Overcoming osteoarthritis pain is an enormous challenge. The toll it takes, both physically and emotionally, is a burden that over 30 million people deal with, and being the most common type of arthritis, it only gets worse with age. Unlike the temporary pain and inflammation caused in a joint by an overactive immune system response, osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that mostly affects cartilage, the tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint. When healthy, cartilage allows bones to glide over one another and acts as a shock absorber. The normal knee joint also contains synovial fluid, a thick, gel-like substance that cushions the joint and reduces friction.
What Causes Osteoarthritis?
In osteoarthritis, the surface layer of cartilage breaks down and wears away. Adding to the problem, the synovial fluid in your knees loses its ability to lubricate the joint. This combination causes pain and stiffness, limited joint motion, and some inflammation in your knees.
What Is Viscosupplementation?
At South Miami Spine and Joint, we focus on rehabilitation through injections with viscosupplementation. Viscosupplementation is a procedure in which a thick fluid called hyaluronate is injected into the knee joint. There is no cure for osteoarthritis, so viscosupplementation will not cure osteoarthritis of the knee, but it is thought that hyaluronate improves the lubricating properties of the synovial fluid, reducing pain, improving mobility, and allowing a more comfortable level of activity. Most doctors today use cortisone, a steroid with real side effects. We instead administer image-guided injections that ensure accuracy, helping restore normal function and natural lubrication to the joint.
Tips For Taking Care Of Your Knees
No matter what treatment you decide on for osteoarthritis of the knee, we encourage you to also take other steps to care for your knees. Here are a few to get started:
- Avoid high-impact activities such as running or tennis. Replace them with swimming, cycling, or walking, great forms of exercise that are also easy on the knees.
- Minimize activities that strain your knees. Use an elevator or escalator instead of stairs, for example.
- If your knees are interfering with mobility, try wearing a knee brace or using a cane.
- Consider physical therapy or a personalized exercise program with someone who is knowledgeable about osteoarthritis.
A Natural Approach To Pain Relief
Lose weight. Your weight can make a big impact on the amount of pain you experience from arthritis. Extra weight puts more pressure on your joints, especially your knees, hips, and feet. Reducing the stress on your joints by losing weight will improve your mobility, decrease pain, and prevent future damage to your joints.
Get more exercise. There are more benefits to exercise than just weight loss. Regular movement helps maintain flexibility in your joints. Weight-bearing exercise like running can be damaging, so try low-impact options such as water aerobics or swimming instead.
Use hot and cold therapy. Long, warm showers or baths, especially in the morning, help ease stiffness. Use an electric blanket or moist heating pad at night to keep joints loose. For pain, swelling, or inflammation, wrap a gel ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables in a towel and apply it to the joint for quick relief.
Include the right fatty acids in your diet. Fish oil supplements, high in omega-3s, have been shown to reduce joint stiffness and pain. Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), found in evening primrose, borage, hemp, and black currant seed oils, can also help, but check with your doctor before adding any new supplement.
Add turmeric to your dishes. Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound with anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce arthritis pain. More research on humans is needed, but it can't hurt to add this spice to your dinners.
Get a massage. According to the Arthritis Foundation, regular massage of arthritic joints can help reduce pain and stiffness and improve range of motion. Work with a physical therapist to learn self-massage, or schedule regular sessions with a massage therapist experienced with arthritis patients.
Content sourced from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health. Individual patient needs vary, so always consult your primary doctor regarding your symptoms.
If knee pain is holding you back from the things you enjoy, our team can help you build a plan around what's actually driving it. Learn more about our Osteoarthritis Treatment Program, or reach out to schedule a visit.
