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Arthritis – Three Common Types
Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, is a “wear-and-tear” condition that occurs when the hard, slippery tissue that covers the ends of the bones wears away.
With post-traumatic arthritis, the wear and tear of a joint is accelerated by a physical injury resulting from sports, a car accident, fall or other physical trauma.
Inflammatory arthritis, which is usually caused by a malfunctioning immune system, causes pain and stiffness, particularly in the morning or after periods of inactivity.
Treating Arthritis
One step you can take to ease the symptoms of arthritic knees is to lose weight, because every pound of extra weight you carry puts 3 to 4 pounds of extra weight on your knees. Even losing a small amount of weight can significantly decrease pain.
Pain can also be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications – but check with your doctor before taking them for longer than 10 days, because extended use of these medications increases the chance of side effects.
Two relatively new treatments are injections of stem cells to attempt to regenerate cartilage and speed healing or platelet rich plasma (PRP), which isolates anti-inflammatory characteristics and growth factors from a patient’s own blood in order to utilize the body’s natural ability to heal.
Exciting News in Knee Replacement
The first robotically-assisted total knee replacement in the region was recently performed at Phelps Memorial Hospital by orthopedic surgeon Jason Hochfelder, MD. Until now, this leading-edge technique for patients with advanced knee arthritis was not available anywhere else in New York State north of Manhattan.
The technique, which uses “bone morphing” technology, generates a 3-D display of the patient’s anatomy in real time, enabling the surgeon to precisely position the implant and optimally align the leg. Better alignment can reduce the need for revision surgery, improve joint function and increase the life of the implant.
To learn more and for other new technology and advances in knee replacement, click here.
