Knee Pain Treatment in India

Knee pain can be a source of significant disability in all age groups as it limits mobility. It can be classified into traumatic or non traumatic and based on the site of pain into anterior, medial, lateral and posterior. The common reasons for knee pain vary with age group and pain site. Pain from other sites such as hip and lumbar spine can also present knee pain. In the above 50 years age group raised BMI is an important risk factor for developing symptomatic osteoarthritis.

Genicular nerve blocks & radiofrequency ablation
This procedure is performed for chronic knee pain which may be secondary to various reasons such as osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease and persisting pain after knee replacement. It offers a safe, effective non surgical alternative to knee replacement for patients who are either not keen or are unfit or have persisting pain after knee replacement. Genicular nerve radiofrequency is performed as a day case under local anaesthesia with no requirement for hospital stay or prolonged rehabilitation.
Knee joint is supplied by branches from many nerves and these are collectively addressed as genicular nerves. The initial diagnostic procedure involves local anaesthetic injections close to the nerves supplying the knee joint. If the diagnostic procedure produces effective pain relief then special type of radio waves are applied to these nerves, which can produce prolonged pain relief (radiofrequency ablation). The procedure alleviates pain by creating a heat lesion around the nerves which interrupts the transmission of pain signals to the brain. These nerves are approached percutaneously under x-ray and ultrasound guidance with no requirement for any surgical incisions.

Cooled Radiofrequency Treatment
Cooled Radiofrequency treatment is an option for those suffering from chronic knee pain and not keen on surgery or those left with persisting pain after knee replacement surgery. It is a minimally invasive treatment done on day care basis under local anaesthesia. The treatment aims to deactivate the nerves responsible for transmitting pain signals from the painful knee. It involves placing needles close to these nerves under x ray or ultrasound guidance followed by heating of nerves to reduce the pain signals being transmitted. It differs from conventional Radiofrequency as it has water circulating through the device and can create a larger treatment area increasing the chances of success. Normal activities can generally be resumed soon after the procedure. Less pain can lead to improved functionality and reduced medication requirements.

Saphenous nerve block & pulsed radiofrequency
Saphenous nerve is a sensory nerve which supplies the medial (inner side) of knee joint and leg. This nerve can get entrapped or injured high up in the thigh leading to groin and inner thigh pain or lower down causing knee and calf pain. Trauma and surgery are common reasons for injury especially of the infrapatellar branch of the nerve.
Most patients present with pain, increased sensitivity along the inferomedial aspect of knee although it is not uncommon to see pain involving most of the anterior knee. A nerve block can be easily performed under ultrasound guidance as a diagnostic test followed by radiofrequency treatment to produce long term pain relief.

Ultrasound guided knee joint, bursa injection
An ultrasound scan of the knee can help in identifying knee pathology and help guide the injection into the desired location. The injected drugs vary depending on the pathology being treated. The options include local anaesthetics, steroids, Hyaluronic acid or Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP). Injections around the knee joint can be either
Directly into the joint
Into the tissues surrounding the joints - such as bursa
Into the muscle or localized tender points
Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the cartilage and the synovial fluid that lubricate the joints. In people with osteoarthritis, injections of artificial hyaluronic acid into the joint can help in reducing pain and improving mobility.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections
Platelets are one of the blood components. They help in clotting and contain growth factors which promote the healing process. PRP is blood plasma with concentrated platelets. PRP therapy is an attempt to utilise body’s natural ability to heal itself. Growth factors released from the platelets influence and accelerate the repair of tendon or ligaments. The procedure involves collecting a blood sample from the patient which is then placed in a spinning machine to separate different blood components. The component containing high platelets is separated and then injected under ultrasound guidance. Most people require 1-3 injections at 4 weekly intervals.

How to Know if You Need a Joint Replacement Surgery?

Have you tried every possible non-surgical treatment to get rid of the chronic joint pain only to discover that there’s no relief in your joints? Are you wondering if it is high time you should consider the joint replacement surgery? Well, a majority of the patients consider the idea of joint replacement intimidating. But it is worth to note that nothing can be worse than having to deal with critical joint pain for the rest of your life. Perhaps, this is the reason why there is around millions of joint replacement surgeries performed in the United States annually.

Gone are the days when joint replacement looked overwhelming. In today’s technology-driven world, this surgical procedure is considered one of the safest and effective treatment options for patients struggling with arthritis. Do you still think joint replacement is a severe and intimidating surgery? Well, read on this post to get a clearer view of what this surgical treatment actually is.
All You Should Know About Joint Replacement

Before discussing whether or not you need the joint replacement surgery, let’s first understand some basic details of this surgery. First of all, joint replacement surgery is not limited to the knee or hip replacement, instead, this surgical procedure can be performed on human’s elbows, ankles, wrists, and shoulders too. However, the research suggests a majority of the surgeries are either performed on hips or knees.

