Osteoarthritis

If you think osteoarthritis is the disease of the old, you may be wrong. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease where the cartilage in the joints wears down over time. Any joint could be affected, but the majority of the OA occurs at the joints on the hands, knee, hips, lower spine or neck.

Osteoarthritis Knee

The most common OA symptoms include pain, tenderness at the joint area, stiffness in the morning or after resting for long hours and the feeling of creaking at the joints. These symptoms occur slowly and worsen with time. As the condition gets more severe, bone protrusion around the joint area may be formed.

Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Know what is Osteoarthritis

In most cases, the exact cause of the osteoarthritis is unknown. However, some risk factors have been identified to contribute to the wear and tear of the joint cartilage and lead to OA. Women have a higher risk of developing OA with an unknown reason. OA usually occurs in older adults, rarely in people under the age 40. For those younger individuals, genetic conditions where the joints or the cartilage is malformed could increase the likelihood of developing OA. Besides, any injuries to the joints due to sports or accidents may also cause OA, both in young and old people. Obesity is another risk factor in OA development as more stress is incurred on the weight bearing joint especially the knees.

Check whether you have Osteoarthritis

If you always suffer from pain in your joints, do have a check with your healthcare professionals. X-ray is the most common non-invasive method to determine the degree of cartilage loss in the joints and is also to rule out possibilities of other joint or bone problems. There is no blood test to diagnose OA but blood test results are important to reveal other diseases which could resemble symptoms of OA, for example rheumatoid arthritis (an auto-immune condition of the joints). Other tests include drawing fluid out from the joint using needle (a procedure called arthrocentesis) to exclude the possibilities of gout of infection as the cause of joint pain and swelling.

Treat Osteoarthritis Today

Non-surgical method to treat osteoarthritis:

  • Viscosupplementation (Hyaluronic Injection) – Lubricant injection to the joint.
  • Anti-inflammatories – Reduce inflammation to the joints.
  • Physiotherapy – Trains certain sets of muscles to build strength to the joints.

Surgical intervention to treat severe osteoarthritis:

Exercises to Prevent Osteoarthritis

Light exercise such as biking or swimming is often recommended as these exercises could strengthen the muscles around the joint. Exercise also helps to reduce weight, which could in turn relieve some pressure on the joints thus relieving pain.

Avoid any forms of exercise if your joint is injured or swollen. Always rest your joints whenever there is pain or doing any repetitive movements that involve the joint. Besides, the use of assistive devices such as walking sticks allows for normal movement while reducing stress on the joints.

Glucosamine Helps Osteoarthritis

The use of glucosamine supplements alone has yielded some promising results in scientific studies. More well-designed studies are required to prove conclusively the benefits of these health supplements on OA prevention or treatment. Nevertheless, do check with your healthcare professional before using any health supplements for OA.
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Break free from the pain associated with Osteoarthritis

With an estimated 151.4 million people globally suffering from osteoarthritis, the leading cause of knee pain, these are numbers that speak for themselves. In the National Survey of Senior Citizens in Singapore, bone and joint disorders were the most commonly reported medical ailments and a local study rates osteoarthritis (OA) as the fifth leading cause of disability burden for males and females.

Osteoarthritis is a crippling condition of the knee for which there has until now been no remedy. To the layman, Osteoarthritis is called the “wear-and-tear” kind of arthritis. In fact, Osteoarthritis is such an old condition that scientists have found evidence of osteoarthritis in ice-aged skeletons. Despite the longevity and frequency of the disease, the cause is still not completely known and there is no cure. Hence, most sufferers face a lifetime of pain and disability. They had little choice but to consume painkillers or, in some cases, undergo total knee replacement surgery.

However, many different factors may play a role in whether or not you get Osteoarthritis, including age, obesity, injury or overuse and genetics. Your osteoarthritis could be caused by any one or by a combination of any these factors. As the condition involves the breakdown of the joint’s cartilage, there is no cushion to prevent the bones from rubbing each other. Hence sufferers, experience stiffness, pain and loss of movement of the joint.

There are several stages of osteoarthritis and these include: cartilage losing elasticity and is more easily damaged by injury or use; bony growths called spurs may develop near the end of the bone of the affected joint; bits of space; the joint lining (synovium) becomes inflamed; affect the shape and makeup of the joint so that it doesn’t function smoothly which makes walking upstairs sheer torture, to name a few.

