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Archive for the ‘osteoarthritis treatment’ Category

Arthritis treatment & pain relief – Part 1

15 Aug

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One in three adults will suffer from some kind of arthritis as they get older. The term “Arthritis”

covers more than a hundred different types of the disease, all causing pain, stiffness, and inflammation in varying degrees.

The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, and rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease.

Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent, caused by wear and tear on the joints and affecting mostly older people. Osteoarthritis affects the knees, hips, hands, and spine of sufferers, and results from the degeneration of joint cartilage. This form of arthritis can be the result of strains and injuries caused by repetitive movement, and can be suffered by sportsmen and women.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. Sufferers can be any age. Rheumatoid arthritis can also cause inflammation of the tissue around the joints, and can affect other organs in the body.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease but patients may have long periods of remission without symptoms.

So, how is arthritis diagnosed? Let us concentrate on osteoarthritis.

The diagnosis of arthritis is a complex matter, as so many factors have to be taken into account.

The age and sex of the patient, the joints affected, the speed of onset, and whether there are any related symptoms.

X-rays of the affected joints, and blood tests will be necessary to correctly diagnose the type of arthritis, and to accurately determine the extent of any damage to the joints.

As with all medical conditions, there are new methods of diagnosis and treatment being made available for arthritis all the time, so patients should be made aware of these by their medical practitioner.

Once a patient has been diagnosed, a treatment decision will be made depending on the precise type of arthritis, and there are many options. Most patients will be offered drug therapy to reduce inflammation and manage pain, and it may take a time to find the correct combination of medication for each individual.

A number of patients suffering from arthritis will also benefit from physiotherapy and gentle physical exercise under medical supervision.

Alternative Remedies

Alternative treatment options and dietary supplements have become popular for arthritis and osteoarthritis in particular.

The problem is, there are as many alternative treatments around as there are stars in the sky!

What works

 
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Got Osteoarthritis? Here Are A Few Tips That Might Help…

02 Aug

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting about 40 million Americans. It is also the most common cause of disability.

While more than half of patients older than 65 years of age have osteoarthritis changes in the their knees on x-ray, osteoarthritis is not considered a “normal” part of aging.

Certain activities and occupations increase the likelihood of osteoarthritis. For instance baseball players have an increased incidence of osteoarthritis in the elbows and shoulder. Football players have an increased incidence of osteoarthritis in the hips and knees. And ditch diggers have an increased incidence of osteoarthritis in their wrists.

Obesity is a risk factor for osteoarthritis developing in the knees.

Osteoarthritis is a disease that arises from biochemical changes in cartilage which include a decrease in glycosoaminoglycans, an important constituent of collage, an increase in water content, and an increase in the content of destructive enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases.

These changes lead to structural weakening of cartilage. Small fissures develop, then larger cracks and irregularities also occur. Ulceration of cartilage and further deterioration occurs. The end result is a premature wearing away of cartilage with exposure of underlying bone. Along with this wearing away of cartilage is an increase in inflammation of the lining of the joint, the synovium.

The joints that are affected most in osteoarthritis are weight-bearing areas such as the neck, low back, hips, and knees.

Stiffness and pain are the moist common symptoms.

On physical exam, there are signs that point towards the diagnosis including bony swelling, and distribution of joint problems.

Laboratory testing is usually normal. X-rays may show changes.

Treatment for osteoarthritis is aimed at five primary goals. They are relief of pain, maintenance of function, prevention of disability, control of co-morbid conditions, and avoidance of medication side effects.

Non-drug therapies include patient education, physical therapy, thermal modalities, weight loss if indicated, and exercise.

Drug therapies include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, injections of glucocorticoids or viscosupplements (lubricants), and disease-modifying drugs.

Alternative therapies such as acupuncture, balneotherapy (spas), glucosamine/chondroitin, massage, chiropractic, etc. all have their advocates.

One area that has received much attention is the use of mechanical shifting devices that can unload specific joints. For instance osteoarthritis of the knee, a common problem, has received much scrutiny lately.

A recent study showed that the use of shoes that mimic barefoot walking may help because there is more pressure placed on the middle of the knee joint when people wear shoes as opposed to when they walk barefoot.

