Do injections to lubricate the knee really work?

March 11, 2010 — admin

I heard a report that knee injections to lubricate the joint are more and more popular. Do they work? And how?

Hyaluronic acid (HA) can be injected into the knee to restore the joint’s ability to move and glide easily. The knee already has some of its own HA. By injecting more, the HA already in the joint improves the flow of the synovial fluid. Injected HA also helps keep the naturally present HA from breaking down.

Overall, studies show that HA is both safe and effective. It seems to work better for younger patients (under 65 years) and for patients with only mild to moderate disease. Patients with severe osteoarthritis may not have any natural lubrication left in the joint. It seems without some HA, the injection doesn’t work as well.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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What does “advanced” osteoarthritis mean?

March 8, 2010 — admin

My doctor told me I have advanced osteoarthritis. What does this mean?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is staged according to how much damage has occurred in the joint and how much joint space is left. X-rays are used most often to stage OA. In advanced stages of OA, there is a complete loss of joint space.

The femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (lower leg bone) have no cushion between them. When you use the knee, the bones slide across each other without any protection or lubrication. We call this bone-on-bone.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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Arthroscopy may be answer to cyst removal at knee joint

February 8, 2010 — admin

I’ve had the fluid removed from a cyst behind my knee twice now. Why does it keep coming back?

Doctors think there are several reasons for this. First, the cysts have thick walls with twisted, deep roots. The body can’t dissolve or absorb this tissue. There’s also a valve between the cyst and the joint. This opening allows fluid to move from the joint into the cyst.

Often other damage in the knee adds to the problem. A new study by two doctors in South Korea report better results for cyst removal using arthroscopy. A special tool with a tiny TV camera is inserted into the cyst. The fluid is taken out. Then the cyst wall is removed with a motorized shaver. Any other damage in the joint is repaired at the same time. They’ve had 100 percent success in treating cysts this way.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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Will I be able to climb stairs after my total knee replacement?

January 21, 2010 — admin

I had a total knee replacement five months ago. I can walk just fine, but I still can’t climb the two stairs in front of my house. Will I ever be able to do this?

Stair climbing is a difficult skill for many people who have had total knee replacement. This is true even one year after surgery. After surgery, the support from leg muscles is only one-third of the strength and force needed to climb stairs.

Bring your concern to your doctor’s attention. A physical therapist can help you begin an exercise program specifically designed to assist you with stairs. If you saw a physical therapist during your recovery from surgery, do not hesitate to contact the therapist and request additional services.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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Going up eaasier on knees, coming down causes more knee pain

January 13, 2010 — admin

I notice climbing up hills is much easier on the knees than coming down. Why is that?

Runners and hikers have all noticed that stiffness is worse the day after going downhill compared to going up. Going downhill puts much more strain on the muscle fibers and connective tissue compared with moving over a flat route. Downhill running can be damaging because of the greater eccentric muscle contractions that occur. Let me explain.

When your foot hits the ground, the muscles in the thigh contract to support you. But the nature of the downhill action is such that although the muscle is contracting, it’s forced to lengthen at the same time. Contracting while lengthening a muscle at the same time is called an eccentric contraction. It can cause trauma and damage to muscle fibers.

Trauma to the muscles and connective tissue around the muscles causes tiny tears of the tissue fibers. Stiffness occurs as a result of muscle damage and breakdown of nearby connective tissue.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.

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Is a popliteal cyst the same thing as a Baker’s cyst?

December 23, 2009 — admin

What’s a popliteal cyst? Is it the same thing as a Baker’s cyst?

Popliteal and Baker’s cysts are indeed the same thing. Both refer to a fluid-filled sac behind the knee. This was first observed and recorded by Dr. Baker (hence the name) in 1877.

Since that time, physicians have learned there is a channel that forms between the joint and the cyst. Fluid passes through this channel from the knee joint to create the cyst in the back of the knee.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com.

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Splinting, bracing, wrapping injured knees is controversial treatment

December 18, 2009 — admin

I often see people wearing braces on their knees. I hurt my knee in a skiing accident last week. Should I be wearing a brace?

The use of splints, elastic bandages, neoprene sleeves, and various braces for knee injuries is controversial. When to wear these devices and for how long are subjects of current research.

 

A proper diagnosis is the first step in knowing how to treat an injury. For example, elastic ace wraps are used for sprains to help reduce swelling in the first 24 hours. Knee support is sometimes recommended for anterior cruciate ligament injuries, especially if surgery is delayed. Talk with your doctor to find out whether extra support is necessary in your case.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com. 

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Knee surgery vs. physical therapy for torn ACL

December 7, 2009 — admin

My skiing buddy and I both had knee injuries in competition last month. It turns out we had the same injury–a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He went on to have knee surgery. My doctor said my knee will get better with physical therapy. Shouldn’t I have the same treatment as my friend?

Not necessarily. It’s likely your friend’s ACL was severely damaged. Your doctor may have determined that your ligament was only mildly torn or stretched out. In that case, physical therapy treatments can be used to help improve your knee function.

Your doctor and physical therapist will watch to see if you get full knee motion and strength. If your pain and swelling go away and your knee feels stable and strong, you may be able to return to competition without knee surgery.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com.

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Which knee ligament is really torn – ACL or MCL?

November 18, 2009 — admin

It has been 20 years since I was diagnosed with a partial tear of my medial collateral knee ligament. My knee gives out every once in a while, keeping me from the activities I enjoy. I just turned 63, and I like to keep active by skiing and playing golf. Should I have the ligament replaced?

It is questionable whether you merely tore your medial collateral ligament (MCL) when you were first hurt. Had you only injured the MCL, chances are it would have scarred down and not given you much trouble.

From what you describe, it is more likely that you also stretched or tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). In either case, you might not be a candidate for ligament surgery given your age. Instead, a surgeon specialist will probably want to have you use a brace and do exercise treatments. If these aren’t helpful, surgery might be a last resort.

Age is one factor your surgeon will consider. So is activity. Your surgeon may treat you as he or she would a younger patient, given your level of activity.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com.

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Could my knee pain be arthritis? I’m only 33!

November 4, 2009 — admin
Lately I’ve had a lot of pain right behind my kneecap, especially when going down stairs. I am only 33 years old. Could I be developing arthritis already?

 
There are several possible causes of pain behind the knee. A recent injury can cause pain from a ligament tear. Sometimes a small structure in the knee such as a bursa or plica can become inflamed and cause pain.

You may be describing a condition called patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). This occurs when the kneecap is slightly off center as it slides up and down over the joint. This kind of tracking misalignment can cause the cartilage behind the knee to become torn or frayed.

PFPS is often characterized by pain when descending stairs. There may also be pain when trying to bend at the knee in a partial squat. An orthopedic physician or physical therapist can examine you and determine the cause of your symptoms.

The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. For more information on this subject, visit www.zehrcenter.com.

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