What is Osteoarthritis, and how is it treated?

 

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. And there is no cure for Osteoarthritis with conventional Osteoarthritis treatment methods. The characteristic feature of Osteoarthritis is a loss of tissue at the end of the bones. The protective tissues wear out gradually and get worse over time, causing inflammation of the joints. Osteoarthritis is also one of the most common diseases of the joints. We, at Medica Stem Cells, use the principles of Regenerative medicine to improve the condition. With Regenerative Osteoarthritis Treatment, we prevent degeneration of the protective tissues and promote regrowth of some of the protective tissue or hyaline cartilage. Hyaline cartilage is soft cartilage that covers the joint surfaces. Regenerative treatment thus helps to either delay or avoid joint replacement surgery. It also helps to manage symptoms without relying much on painkillers which in the long run can harm your health.

 

Am I at risk of developing Osteoarthritis?

 

Various risk factors increase your chance of developing Osteoarthritis. The risk factors include:

 

Age:

With age degeneration of hyaline cartilage of our joints is very common. Mainly of the main weight-bearing joints such as knees, hips and ankle. Osteoarthritis of the knees and hips is very common.

 

Osteoarthritis is generally prevalent in older adults, especially those who are over 60 years.

 

Obesity:

Obese people or people who are overweight are at higher risk of developing Osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, and spine. However, the risk of developing Osteoarthritis decreases if one maintains a healthy weight.

 

Hereditary:

Few people have an inherited defect in one of the genes responsible for making cartilage. These cause defective cartilage, which leads to more rapid deterioration of hyaline cartilage at the joints. People with congenital joint abnormalities are more likely to develop Osteoarthritis.

 

Previous surgery:

Arthroscopies or other surgical procedures accelerate the onset of Osteoarthritis.

 

Previous injury:

Injuries cause Osteoarthritis. For example, athletes who have knee-related injuries are at higher risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee. People with severe back injury are at risk of developing Osteoarthritis of the spine. Also, people who have had a broken bone near a joint are prone to develop osteoarthritis in that joint.

 

Joint overuse

Overuse of certain joints increase the risk of developing Osteoarthritis. For example, people who repeatedly bend their knees are at increased risk for developing Osteoarthritis of the knee.

 

Other condition such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and Haemophilia:

People with Rheumatoid Arthritis, which is the second most common type of arthritis, are more likely to develop Osteoarthritis.

 

Arthritis is also a widespread complication of haemophilia. It develops mainly because of frequent or inadequately treated bleeding into joints. Therefore proper care of joint bleeds prevents arthritis.

 

Also, certain rare conditions, such as iron overload or excess growth hormone, increase the risk of developing Osteoarthritis.

 

What is hyaline cartilage?

 

Hyaline cartilage or glass-like cartilage is translucent cartilage that is present on the joint surface. The hyaline cartilage is usually grey in colour and is rich in collagen with a firm texture. Articular cartilage or Hyaline cartilage present on the articular surfaces of bones – the surfaces at joints. Articular cartilage functions as a shock absorber and reduces friction between bones where they meet at joints. As a person ages, this cartilage can wear away. The wearing out of cartilage causes joint pain and swelling.

 

 

What are the conventional Osteoarthritis treatment methods?

 

As mentioned before there is no cure for Osteoarthritis. Palliative treatment aims mainly to manage the symptoms but not addressing the cause.

Conventional osteoarthritis treatment includes:

·       exercise,

·       physiotherapy,

·       acupuncture,

·       weight loss,

·       cortisone injections,

·       supplements such as Glucosamine, Chondroitin or SAMe

·       supportive and assistive devices such as knee or ankle braces,

·       arthroscopy with a washout or

·       As the last resort joint replacement surgery.

 

How Regenerative Treatment helps in treating Osteoarthritis?

 

Regenerative treatment is a highly effective and natural treatment for Osteoarthritis. Usually, patients rely on painkillers to manage pain, but painkillers do not treat the cause of pain. Whereas, Regenerative Therapy mainly focuses on the natural treatment of Osteoarthritis. For Regenerative Treatment, we use biological materials, extracted from the patient’s body.

 

Several studies suggest that Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP and Stem Cell therapy work wonders for treating damaged ligaments and tendons. PRP and Stem Cell therapy not only manages the symptoms of Osteoarthritis but also helps to promote healing of the damaged connective tissues.

 

What are the options of Regenerative therapy for Osteoarthritis treatment?

Regenerative Treatments are same-day procedures and the options are:

 

 

 

o    Prolotherapy,

o    Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP Therapy.

o    Mesenchymal cell therapy (MCT)

o    Stromal Vascular Fraction Therapy (SVF)

 

 

In a few cases, more than one therapy is the treatment protocol. For some patients, a series of injections are administered during the treatment sessions. The method of treatment is solely at the discretion of the consultant.

 

What are the benefits of Regenerative Treatment?

·       Minimal-invasive procedure

·       Same day procedure

·       Joints become mobile within a few days after the Regenerative Treatment

·       No ugly post-operative scars

·       No need for prolonged joint rehabilitation

 

What results can be achieved with Regenerative therapy for Osteoarthritis?

 

·       Pain and stiffness reduction

·       Improved flexibility

·       Improved mobility

·       Muscular strengthening

·       Reduced inflammation levels

·       Reduced medication needs

 

 

 

 

What to expect after the Regenerative Treatment for Osteoarthritis?

 

Regenerative therapy is an ortho biological treatment. It usually requires some time after the procedure to initiate repair. The results of the treatment are not instantaneous. It requires around thirty days, often for the patient to experience any signs of improvement. Overtime patients will experience reduced pain or increased function of the affected joint or sometimes both.

 

Some patients complain of mild discomfort at the site of treatment after the procedure, which can persist for a day or two. Usually, rest helps to relieve this pain. Simple painkillers are suggested if pain persists.

 

The regenerative treatment has a strong anti-inflammatory effect due to the release of cytokines and growth factor. The anti-inflammatory effect usually lasts for around two to three months, thus reducing inflammation of the affected area. Gradual improvement begins as the hyaline tissues start to heal in the affected areas.

 

It is best to wait for 3-4 months for the effects of the treatment to become apparent. You will have review sessions up to six months post-treatment. Follow up sessions provides an opportunity for the patient to explain their improvement and compare to the medical records before Regenerative Treatment.

 

Regenerative treatment usually has excellent results. However, the outcome of the treatment varies for every patient. The results mainly depend on factors like age, type and severity of the condition etc.