Also, the use of a simple device like a cane also reduced the load on the knees.
(Kemp G, et al Arthritis Care and Research 2008; 59: 609-614).

Other studies have found that lateral wedge insoles worn inside shoes can also reduce the load on the medial side of the joint.

Until the day comes when new cartilage can be grown… and that day may be closer than we think, particularly with the emphasis on stem cell research, the above modalities may have to do.

 
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Osteoarthritis (oa): Knee Surgery No Panacea!

27 Jul

Each year thousands of medics utilize their surgical instruments to perform surgery for treating osteoarthritis, however, a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) found that surgery wasn’t any better than conventional treatments for treating the disorder.

Arthroscopic surgery is a widely accepted minimally invasive surgical procedure, wherein surgeons insert medical instruments including an arthroscope in the knee to remove cartilage fragments, thus smoothening the joint surface to provide relief.

However, the recent study by scientists at the Robarts Clinical Trials at the University of Western Ontario in London concluded that patients with arthritic knees benefited equally well with non-surgical treatments viz. pharma drugs and physical therapy.

The research lasting 8 years, from 1999 to 2007 is based on the observation of 178 osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Of which 86 were treated with medicines and physical therapy. And at the end no additional benefits of surgery were found.

Despite the results, the health care industry experts suggest that knee arthroscopy is beneficial in the treatment of many abnormal medical conditions affecting the knee, viz meniscal repair, resection.

Osteoarthritis (OA), or degenerative arthritis, is a clinical syndrome in which low-grade inflammation results in swelling, pain, and stiffness in the joints. The disorder is a consequence of wear and tear within the joint. It’s also the most common type of arthritis that affects 27 million Americans and 10% of the Canadians.

Although simple arthroscopic procedures might not have proven to be better than conventional treatments in this study, experts believe that for patients with severe arthritis, “knee replacement surgery” serves as an option.

 
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Osteoarthritis symptoms – Part 1

10 Jun

Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent rheumatic disease. There is an enormous disability and loss of productivity associated with this condition; osteoarthritis is second only to cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence and severity of osteoarthritis increases with age. The degree of osteoarthritis is almost universal after 75 years of age; if someone lives long enough, they will have some form of osteoarthritis. Women are more affected than men in osteoarthritis, especially in nodal osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is primarily a disease of the joint cartilage. The cartilage is the low-friction surface covering bone ends which functions in lubrication during movement, shock absorbency, load support and joint stability. Th cartilage is mainly composed of water, chondrocytes (controls synthesis and degradation of cartilage), collagen (proteins involved in tensile strength and maintenance of shape) and proteoglycans (provides the “stuffing material” for the cartilage). The failure of the chondrocytes to maintain the balance between cartilage formation and destruction exposes the underlying bone, leading to microfractures and osteophytes.

The major symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain, and to a lesser extent stiffness. Loss of mobility and function ensue. Instability of the weight-bearing joints and limited motion can also present as symptoms of osteoarthritis. As there are no proven cure for osteoarthritis, the underlying goals of treatment are to reduce pain, improve function, and prevent associated disability.

The pain experienced during osteoarthritis is usually a deep, aching pain. The pain worsens on motion and weight-bearing, but improves with rest. On the other hand, the other symptom of osteoarthritis, stiffness, resolves with motion but recurs with rest. This stiffness usually lasts for about 30 minutes or less in duration.

The sources of pain in osteoarthritis are multiple, and includes structures within and around the joint as well as psychosocial factors. The focus in osteoarthritis research has been on articular cartilage, and clinically this is monitored by joint-space narrowing on X-ray. However, the articular cartilage contains no neural or vascular structures.

Intra-articular sources of pain include periosteum and osteophyte formation, subchondral bone engorgement and microfractures, intra-articular ligament degeneration, capsular distension with effusions, and synovitis. Periarticular sources can include inflammation of tendon, fascia or bursa, muscle spasm, and nerve pressure. Psychosocial aspects can contribute, with lower education levels and depression both being associated with greater pain and disability in patients with osteoarthritis.

 
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How Do Arthritis Experts Treat Osteoarthritis?