The practitioner removes the damaged bone or cartilage from the affected part and recreates a new joint with the help of prosthetic pieces. The best part about these prosthetic pieces is it completely feels like your natural joint. As soon as the patient’s recovery period is over, he/she can experience the natural range of motion and healthy mobility. What else? Some people still consider it an overwhelming surgical treatment but to their surprise, it is considered one of the most common surgical procedures across the world. Joint replacement surgery lasts for 3-4 hours and can be performed in the hospital or an outpatient surgery center. The patients need one-day stay in the hospital and that’s it! They can go home the same day or the following day.
Who Needs Joint Replacement Surgery?

If you have already followed the non-surgical medical treatments and couldn’t find any relief, an orthopedic may recommend you to have joint replacement therapy to fight off pain. But the recommendation of surgery doesn’t always mean you have to get your joints replaced, instead, there are different surgical treatments that may realign your joint or remove the damaged joint. Based on your physical condition, the severity of the pain you are experiencing in the joints, and type of arthritis, the doctor will recommend you to get the permanent solution for this unbearable pain i.e. Joint replacement surgery. To determine if you need Joint replacement surgery, you must meet the following conditions:

You are physically fit and in a good health condition (except for the joint pain caused by arthritis).
You have a high level of chronic and nagging joint pain.
You are struggling with a damaged or problematic joint.
The pain you have is caused by osteoarthritis rather than any casual inflammatory condition.

Basically, the non-surgical treatment options such as physical therapy, medication, weight loss, lifestyle changes, and more are available for arthritis patients. But these treatments are not effective when it comes to aligning your problematic joint or removing the damaged one. If you have been experiencing the symptoms of arthritis, it is the high time you consult with an Orthopedic Surgeon and get a Joint replacement surgery. Are you still in doubt whether the surgery is the only option for your sore joints? Here are some questions you should ask yourself to confirm if you are fit for the joint replacement surgery.

Is there any possibility I can endure the severe joint pain for the rest of my life?
Are the symptoms of arthritis worsening over time?
Am I physically and mentally fit for this surgery?
Am I able to finance the surgical treatment?
Can I face the recovery period?

Though joint replacement surgery is a common procedure for surgeons, getting your joints replaced is completely your decision. Make sure to consult with a joint replacement surgeon to get your joint issue diagnosed at the earliest possible time. The sooner you get the treatment, the faster your recovery. Hope this post helped you to learn everything about joint replacement surgery. Good Luck!

source: https://boneandjointcare.co.in/how-to-know-if-you-need-a-joint-replacement-surgery/

In simple words, low back pain can be defined as pain experienced in the bottom region of spine (between lower margins of ribs and the gluteal folds). It may remain localised to back or radiate to the legs.

Sciatica is a term used for pain radiating down from the lower spine to the legs. Most common cause of sciatica is irritation or compression of the nerves as they exit the spine on their way to the legs. It may be accompanied by numbness, tingling and weakness in the distribution of the affected nerve.

Globally low back pain (LBP) is one of the leading causes of disability. LBP is an important cause of limitation of activities, absence from work with resultant economic implications. In industrialised countries lifetime prevalence of non-specific low back pain is estimated at 60–70%.Despite the high incidence and intensive research into this area, pain generators are not easy to identify and the diagnosis Nonspecific Low Back Pain is used commonly. This is different from situations where a specific cause such as fracture, infection, neoplasm etc. responsible for pain generation can be identified.

Many people that suffer from frozen-shoulder pain are living in desperation because of the constant pain and discomfort, but also because the pain and lack of movement has altered their life. Frozen-shoulder Mumbai sufferers must learn to adapt a life where use of their affected arm is impossible and extremely painful. This can lead to lifestyle changes that affect jobs, family and cause emotional distress as well.

People have turned to over the counter pain medications as well as stronger prescription medications to deal with the constant, never ending pain. Others have just "learned" to deal with the pain and stopped doing the things that they have loved to do in the past...virtually giving up.

This pain occurs because of many factors. For one, a shoulder that is frozen has very tight and unyielding soft-tissue that when moved causes a lot of pain and discomfort. When soft-tissue is restricted as it is with a shoulder that is frozen, moving the joint or attempting to move the joint causes a very painful response in and around the joint. Another factor is the musculature in and around a frozen shoulder stops functioning as it once did and should. When muscles virtually "fall asleep" attempting to use them becomes painful. The body sends signals of distress to the brain and the body tried to protect itself. One of the ways it does this is to signal pain.

