know when to consider knee replacement surgery?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:28:20 +0000

Your doctor will examine you thoroughly. X-rays are another key tool. They'll give your surgeon a better idea of whether your bone is damaged or deformed. An imaging test called an MRI will give a more detailed look into the bone and soft tissues around your knee.

You also may get a blood test to rule out, or point to, other causes for your knee pain.

Answered: How does osteoarthritis happen?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:27:27 +0000

Cartilage covers and cushions your joints and lets them glide smoothly. Over time, wear and tear can thin out the cartilage, particularly in the knee and hip joints. That makes the bones of the joints rub against each other. This is called osteoarthritis.

Answered: How does knee and hip osteoarthritis affect my walking?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:27:02 +0000

Osteoarthritis in your knee or hip can make it hard for you to walk. If there isn't enough cartilage lining your joint, it can hurt when you take a stroll. Your joint may get so stiff that you can't bend your knee or rotate your hip. People with severe OA of the knee or hip may need a cane to get around.

Answered: How do hyaluronic acid injections for osteoarthritis work?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:26:16 +0000

The injection is given the same way for all types. First, the doctor cleans the area. If your knee is swollen with excess fluid, your doctor may inject a local painkiller, then insert a needle into the joint to withdraw excess fluid. With the same needle still in place, the doctor can usually inject the hyaluronic acid into the knee joint.

After an injection, you shouldn't do hard weight-bearing activity for one or two days. Otherwise, you should be able to resume normal activities.

Most insurance companies cover hyaluronic acid injections.

Answered: How can steroids help treat arthritis and what are the side effects?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:24:18 +0000

Steroids are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs that can treat many forms of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other forms of inflammation such as vasculitis.

Although effective, steroids can have many side effects, especially when taken as a pill and used long term. Often, doctors try to avoid these problems by injecting the steroid into the affected joint or trying other medications in combination to keep the dose of steroids as low as possible.

Answered: When is surgery needed to treat osteoarthritis?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:20:07 +0000

You may need surgery if the pain is really bad or you can't move your hand well. Types of surgery for hand osteoarthritis include:

Joint fusion, when the bones are fused together
Joint reconstruction, when the joint surface is replaced with a joint implant or with tissue such as tendons

Answered: What should you know about treating knee osteoarthritis?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:19:35 +0000

Knee osteoarthritis can affect your every move: walking, climbing stairs, even sitting or lying down. Surgery can help bring relief, but doctors almost always advise trying other treatment options first.

Answered: What do you need to know about visits to the dentist if you have an artificial knee?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:12:44 +0000

For years, both orthopedic surgeons and dentists recommended that people with artificial knees or hips get a shot of antibiotics before any dental procedures, including simple cleaning, that might make gums bleed. They worried that bacteria in the mouth could get into your bloodstream and reach the site of the implant. In 2015, the American Dental Association said it was no longer routinely needed. People with knee implants whose immune systems are weak or who may be prone to infections may still need antibiotics before a dental procedure.

Answered: Can your artificial knee set off an airport metal detectors?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:11:26 +0000

Chances are, your knee implant will almost always set off the airport metal detector. That can trigger a hand pat-down screening by a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent. If the security checkpoint has a full-body scanner, you can go through that instead. You may still be searched a second time if the agents think they see something suspicious on the screen. You can print and carry a small TSA notification card to let the agent know you have an artificial knee. You also can speed things up by wearing clothes that easily let you reveal your surgical scar.

Answered: What can you expect after getting knee replacement surgery?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:10:51 +0000

You can usually expect huge improvements in pain and mobility after knee replacement. Most surgeons recommend you stay away from high-impact exercises like jogging or jumping rope, even if you did them before. Ask what other sports may be off-limits for you, too.

You’ll still have lots of ways to stay active. You can walk, swim, bike, do light hikes, and play doubles tennis. Weight training will give you stronger muscles and bones. Be sure to ramp up by doing more reps instead of adding heavier weights.

