Seven Fears Of Joint Replacement Surgeries

Myths are inherent to human psyche like 13th the Friday. It takes long to get established

but once it has grown roots, can’t be uprooted easily. Lets discuss few of them pertaining

to osteoarthritic knee. 1. Happens due to deficiency of Calcium and Vitamin D

2. Overuse does it.

3. Naturopathy and Massage is the answer

4. Medicines can cure everything

5. Walking Stick is taboo.

6. Knee Injections can cripple

7. Knee Injections can cripple

Lets take them one by one.

• Osteoarthiritis is the result of usual aging process of body. Like cataract and greying of hair,it can be early in some cases while late in others. Frank deficiency of calcium and vitamin D is likely to cause bone pains and fatigue fractures rather than joint pains

• On the contrary, body loses the parts early which are not used regularly. It is the abuse in the form of certain activities which can cause early onset like overuse of stairs, standing for long etc.

• Natural treatments like oil massage may work temporarily by increasing the blood flow and providing warmth to knee thereby alleviating pain for some time. Exact role of physiotherapy lies in improving the strength and stamina of muscles around the joint which can offload the joint stresses.

• Medicines can alleviate the pain in early stages. Long term use can damage liver and kidney. So called joint vitamins may help in early stages but have no role beyond three months.

• Walking sticks are supposed to offload the painful knee and provide stability especially while walking on uneven surfaces. It’s a sign of independent person rather other way round.

• These injections can only be given by orthopaedic surgeon hence safe. Reactions can happen to even paracetamol but are usually not critical.

• Movement is life and once you get used to lie in bed, muscles get weaker and you never regain the earlier strength. Hence the best time to go for surgery is when you are still active.

This article is written by Dr. Dhananjay Gupta, Senior Consultant Orthopaedics and Joint Reconstruction

Article source: http://www.orthosurgeonsdelhi.com/seven-fears-joint-replacement-surgeries/