29 May

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and affects more than 20 million Americans. Commonly associated with aging, OA affects weight-bearing areas of the musculoskeletal system such as the neck, low back, hips, and knees. It also affects joints that are highly mobile such as the base of the thumb and the big toe joint.

While OA was considered to be primarily a condition affecting the elderly, it is now believed that OA can begin early- within the second decade of life. OA is a disease that affects cartilage, the gristle that lines the ends of long bones.

Cartilage consists of a matrix that is composed of a mixture of collagen and proteoglycans. Within this matrix, cells that make new cartilage, called chondrocytes, sit much like grapes inside jello.

Biochemical changes occur that lead to alterations in the matrix of cartilage making it more susceptible to early degeneration. As a result, the cartilage begins to wear away prematurely. Small cracks- called fissures- begin to form. The fissures eventually grow to the point that the cartilage actually flakes away. At the same time, inflammation develops and this accelerates the wearing away of cartilage.

It is difficult to estimate the number of people who have OA but who are not yet symptomatic. However, as we learn more about this disease, it is clear that cartilage changes and symptoms do not necessarily go hand-in-hand.

The treatment of OA then needs to take into consideration both the symptoms of pain that occur along with the biochemical changes that lead to cartilage deterioration.

A number of investigators have devoted much time and effort towards developing medicines called disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs or DMOADS.

Unfortunately, DMOAD discovery is extremely difficult since cartilage damage is hard to quantitate. Scientists have used many different methods to measure cartilage thickness in response to drugs including magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, standard x-ray, and arthroscopy. Arthroscopic retrieval of cartilage specimens offers the most hope as far as a definitive marker of effect but is technically difficult.

Currently, the treatment of osteoarthritis is primarily symptomatic. Rheumatologists generally start with non-drug therapies including patient education, dietary counseling, and specific exercises.

Over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen (eg, Advil) or naproxyn (eg, Aleve) and analgesics such as acetaminophen (eg, Tylenol) sometimes are effective.

Most patients with more than mild OA will require prescription medications such as prescription NSAIDS (Motrin, Naprosyn, Lodine, Relafen, Daypro, Mobic, and Celebrex, to name a few.) These medicines are usually effective but also carry with them potential side-effects including damage to the gastrointestinal system, kidney damage, and an increased risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.

A food-based anti-inflammatory compound called flavocoxib (Limbrel) appears to be effective for some patients and appears to be safer than traditional NSAIDS.

Prescription analegesics such as tramadol (Ultram) may be useful. However, the use of stronger narcotics sometimes is called for in severe cases.

Topical agents such as Myorx (an OTC preparation), Voltaren gel, and patches such as Flector (a patch containeing Voltaren) and Lidoderm (a patch containing lidocaine, a local anesthetic) can also be useful adjuncts.

Since OA tends to affect weight-bearing joints the most, the hip and knee are often the symptomatic areas that bring patients in to see the rheumatologist.

Injections of corticosteroid (cortisone) or viscosupplements (lubricants derived from rooster combs or other sources… examples being Hyalgan, Supartz, Synvisc, Euflexxa)) can be helpful for symptomatic relief.

The most exciting and promising therapy aimed at both pain relief as well as cartilage regeneration appears to be the use of combined treatment using stem cells and platelet rich plasma. The technique involves the use of autologous stem cells, meaning cells that are harvested from the patient, and given back to the patient therefore mitigating the ethical concerns associated with fetal stem cells.

Stem cells are harvested using a biopsy needle from the iliac crest (pelvic bone) of the patient. At the same time, blood is drawn and the blood is spun down to produce platelet rich plasma. Platelets are cells in the blood that contain many growth and healing factors. A small gauge needle is then inserted into the joint (knee or hip) using local anesthetic and the area of concern (cartilage, bone spur, and tendon attachments) are mildly irritated with the needle. The stem cells and platelet rich plasma are then injected into the joint.

Preliminary results appear very promising not only for symptom relief but also for chondrocyte and cartilage regeneration.

 
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Natural Osteoarthritis Treatments

16 Apr

Bob Litchfield

Treating Osteoarthritis should be a joint effort between the patient and their physician that takes into account the patient’s personal needs and medical condition. If you think you may have osteoarthritis, the best thing you can do for yourself is to take a pro-active role in your health.