But having no cure doesn’t mean you don’t need to see a specialist doctor. It is important to consult and understand what the doctor might offer to ease the pain. Help is on the way though, simply by modifying certain risk factors that are important for Osteoarthritis prevention.

Maintain  your ideal body weight

It’s been scientifically proven that the force of three to six times a person’s body weight is exerted across the knee while walking. Thus, being 10 pounds overweight increases the force of the knee by 30 to 60 pounds with each step made. Losing weight can certainly reduce stress on your joints.

Exercise regularly

Don’t shun the truth that performing 30 minutes of moderately strenuous exercises at least five days a week is good for optimal joint and bone health. your heart also benefits from regular exercise so it’s better to get some exercise as opposed to no exercise.

Protect your joints

Conserve your energy and preserve joint function simply by being mindful about proper movements and posture.

Avoid repetitive stress on the joints

Our bodies do not like repetitive movements or any activity with awkward motion and incorrect posture. Overexertion and muscle fatigue doesn’t bode well on your joints, too. If your occupation involves repetitive movements, you might want to reassess it. Try to find solutions at your workplace to avoid prolonged periods of repetitive stress.

Listen to your pain

Pain is your body’s way of telling you that’s something is wrong so always listen to it.

Balancing rest and activity is clearly optimal for health joints. Adopt self-management rules to prevent yourself from over-working your joints and not pushing past your limits. Recognising pain will always prevent you from getting further injury.

Avoid injury to joints

Previous joint injury is recognised as a common cause of osteoarthritis. In joints burdened by improper alignment due to injury, articular cartilage wears away and osteoarthritis can begin to develop. Avoid injury if at all possible – and if you do injure a joint, seek treatment immediately.
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Relieves joint pain & improves mobility to put the spring back in your step and choices back into your life!

Synvisc (sodium hyaluronate) is a treatment to provide relief from the pain of osteoarthritis (OA). Now you have an alternative to the use of pain killers such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or steroids.

Given by your doctor, this proven treatment reduces joint pain and improves joint mobility allowing you to resume some of the activities you once enjoyed.

Synvisc Benefits: Lubricates, cushions and protects the joint

Synvisc renews more efficient lubrication and cushioning absent from the synovial fluid of an arthritic joint. It helps to restore essential properties of the synovial fluid.

Synvisc helps to lubricate, cushion and protect the joint, bringing relief that lasts up to 6 months, from one simple injection.

Synvisc is a simple procedure

The procedure is called visco-supplementation – a simple procedure done by an orthopaedic surgeon. Your doctor injects Synvisc directly into the joint where it combines with the synovial fluid.

For many patients, relief occurs after a few days and optimum results shortly, thereafter. Unlike other treatments that may require up to five injection, Synvisc only requires a single injection.

Synvisc – Pure and Simple. Helps you get back in the game!
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Important benefits of having Synvisc treatment

Patients can look forward to some of Synvisc advantages:

  • Significant pain reduction from osteoarthritis
  • Enhanced joint mobility and joint protection
  • Long term relief achieved with one single injection
  • Resumption of many activities you once enjoyed

Synvisc is made from a natural product

Synvisc is a highly purified, clear fluid made from a natural substance called sodium hyaluronate, which has been used in medicine for over 20 years. Synvisc has been specially formulated for single injection therapy. Your doctor can give you Synvisc by injection directly into the joint to relieve the pain of osteoarthritis at that site.

Synvisc added benefits of local treatment

  • Synvisc avoids the side effects often seen with traditional systemic osteoarthritis treatments
  • Synvisc injected into the joint at that site of discomfort restores the viscosity of the synovial fluid

Discuss Synvisc with your doctor

You and your doctor can decide if Synvisc is right for you. Ask for more information about the benefits of this pure and simple way to relieve osteoarthritis pain and enhance joint function.

How the knee joint moves

To understand how this new treatment – Synvisc works, it is important to first understand how the knee joint moves.
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Osteoarthritis Knee

The knee joint is formed where the thigh bone, called the femur, meets the shin bone, called the tibia. That joint is covered by the kneecap or patella and is secured by muscle, tendons and ligaments, which allow the knee to bend and straighten.

The surfaces where the two bones touch are covered with a tough substance called cartilage. The space called the synovium inside the knee contains synovial fluid that helps to cushion the weight supported by the knee joint and also lubricates the bones – working like grease on a squeaky hinge.

In osteoarthritis, the synovial fluid loses its ability to lubricate ans cushion the joint effectively. As a result, the cartilage can be destroyed. The unprotected bones then rub together causing pain.
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