Answered: What is recovery after total knee replacement like?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:10:05 +0000

You might drive again as soon as 3 weeks after your surgery. But most people need 4-6 weeks before they can bend their knee to get in and out of the car.

In 3-6 weeks, you could shop for groceries, get up from a chair, and do other things that were difficult before the surgery. Just remember that you might not be 100% pain-free. Let you doctor know about any pain that bothers you.

Answered: What health issues are linked to osteoarthritis of the knees?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:08:29 +0000

Osteoarthritis of the knees is often linked to obesity or a history of repeated injury or joint surgery.

Answered: How is osteoarthritis of the hip treated?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 06:02:50 +0000

Treatment aims to make it easier for you to move and to get around. That involves controlling your pain and to make your hips work better. Treatments may include:

Rest and joint care
Cane to take weight off the affected hip
Nondrug pain relief techniques to control pain
Losing extra weight
Exercise
Medications, including acetaminophen (Tylenol), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen (Advil), or a prescription pain medication
Surgery
Complementary and alternative therapies

Answered: What do you need to know about visits to the dentist if you have an artificial knee?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:59:43 +0000

Answered: In general, how long does a knee replacement last?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:53:35 +0000

Almost nine out of 10 people find that their new body part holds up for at least 20 years. Even 2 decades after their surgery, people who’ve had their knee replaced tend to be more physically active than their same-age peers with natural knee joints. You can save wear and tear on your new knee by keeping a healthy weight.

Answered: Can your artificial knee set off an airport metal detectors?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:53:08 +0000

Answered: What can you expect after getting knee replacement surgery?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:52:00 +0000

Answered: What are some dos and don'ts to keep in mind if you have an artificial knee?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:50:57 +0000

Even if you’re able to return to full normal after your surgery, you’ll need to mind your artificial knee for the rest of your life. Avoid lifting anything more than 20 pounds. That can stress the joint too much. Don’t jerk the leg with the implant. Turn by taking small steps. Pivoting sharply -- your toes pointed in one direction and your thigh and upper body in another -- can damage the implant and wear it out sooner.

Answered: How much weight do you need to lose when you have knee osteoarthritis (OA)?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:47:25 +0000

Even small changes in your weight can make a difference. If you shed just 1 pound, you'll take 4 pounds of pressure off of your knees. Drop 10 pounds and you'll take 40 pounds of pressure off.

The more pounds you lose, the better. If you're overweight, experts suggest you aim for 10% of how much you weigh now. For instance, if you weigh 200 pounds now, try to lose 20 pounds. Aim for a loss of 1-2 pounds a week.

Answered: Can injectable corticosteroids help treat osteoarthritis (OA) pain?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:46:33 +0000

Injectable corticosteroids (also known as glucocorticoids or “steroids”) are injected directly into a joint to help ease joint inflammation and pain. The benefit of corticosteroids is that they act quickly and can be administered directly to the joints. Side effects may include allergic reaction but are mainly limited to the joint and include infection, bleeding, and skin changes.

Answered: How can arthrocentesis help treat osteoarthritis?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:46:01 +0000

A sterile needle is used to remove joint fluid so doctors can give it a look. They can exclude gout, infection, and other causes of inflammatory arthritis. Injection of corticosteroids into the joints during arthrocentesis may help ease pain, swelling, and inflammation.

Answered: Is surgery an option for food and ankle osteoarthritis?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:45:30 +0000

Types of surgery that treat foot and ankle osteoarthritis include:

Fusion surgery. This kind of surgery, also called arthrodesis, fuses bones together with rods, pins, screws, or plates. After healing, the bones stay fused together.
Joint replacement surgery. This involves replacing the ankle joint with artificial implants. It's used only in rare cases.