Patients are often unaware that they have osteoarthritis, since the symptoms develop gradually, only to be discovered when joints swell or there is discomfort and pain after a period of inactivity.

Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease is a wear and tear disease of the joints typically seen in the older adult (usually over 60 years of age). Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, affects the elderly in various parts of the body such as the knees, hips, hands and even the spine.

Currently osteoarthritis treatment is limited because no medications are capable of preventing or retarding the disease process. Very often the doctor will, if osteoarthritis is found, make various recommendations to the patient that will help them to cope with both the pain and maintenance of the disease.

But whether you suffer from osteoarthritis (“wear and tear” of the joints), rheumatoid arthritis (inflammation in the joints) or gout (excess uric acid that accumulate in the joints), relief from your arthritis pain is available.

Osteoarthritis Pain Relief

Although there are effective pain relief drugs prescribed for osteoarthritis, natural pain relief if safer and just as effective. Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulphate combined together are excellent supplements in the fight against arthritis pain: they are said to increase mobility, reduce osteoarthritis pain and form the building blocks for cartilage growth.

Silicon can prevent joint deterioration and heal cartilage. Good sources of Silicon that calcifies and strengthen bones are wholegrain cereals, oats, barley, and root vegetables. Alternate medication, home remedies, liniments, gels, and creams used to help lessen pain require patience and belief.

Prevention

Prevention of the disease can help. If osteoarthritis runs in the family, the best preventive measure would be to follow a healthy lifestyle and a regular exercise program. Medication has to follow the course of the disease.

Sportspersons are more predisposed to osteoarthritis because they tend to put too much of pressure on particular parts of their bones and joints. Playing sport uses a lot of repetitive movements which can, in time, ‘wear out’ the joint.

Diagnosis

Don’t try and diagnose yourself. If you have any pain in the joints visit your doctor. There are different types of arthritis which need different treatment and medication.

There are several methods your doctor or rheumatologist will use to diagnose your type of arthritis. For instance, knee osteoarthritis is diagnosed through physical and pathological examinations of joints on either side of knee including hip joints and checking on posture and gait.

Other Options

Once the disease sets into the advanced mode, hip replacement surgery or arthroplasty is advised to help cure the pain and improve mobility.

The Future

Increasing levels of this disease mean that within two decades it is possible that around 20% of aged people in the US will be suffering with this condition. As the baby boomers age, more and more people will be experiencing symptoms of osteoarthritis. To offset this, more and more is becoming known about natural arthritis medication and natural arthritis treatments.

 
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Osteoarthritis treatment – Part 4

08 Apr

Seth welcomes Linda to the stage.

Six months earlier, my dad started complaining of knee pain every night when he went to bed. He would wake up alright every morning with no signs of any disability or pain, go to office, do a little bit of exercise and perform his real life role of a great father to perfection. But, it’s the bed time he feared the most. Every night he would ask me or my mom to give him a little massage so that he can go to sleep easily. He also ignored to give the doctor a visit. But, I realized that something was wrong and took him to an orthopedic surgeon. He asked us to go for an X-ray imaging of the knees and it was diagnosed as Osteoarthritis.

Incidence of osteoarthritis has been on the rise. The disease primarily affects persons over the age of 60 years but it can also occur a decade early as in the case of my dad. It mainly affects the joints of knees, hips, hand and the cervical and lumbar spine. The main problem with this condition is the high rate of disability associated with it.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative process affects the different joints of our body and the primary pathology associated with it is the loss of articular cartilages. A joint has many components- joint capsule, ligaments, muscles, tendons, synovium, synovial fluid, sensory nerves carrying impulses from the joints, articular hyaline cartilage and underlying bone. These components of the joint act as a unit to maintain the integrity of the joint and function as protectors of the joint from damage. For example, cartilages at the ends of bones forming the joint act as cushion during movement at the joint and the synovial fluid secreted from the synovium acts as a lubricant allowing frictionless movement. Any malfunction in the protective mechanisms sets in a complex interplay of molecular action at the joint leading to inflammation and damage to the joint resulting in OA.

Associated risk factors-

Age- With increasing age the capacity of the joint to repair any damage sustained is reduced and the joint is at increased risk of developing OA.

