Tag: knee osteoarthritis pain

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Knee Osteoarthritis

Finding Relief From Knee Pain

It is estimated that over 800,000 Americans get knee replacement surgery every year and even more people experience daily knee pain.

It is estimated that 800,000 Americans get knee replacement surgery every year, however, the number of people that have painful knee osteoarthritis is significantly more.

This means that many people in this country and worldwide, are suffering from the debilitating knee pain that comes with untreated osteoarthritis.  Which as a result, can interfere greatly with their daily lives, and limit what they can and can not do.

No one deserves to live with the significant pain, limited physical capabilities, and reduced quality of life that comes from living with untreated knee conditions. Especially with the many treatment options that are available.

The most common method of finding relief from knee pain due to osteoarthritis is through the use of medications or injections.

Though these methods may be helpful for those with milder cases of knee osteoarthritis, these types of treatments only offer temporary relief, and often come with a slew of unwanted side effects, and other health risks.

The most common medications taken to provide some relief from knee pain belong to a class of medications called NSAIDs.

NSAID stands for “nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs”. Examples of these commonly used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines are aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and some narcotics.

Though helpful in the short term, long-term use of these medications can lead to serious side effects.

The most common side effects of NSAIDs are gastrointestinal problems, including stomach irritation and reflux. It has also been reported that in some cases NSAIDs can contribute to heart problems and increase the risk of cardiovascular conditions.

Other side effects associated with using NSAIDs:

• Stomach irritation and ulcers
• Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding
• Increased potential for bruising
• Exacerbation of asthma symptoms
• Increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and blood clots
• Kidney damage

Another NSAID that is used to relieve osteoarthritis pain is a prescription-strength medication called celecoxib, also known by its brand name Celebrex.

This medication is more likely to be prescribed to patients that can not take some of the other over-the-counter NSAIDs due to stomach issues, as celecoxib is less likely to cause gastrointestinal bleeding. However,  there is evidence to suggest that celecoxib can contribute to the development of heart problems.

Some people can not take NSAIDs for a variety of reasons, in which case they might opt to take acetaminophen to relieve pain, also known by the brand name Tylenol.

Acetaminophen can relieve pain but does little to reduce inflammation. And, though it is widely used to treat pain, most doctors do not recommend acetaminophen as it is more likely to harm the liver than some of the other pain-relieving options that are available. In fact, too much acetaminophen can not only cause liver damage but can even lead to death.

Furthermore, some studies have even found that acetaminophen does little to help relieve osteoarthritis pain, especially when compared to the efficacy of NSAIDs.

When it comes to severe knee pain, another common pain reliever is a type of medication called an analgesic. These medicines are commonly known as “painkillers” and they work by blocking pain signals in the body. Though acetaminophen is technically an analgesic, the term is more often used to describe prescription painkillers such as tramadol, and opioids containing hydrocodone or oxycodone.

In our next article, we will dive deeper into looking at medications that are commonly used by those suffering from knee pain by focusing on their benefits as well as their risks.

In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about a non-invasive procedure to treat knee osteoarthritis, so as to avoid knee replacement surgery and the overuse of pain relievers, please call us today to set up a consultation at MidAtlantic Vascular and Interventional, 301-622-5360.

 

Categories
Knee Osteoarthritis

Pain Before the Storm

When it comes to the effect that an upcoming rainstorm can have on our joints, the research backing this occurrence is mixed.

When it comes to people experiencing an increase in knee pain before a rainstorm, the research backing this occurrence is mixed.

Maybe you’ve heard a relative or friend predict a rainstorm based on an ache in their joints, or maybe you’ve experienced it. Is it possible?

A recent study published in the British Medical Journal found no connection between rainy weather and increased joint pain. The researchers came to this conclusion by looking at more than 11 million medical visits that occurred on rainy days versus dry days and found that there was not only an increase during rainy days but there was in fact an increase on dry days. That being said, this could be due to people being more likely to cancel or postpone a medical visit during bad weather.

Another study published in Arthritis Care & Research, took a look at the weather at the time that the study participants first began to experience arthritis symptoms, and compared it to the weather a week or a month before the symptoms first appeared.

What they found was that there was no link between joint pain, rain, or temperature. However, further research has shown that the impact of the outside environment on joint pain is real, it just isn’t necessarily caused by the type of weather or the temperature. It’s caused by a change in something known as barometric pressure.

A study published in The American Journal of Medicine followed 200 patients for three months and found that their knee pain did in fact increase when the temperature dropped due to the drop in the air pressure.

Furthermore, another study that looked at 712 people with osteoarthritis, found that 469 people (69%) reported that their joint pain is weather sensitive. However, again, it wasn’t the type of weather or the temperature that caused this, but the change in barometric pressure.

So what is barometric pressure?

Barometric pressure is the measurement of air pressure in the atmosphere. More specifically it is the measure of the weight exerted by air molecules.

Barometric pressure is measured and analyzed by meteorologists so that they can track weather changes and predict storms. When the barometric pressure changes, the weather changes as well.

So how does a change in barometric pressure cause an increase in knee pain?

Though the exact reason for this increase in knee pain is unknown, most experts agree that a decrease in air pressure pushes less against the body, thus allowing the tissue to swell and expand. This expansion of tissue can thereby put more pressure on the joints, and cause an increase in pain, as well as tightness, stiffness, and overall discomfort.

Some of the other possible reasons for the increase in pain based on weather and barometric pressure changes are:

  1. The cartilage is worn down in the joints of those with knee osteoarthritis which exposes nerve endings. These nerve endings are sensitive to pressure changes and result in pain.
  2. Changes in barometric pressure can cause expansion and contraction of the ligaments, tendons, and cartilage within the joints. Which as a result, causes an increase in knee pain.
  3. The viscous fluid in the joints, which reduces friction between the bones actually becomes thicker in cold weather, which increases joint stiffness and pain.
  4. Cold and wet weather often causes people to be less active. Therefore without proper exercise, inactivity worsens joint pain and stiffness.

Fortunately, the impact that the changes in weather and barometric pressure have on knee pain is temporary. When these changes occur, our bodies will eventually either adjust to the change or return to normal when the air pressure increases.

Even though the research regarding a connection between weather changes and knee pain is not entirely clear in either direction, most doctors and people with knee osteoarthritis will agree that in their personal experience, a connection indeed exists.

Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to prevent the weather and barometric pressure from fluctuating, however, there are things we can do to help lessen the impact that these changes have on our joints.

In our next article, we will take a look at a few simple things that can be done to decrease pain during times of air pressure fluctuation and temperature changes.