Knee Pain: Treat With Lifestyle Changes

A review of 47 studies on 22,037 patients with knee osteoarthritis treated for at least 12 months showed no clear difference in controlling long-term pain between medications and placebos (JAMA, 2018;320(24):2564-2579). A non-steroidal (celecoxib), and glucosamine showed a limited time-limited effect on pain.

Except for immune suppressants, which can have a lot of serious side effects and medications, supplements and other health products do not prevent the progression of joint damage and are only used to reduce pain. There are many medications that can be used to treat osteoarthritis, including:

• Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), also known as ibuprofen or other pain medicine, are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory.
• Antioxidants.
• Bisphosphonates, which are bone-strengtheners, can be used.
• Joint injections, such as corticosteroids and hyaluronic Acid.
• Chemicals found in cartilage, such as chondroitin and glucosamine.
• Agents that modify disease such as cindunistat and sprifermin.

Learn the cause of your pain in the joints

You should consult a doctor if you don’t have a diagnosis. You may have sudden locking in your joint that improves and then recurs. “joint mice,” There are small pieces of cartilage which can slip between your cartilage and cause severe pain. The loose cartilage can be removed with arthroscopic surgical surgery.

Osteoarthritis causes the majority of persistent and progressive joint pain. It can eventually destroy the cartilage in joints and is among the most prevalent chronic diseases and a leading cause of disability worldwide (JAMA, 2018;319(14):1444-1472). Eighty percent of North Americans are diagnosed with osteoarthritis on X-rays before they reach 65. Sixty percent suffer from severe joint pain. Nearly 700,000 Americans have their knees replaced every year.

What causes Osteoarthritis

An osteoarthritis diagnosis used to signify that your doctor had excluded other causes of pain in the knees and didn’t know what was causing it. Now we know that people with osteoarthritis have high blood levels of galectins that turn on a person’s immune system to cause inflammation, just as in rheumatoid arthritis or reactive arthritis (Journal of Immunology, Feb 15, 2016;196(4):1910-1921). If your immune system is overactive, the same chemicals that attack germs can also attack your joints and destroy your cartilage.

A review of 68 studies showed that osteoarthritis is associated with everything that increases inflammation, such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome (Rheumatology, May 1, 2018;57(suppl_4):iv61–iv74; Rheumatology, Jan 1, 2016;55(1):16–24), and that this joint pain is reduced temporarily by anything associated with the control of inflammation:

• Omega-3 oils are found in fish.
• Leafy green foods like spinach, kale, and parsley.
• People who are overweight lose weight (but not those who are thin).
• Strengthening exercises and flexibility exercises (Arthritis Care & Research December 5, 2017;69(12), & aerobic exercise (The Knee January 18, 2018).
• Avoid smoking.
• Alcohol restriction

Multiple studies have shown exercise to be more effective than surgery (arthroscopic meniscectomy), in treating degenerative meniscal injuries and knee pain (BMJ, Jul 20, 2016; N Engl Med, 2013,368:1675-84). Arthroscopic Knee Surgery Is Usually Ineffective.

Osteoarthritis Treatment: Lifestyle that is Anti-Inflammatory

• Anti-inflammatory eating habits It includes plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. People who follow a Mediterranean-style anti-inflammatory diet have a lower chance of developing osteoarthritis (Clin Nutr Oct 8, 2016).
• Lose weight if overweight. Inflammation is caused by excess weight, and obesity is a major risk factor in osteoarthritis. (Int J Obes Relat Med Disord 2001;25(5),622-627). Osteoarthritis Cartilage Oct 27, 2015. S1063-4584(15)01364-3; Arthritis and Rheumatism, Sept 15, 2008;59(9):1207-13). Women are at half the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis if they lose just 11 pounds (Arthritis & Rheumatism, August 1998:41(8):1343-55)
• Move more Inactivity is almost always a cause of osteoarthritis. Exercise can improve osteoarthritis cartilage (Med and Sci. Sprts and ex. Mar 23, 2017, and a review of 55 studies revealed that weight bearing exercise reduced pain and improved joint function. (British Journal of Sports Medicine September 24, 2015. For 20 weeks, strength and aerobic training markedly reduced knee pain and improved mobility (Arthritis Research, August 30, 2016). Six studies with 656 patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis revealed that exercise improved the symptoms. The exercise also helped to reduce pain in the knees. You should be aware of the pain and stop if it gets worse.
• Avoid impact sports The impact of your feet on the ground can cause damage to your knee cartilage. You should not run, jump or engage in activities that require your foot to impact the ground. You can use machines like ellipticals and stair-steppers to support your feet as you move, as well as swimming, cycling, and other low-impact activities such as swimming.

To control pain, you can use Medications as needed

It’s okay to use NSAIDs to reduce your pain [non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs] You can also use pain medication, but they don’t stop the progression of joint damage and do not relieve the pain. Use them only when you need them.

A knee replacement may be recommended if the pain is so severe that it makes it difficult to sleep at night. Joint replacements don’t last forever. Most replacements last around 15 years. So, put off surgery until you are ready. Because replacement joints are not immune to infection, any infection can spread to the replaced joint.

Republished from DrMirkin.com