Women are at higher risk.

Genetic influence- If any of the parent is having the disease then the children are at increased risk of developing the disease in future.

Previous history of ligament tear, major injury to the joint or fractures involving the joint.

Any deformities of hands or legs.

Weakness of muscles around the joint due to any muscular or nervous disease.

Obesity is a major risk for the disease to develop.

Continuous

 
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New Guidelines For Osteoarthritis Good Or Bad And What Do They Mean If You Have The Disease

29 Mar

Mid Atlantic Spine

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and the leading cause of chronic musculoskeletal pain and limited mobility in older people worldwide.Since it is so common, many treatments have been advocated. Some treatments work and others dont. However, the sheer number of claims of efficacy can be overwhelming to both physicians as well as patients.A new set of treatment recommendations for knee and hip osteoarthritis have been released by a scientific organization, the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI).The goals of the committee were (1) to review all of the published national and international treatment guidelines together with the more recent evidence from clinical trials and (2) to produce a single set of up-to-date, evidence-based recommendations for the worldwide treatment of knee and hip osteoarthritis.The first of OARSIs 25 evidence-based recommendations was that that best treatment requires both non-drug and drug modalities. The remaining 24 recommendations fall into three categories non-drug, drug, and surgical.Non-drug These 11 recommendations include education and self-management (97%); regular telephone contact (66%); referral to a physical therapist (89%); aerobic, muscle strengthening and water-based exercises (96%); weight reduction (96%); walking aids (90%); knee braces (76%); footware and insoles (77%); thermal modalities [heat or cold] (64%); transcutaneous electrical stimulation (58%); and acupuncture (59%).Surgical These five recommendations include total joint replacement (96%); unicompartmental knee replacement (76%); osteotomy and joint preserving surgical procedures (75%); joint lavage and arthroscopic debridement in knee OA (60%); and joint fusion as a salvage procedure when joint replacement had failed (69%).In recent years, there has been a drop in the use of NSAIDs by physicians because of concerns related to the potential for causing gastrointestinal side effects and the possible cardiovascular risks associated with these drugs.The guideline committee was made up of experts from six countries, including 11 rheumatologists, two primary care physicians, one orthopedic surgeon, and two experts on evidence-based medicine.For example, research into osteoarthritis is constantly advancing and newer types of therapies exist for which there is still insufficient evidence to say whether they are effective or not.Second, one therapy, arthroscopic debridement for the knee has much evidence supporting its use, yet payers such as CMS (Medicare) will not pay for it citing the very few studies that dont show benefit as their evidence.Finally, there are cutting edge therapies such as stem cells and the use of platelet rich growth factors which show a lot of promise but for which it is much too early to know how effective they will be.

So… stay tuned!

 
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Osteoarthritis Symptoms And Treatment

27 Mar

Manos, artrosis y chuos/ Hands, osteoarthritis and chuos

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. The breakdown of joint cartilage caused by osteoarthritis may affect any joint in your body. Joints affected may include:

Fingers

Hips

Knees

Lower back

Feet

At first osteoarthritis may affect only one joint, but if your fingers are affected, multiple hand joints may become arthritic.

There are available treatments for osteoarthritis, but no cure. The available treatments can relieve pain and help you remain active.

Some people may not experience symptoms because the disease often develops slowly. Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis may include:

Pain in a joint during or after use, or after a period of inactivity

Discomfort in a joint before or during a change in the weather

Swelling and stiffness in a joint, particularly after using it

Bony lumps on the middle or end joints of your fingers or the base of your thumb

Loss of joint flexibility

Areas in which osteoarthritis typically affects include:

Fingers: Bony knobs can enlarge your finger joints and create a gnarled appearance. Early in the disease, your joints may feel painful or stiff and numb. The pain eventually often subsides, but leaves bony nodes that affect the mobility of the joints at the end of your fingers. The nodes run in families and affect women more than men.

Spine: As the disk slowly deteriorate between the bones along your spine, back and neck pain and stiffness may occur.

Weight-bearing joints: The hips, knees and feet are more susceptible to osteoarthritis because they bear the majority of your bodys weight. Over the years cartilage slowly deteriorates and chronic pain or varying amounts of discomfort when you stand and walk can occur. Swelling especially in the knees may also occur.