Answered: How is foot and ankle osteoarthritis treated without surgery?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:45:03 +0000

Foot and ankle osteoarthritis can be treated in many ways. Ones that don't involve surgery include:

Shots of steroid medications into the joints
Anti-inflammatory drugs to ease swelling in the joints
Pain relievers
Pads or arch supports
Canes or braces to support the joints
Inserts that support the ankle and foot (orthotics)
Physical therapy
Custom shoes
Weight control

Answered: What are tips for looking for a comfortable shoe when you have foot and ankle osteoarthritis?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:44:19 +0000

Some things to look for in finding a comfortable shoe include:

Shoes shaped like your foot
Shoes that have support -- for example, no slip-on shoes
Rubber soles to provide more cushioning
Flexibility
Proper fit -- ask the salesperson to help you with this

Answered: I’ve decided to get hip replacement surgery. What can I do to get ready for it?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:43:46 +0000

Write down questions for your surgeon so you don’t forget them.
Consider the impact on work. Ask: “How long will I be away?”
Get in shape before surgery. It could speed up your recovery.
Meet with a physical therapist. If you learn rehab exercises before your operation, they’ll be easier to do later.
See if you can borrow your crutches or walker, and test-drive them.
Learn more at the websites of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.

Answered: I live alone, and I’m recovering from hip replacement surgery. How can family and friends help?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:43:15 +0000

As you recover from hip replacement surgery, if you live alone, family and friends could help set up a "base camp" where you'll spend most of your time -- with phone, computer, remotes, and everything else you'll need in easy reach.

They could also remove tripping hazards like loose rugs, help pick out helpful gadgets like reachers, and set up stairway and bathroom railings.

If you don't have a support system you can rely on, ask your doctor if you could stay in a rehab center after surgery.

Answered: What are side effects of hyaluronic acid for osteoarthritis?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:42:46 +0000

Side effects include pain, swelling, skin irritation, and tenderness. These reactions generally are mild and do not last long.

You should not take this product if you have had an allergic reaction to hyaluronan products in the past.

Answered: How can physical exam help you know when to consider knee replacement surgery?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:42:10 +0000

The knee is the most commonly replaced joint in the body. But your orthopedic surgeon won’t make the decision to operate lightly. They’ll take your complete medical history, everything from your overall health to specifics about your knee pain and how it affects your life.

You'll also have a physical exam so your surgeon can check out how your leg lines up and how much motion, strength, and stability you have in your knee.

Answered: What surgeries can help with osteoarthritis?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:41:17 +0000

If your osteoarthritis is severe, and medications and other treatments haven’t helped with pain, stiffness, and other issues, surgery may be an option. They include:

Arthroscopy to remove or repair loose or damaged tissue in the joint.
Joint replacement surgery to replace the damaged joint with an artificial one.
Joint fusion (arthrodesis) fuses the two bones on each side of the joint. The joint will no longer be flexible.
Osteotomy realigns bones of the arm or leg to relieve pressure on the joint.

Answered: Where is osteoarthritis most likely to happen in your foot and ankle?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:39:55 +0000

The following are the most common foot joints affected by osteoarthritis:

The three joints of your foot that involve the heel bone, the inner mid-foot bone, and the outer mid-foot bone
The joint of your big toe and foot bone
The joint where your ankle and shinbone meet

Answered: Can obesity cause osteoarthritis?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:39:15 +0000

Obesity causes osteoarthritis by increasing the mechanical stress on the cartilage. In fact, next to aging, obesity is the most common risk factor for osteoarthritis of the knees.

Answered: What are conditions that may make joint replacement surgery riskier?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:38:45 +0000

Several factors can raise the risk of joint replacement surgery, including:

Obesity. Extra weight can make you more likely to get infections, bleeding, and problems with anesthesia.
Age. If you’re 90 or older, you may need to balance the risks of surgery against the benefits.
Severe osteoporosis, or low bone density.
Heart, lung, or kidney disease can raise the chance of problems with anesthesia.

Answered: What is the meaning of arthritis?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:37:29 +0000

Arthritis means "joint inflammation." It causes pain and swelling in the body's joints, such as the knees or hips. There are many types of arthritis, but osteoarthritis is the most common. Also known as degenerative joint disease or age-related arthritis, osteoarthritis is more likely to happen has you get older.