Tag: Mens Health

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Knee Osteoarthritis

Side Effects and Risks of Corticosteroid Injections

Corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid injections can help to relieve osteoarthritis knee pain, however, it is temporary.

Corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections can help to relieve knee pain, however, it is temporary.

Not only is the relief temporary but there is ample evidence to support that exercise can be just as effective, and so can a simple injection with plain old saline solution (which is often used as the placebo in clinical trials).

Again and again, exercise, in order to treat knee osteoarthritis pain, is recommended over knee injections. One reason is that knee injections come with many more risks than exercise.

One of the biggest risks of knee injections is infections of the knee joint. This is especially true of corticosteroids.

If there are germs on the needle that is used for corticosteroid injections, an infection can happen.

Though joint infections are rare, they do happen. And when they do, they can cause serious problems. Therefore it is critical that these knee injections and performed by experienced doctors that follow hygiene standards such as properly disinfecting the skin before the injection.

The risk of infection is slightly higher with corticosteroid injections than with hyaluronic acid, because of the effect that steroids can have on the immune response of the joint.

In fact, repeated steroid injections over a long period of time can weaken the joint cartilage as well, furthering this risk.

Other possible side effects of steroid knee injections include pain and swelling at the injection site. This is especially true in the days after treatment when the muscles and ligaments may be slightly weakened.

There is also the risk that, for those getting treated with multiple steroid injections, the skin at the injection sight can become permanently discolored.

Some of the other potential side effects of steroid knee injections are:

–  osteoporosis of nearby bone tissue

–  osteonecrosis, which is the death of bone tissue

–  a temporary flare of pain and inflammation in the joint

–  joint infection

–  nerve damage

–  thinning or lightening of the skin and soft tissue around the injection site

–  allergic reaction

–  elevated blood sugar levels in some people with diabetes

 

There is also evidence to suggest that cortisone injections come with not only the risk of infection post-injection but that when administered in the time period before knee surgery, these injections can lead to a much greater post-surgical infection risk.

Even when corticosteroids are effective, according to a research study published by an independent group of scientists from the Cochrane Collaboration, these injections might reduce osteoarthritis symptoms for several weeks in roughly 10 out of 100 people.

 

The Bottom Line: Though there was a time when corticosteroid injections were considered to be some sort of miracle cure for knee pain, in more recent years, research has shown that this isn’t entirely true.

In fact, several studies have found that corticosteroid knee injections provided no significant pain relief after two years. And, some studies have even shown that cortisone can make the situation worse by thinning out the meniscus, causing more bone on bone in the knee.

In our next article, we will take a look at the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid injections, as well as the potential side effects and risks.

Categories
Enlarged Prostate

Swimming for Prostate Health

The weather is warmer, the pools are open, and it’s time to swim- especially if you’re looking to maintain prostate health.

Swimming is a low-impact form of exercise that provides a cardio workout, helps improve muscle strength, and has numerous health benefits that contribute to overall prostate health.

Though all exercise is beneficial to overall health, when it comes to prostate health, particularly for those recovering from prostate cancer, prostatitis, and any other prostate condition- swimming may be the best choice. Though biking has many cardiovascular benefits, it puts pressure on the perineal area ( the area between the anus and scrotum), which can exacerbate uncomfortable symptoms and potentially make things worse.

Swimming, like yoga or pilates, stretches the muscles in a way that feels good and can is also easy on the joints. The buoyancy of being in the water, takes the pressure off of the pelvis and the prostate, allowing for all the benefits of a cardio workout without the risks of irritation.

Research has also shown that swimming can boost overall brain health. Evidence has shown that not only can it improve mood, cognition, and immune response- but it can also alleviate stress, benefit the central nervous system, and- the limited breaths during laps can even help the body to use oxygen more efficiently.

When it comes to swimming, one of the challenges is finding access to a local pool. If you’re lucky enough to have one of your own- use it. Otherwise, pools can be found at local gyms, and many have set times when the pool is exclusively used for working out. Even just swimming once a week, when combined with another form of exercise, such as walking or jogging, can make a big difference.

So what kind of swimming is a workout? Do you just swim back and forth from wall to wall? And for how long?

All the different strokes of swimming can be a good workout. Whether is breaststroke, backstroke, front crawl, side swimming, kickboard kicking, or doggy paddling. It’s all swimming and it’s all beneficial- though maybe leave the doggy paddling to the dogs. To get a good swimming workout, most trainers suggest starting with 15 to 20-minute swims, and then gradually increasing it to 30 minutes.

Of course, this isn’t without taking breaks and making sure to stay hydrated. It’s surprising how many swimmers become dehydrated, as sometimes the sweat from all the exertion gets lost in the pool. But just like running, biking, hiking, and another exercise- hydration is crucial.

Alex Kostich, a former Standford University swimmer, believes in the benefits of swimming. And has even outlined a work-out for those interested in adding swimming to their exercise routine. She laid out the following swim work-out, which can serve as a helpful guide- however, it is just that- a guide. This workout is not the only way to exercise in the pool, but it can give some ideas as to how to structure a workout.

Sample: Basic Training Swim Workout

Warmup: 2 laps (100 meters) Rest

1 lap easy 1 lap fast (repeat five times, with no rest if possible: 500 meters) Rest

2 laps KICK (100 meters)

1 lap backstroke 1 lap freestyle 1 lap breaststroke 1 lap freestyle (200 meters) Rest

Swim down 2 laps (100 meters)

Total: 1,000 meters

Kostich says that “The above workout is an outline for someone wanting to achieve basic conditioning while maintaining muscle tone and flexibility. If it is too much of a challenge, you may need a few swimming lessons to correct your technique before tackling the sets above.” Also, if it’s too much of a challenge, just do what you can do. Start small, even 10 minutes and pay attention to your form- you may discover that you could use a little help with your form and technique.

The bottom line, swimming is an excellent choice when it comes to overall health, and prostate health. It’s a low-impact form of cardio that provides a full-body workout and can aid in weight loss, muscle tone, and development, as well as cardiovascular health- all while reducing stress, improving mood, and best of all- It’s fun!

Categories
Enlarged Prostate

Underwear…To Wear, or Not To Wear

What kind of underwear is best for your prostate health? Or is no underwear at all best?

When it comes to maintaining a healthy prostate, does it matter if you wear boxers or briefs, or no underwear at all?

It is estimated that 5-7% of men, do not wear underwear. Many do this because they think it’s more comfortable, but is it also better for your prostate health?

Not necessarily, but there is some research to show that tight-fitting underwear could have adverse effects.

In 2018, the medical journal, Human Reproduction, published the results of a study on the impact that tight underwear has on male fertility. Though more research on the topic is needed, researchers found that there was a 25% higher sperm concentration in men who were boxer briefs, as opposed to men that wore tighter-fitting underwear. Scientists believe this is due to the fact that tight underwear increases the temperature of the scrotum, which affects the body’s production of sperm. 

Though there is some evidence to suggest that tight underwear can affect sperm count, there is also evidence to suggest that going without underwear, or “going commando” as it’s often called, could have its own issues as well.

These issues can range from hygienic issues due to easy exposure to bacteria, chafing from being without a layer of added protection, and a higher risk of injury without the barrier of some type of underwear. However, most experts agree, that it all comes down to personal preference.

Will tighter underwear or boxer briefs cause prostate issues?

Not necessarily. But anything that restricts blood flow to your groin area can be potentially problematic. So the better choice overall is wearing slightly looser-fitting cotton boxers or boxer briefs. This is especially true when experiencing the effects of an enlarged prostate, be it something that’s just a normal product of aging, or something that needs to be treated.