Treatment for osteoarthritis

Your doctor may recommend a combination of treatment that includes medication, self-care, physical therapy and occupational therapy. Surgical procedures may also be necessary in some cases.

Medications may include:

Topical pain relievers such as Aspercreme or Sportscreme, Icy Hot and Ben-Gay.

Acetaminophen like Tylenol and others can relieve pain but does not reduce inflammation

NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs work to relieve pain and fight inflammation. They range from OTC aspirin, ibuprofen like Advil, Motrin IB and others to prescription strength

Cox-2inhibitors: Are considered as effective as other NSAIDs for managing pain and inflammation without the same stomach-damaging effects. Other side effects of Cox-2inhibitors may include fluid retention, exacerbating high blood pressure and links to increased risk of heart attack and stroke

Tramadol: Available only by prescription, has no anti-inflammatory effect, but can provide effective pain relief with fewer side effects such as stomach ulcers and bleeding. Tramadol may cause nausea and constipation. It is generally used for short-term treatment of acute flare-ups.

Antidepressants: Tricyclics especially can help reduce chronic pain. They can treat sleep disturbances that can accompany arthritis. Some antidepressants used for arthritis pain and nonrestorative sleep include amitriptyline and nortriptyline.

Injections of pain relievers: Corticosteroid injections into a joint space can offer some pain relief and reduce inflammation.

Surgical or other procedures used to treat osteoarthritis include:

Joint replacement

Arthroscopic lavage and debridement

Repositioning bones

Fusing bones

 
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Current Concepts in Osteoarthritis Research: So Why do my Knees Hurt and Can You Make Them Better?

14 Mar

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common conditions leading to disability and impaired quality of life in the Western world.

Ironically, while more effective disease-modifying therapies have been developed for rheumatoid arthritis, particularly within the last 10-15 years, rheumatologists still treat osteoarthritis with symptomatic and supportive therapies.

As a result, the inexorable progression of this disease results in the performance of more than half a million joint replacements annually in the United States. While joint replacement surgery has made gigantic strides, it is still a major surgical procedure.

Risk factors for the development of OA include: genetic factors, obesity, joint injury, surgery, and the presence of associated metabolic disease.

It is clear from the research that OA is a disease that involves not only the cartilage- the gristle that caps the end of long bones and cushions the joint, but also the synovium- the tissue lining the joint- as well as the bone that underlies cartilage.

While genetic factors play a significant role in the incidence of osteoarthritis, the damage that occurs is a result of a complex interaction of inflammatory messengers. Among these are cytokines, prostaglandins, nitric oxide, growth factors, and proteases.

These substances, which are produced by chondrocytes (cartilage cells) that are subjected to abnormal forces lead to a situation where there is premature aging and destruction of cartilage substance.

The production of these inflammatory proteins also contributes to inflammation of the synovium and excessive amounts of bone growth.

Present therapies, as issued by guidelines proposed by the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI), are clearly aimed at symptom relief. These treatments include: analgesics, non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), topical agents (rubs), and joint injections with either glucocorticoids (cortisone), or hylauronic acid lubricants.

Current research has been aimed at finding the triggers that cause inflammation to start and also to identify specific markers that might identify those patients who are at greatest risk for rapid progression of disease. These markers would also be useful in measuring improvement once newer drugs that can slow down disease progression in OA can be discovered.

However, all of these investigations are futile unless and until specific disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADS) drugs that slow down the rate of cartilage loss- can be developed.

Drugs aimed at inhibiting cytokine and protease function show some promise but it is still too early to tell whether they will have the desired effect. Examples of these drugs include: matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors, drugs that block interleukin 1, bisphosphonates, calcitonin, as well as nutritional supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin.

And it may not be enough to find drugs that simply slow disease progression.

The holy grail is still the treatment(s) that will rebuild cartilage. The type of therapy that shows the greatest promise to date is the use of autologous stem cells. These are stem cells harvested from the patient and reintroduced into the affected joint along with a specific matrix to which the stem cells can adhere and grow.

Early results look promising. For more information about stem cell treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee, contact the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland at (301) 694-5800.

 
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