BACKGROUND: According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the United States, limiting the activities of nearly 21 million adults. Arthritis is a group of conditions involving damage to the joints of the body. There are over 100 different forms of arthritis. The most common form, osteoarthritis, is a result of trauma to the joint, infection of the joint, or age. Other arthritis forms are rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and autoimmune disease, in which the body attacks itself. Each year, arthritis results in nearly 1,000,000 hospitalizations and close to 45,000,000 outpatient visits to health care centers.
The causes of arthritis depend on the form. Causes include injury metabolic abnormalities, hereditary factors, the direct and indirect effect of infections, and a misdirected immune system with autoimmunity. Symptoms of arthritis include pain; limited function of joints; and inflammation of the joints, which is characterized by joint stiffness, swelling, redness, and warmth. (SOURCE: The Arthritis Foundation)
TREATMENT: The treatment of arthritis is very dependent on the precise type of arthritis present. An accurate diagnosis increases the chances for successful treatment. Some treatments available include physical therapy, splinting, cold-pack application, paraffin wax dips, anti-inflammatory medications immune-altering medications, and surgical operations.
A NEW SHOT AT LIFE: Viscosupplementation is a way to treat osteoarthritis of the knee. In recent years, it's also been used to treat arthritis in the hip. Viscosupplementation involves an injection, made from a natural substance, which lubricates and cushions joints.
Called Synvisc, it's made from the comb of a rooster. "The proteins that are made out of that are similar to the proteins made in joint fluid," says Dr. Joseph Robinson a Musculoskeletal Radiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. A recent study showed 75-percent of patients were able to delay knee replacement surgery after having the treatment. Doctors say that's a big benefit for younger patients. There is a small risk of injecting the gel in the wrong spot, which can cause pain and inflammation, but Dr. Robinson says that is extremely rare.
These injections can typically provide up to six months of pain relief. It's about 15-minute procedure for patients, and they’ll be able to go home immediately after the treatment. Doctors may take X-rays of the patient, infusing a dye to show them that the needle is in the arthritic joint. Then, they inject the gel directly in that spot. It cushions and lubricates the area -- just like real cartilage.
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