Treatment Options for Arthritis of the Knees & Hips with Dr. Harris
First off, what is Arthritis?
Arthritis is the damage to or loss of cartilage. Now you may ask, what is Cartilage? Cartilage is a thick covering that is at the end of all bones in a movable joint. It is a shock absorber. It protects the bone underneath it. When you look at it under a microscope it looks very smooth and glistening. Its consistency resembles a durable rubber, and it has a slippery feel.
There are 3 different arthritis stages.
The Early Stage (Grade I)-the cartilage softens and shock absorption is less. Moderate arthritis consists of a rough surface (Grade II) and when the cartilage thins, it is classified as Grade III. End Stage Arthritis (Grade IV) includes bone on bone as well as erosion of the bone itself.
Why do joints lose cartilage?
There are a couple of reasons why your joints can lose cartilage. First, there is an overload of cartilage from playing high school football, injuries, or adjacent deformities. Secondly, are auto-immune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, and then finally, crystalline or metabolic conditions, such as gout or pseudogout.
Can you prevent arthritis?
Cartilage has a very limited capacity to repair itself once damaged. Chondrocytes can’t migrate to damaged areas. It takes 21 years to develop mature, adult hyaline cartilage. Sadly, there is no quick and simple "fix".There is also a genetic predisposition.
Treatments for arthritis once it has been diagnosed by your doctor.
There are several options for the treatment of arthritis. You can:
Live with it - For this, you typically do not see a doctor. You can take OTC medications such as Tylenol, Advil, and Aleve. Take time to rest when you need to and ice the area.
Take medication - If you do decide to take OTC medication just be aware that NSAIDs Can be hard on the stomach and kidneys, and are easier on the stomach, and harder on the heart. Tylenol is better than expected pain medication and up to 3,000mg/day is a safe amount.
Get injections - There are 4 different types of injections, they are Steroids, Viscosupplementation, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), and Stem Cells
Brace it - Please note that for Hips, there is not an effective brace for this location. There are different types of braces, each one having a different purpose, please check with your doctor for the best choice.
Exercise - If you are going to exercise, please make sure to listen to your body. Do not force the range of motion. If you need to modify or substitute the exercise to fit your needs.
Replace it - When should you choose a replacement? The answer - ”When simpler things don’t work and the joint is starting to ruin your life.” If you do choose this option, please make sure you choose a surgeon who has been fellowship trained, and the practice is arthroplasty focused.
Dr. Harris is Board Certified in Orthopaedic Surgery and fellowship trained in Adult Reconstruction. And he now serves as an examiner for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.