The question becomes, "can I ever get rid of my frozen-shoulder and live without pain?" The answer is in most cases, "yes." Finding frozen shoulder treatment in Mumbai or a comprehensive frozen shoulder elimination program that covers getting back all normal range of motion, flexibility of all musculature, and strengthening is essential. Also, a plan that includes a good targeted soft-tissue program is important as well. Working on all of these areas is the best case scenario for "curing" a frozen shoulder.

A good program will also simultaneously combat frozen shoulder pain. Having a large amount of pain will ultimately stifle progress.

Curing a frozen shoulder and getting rid of frozen shoulder pain is possible. The first key is finding a good, comprehensive program that includes all of the components listed above.

Read more: https://www.dramynrajani.com/shoulder/capsular-release-for-frozen-shoulder/

The term arthritis means “joint inflammation,” and the most common types are known as Osteoarthritis (OA) and Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Arthritis is a complex family of musculoskeletal disorders consisting of more than 100 different conditions that destroy joints, bones, muscles, cartilage and other connective tissues, hampering or halting physical movement and causing pain.
While arthritis is not a single disease, its symptoms are often universal and are largely experienced as stiffness, soreness, inflammation and pain. Over time, the cartilage between the joints can begin to wear down, exposing the joint to friction. When two bones rub together, inflammation and pain can take place. Redness and swelling of the joints and loss of joint function soon follow.
While the most common form, osteoarthritis, is a result of external factors like physical injury or wear and tear of joints through overuse, this is not the case with rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, despite advances in science, the exact causes of RA are unknown … but certain risk factors have been identified:- genetics, age, weight, injury, occupational hazards, sports, illness or infection, stress, etc.

Now we will go through two most common types of arthritis: osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis most commonly type of arthritis which is caused by poor lifestyle. It is degeneration of the cartilage that cushions the area where two bones meet to form a joint. When the cushion wears out or cracks, the bones rub together, causing intense pain. In severe cases, the joints can develop calcifications. This means that calcium builds up on the bones and soft tissues, making them stiff and painful to move. The pain of osteoarthritis gradually worsens with use over the course of the day.
This type of arthritis occurs slowly over time and is the type that many runners, martial artists and construction workers begin to feel by middle age due to over-extreme use of joints.
Prevention is always the best medicine. However, reversing damage already done is also essential.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is a chronic disease of the autoimmune system that causes inflammation of the synovial membrane (joint lining). This causes destruction and deformity of bone, cartilage, ligaments and muscle tissue.
RA commonly called “crippling arthritis” is a “systemic” disease. Besides the tissues around the joints, other areas RA affects include the glands of the eyes and mouth, the lining of the lungs and the pericardium. When inflamed, the tissue lining between the joints becomes red, painful and swollen. The frequency and duration of these “flare-ups” vary widely. After repeated episodes, chronic inflammation begins to cause damage to the surrounding tissue, cartilage and bone. Eventually this damage can lead to loss of cartilage and weakening of bones, resulting in painful and permanent destruction and deformities.
The second study offers even more hope as to the healing power of green tea for RA sufferers. Green tea, supplementation and relaxation techniques are powerful solutions for this disease.
Juvenile Arthritis
The autoimmune trigger of RA also affects children causing Juvenile arthritis (JA). Actually, JA is a term used to group the various autoimmune disorders affecting children 16 and under. While JA affects the joints, it also can affect the eyes, skin and gastrointestinal (GI) tract as well.
JA, while similar to RA, is more easily diagnosed. Again, this autoimmune disease is not precise in how, or whom, it affects, but inherited genes and external factors can trigger it in a child. If you have a family history of RA and your child shows red inflammatory joints.
The natural solutions and plan for JA are the same as for RA. The difference is that usually a parent or adult will have to manage the lifestyle changes in the home and keep the child on course with the plan.

There Is Hope!
People think that because they experience excruciating pain today, they will experience it tomorrow and keep experiencing it for the rest of their life. It is as if the trajectory of arthritis, to them, is inevitable, and therefore there is no hope. This does not have to be the case. Nothing about arthritis is “inevitable” if you understand the condition and take steps to control it.
People suffering with arthritis do not believe anything can be done to help ease their pain. Why? Because the drug-based therapies they have been following are not useful in providing a change to the condition – only symptomatic relief. Yes, immediate relief of pain or stiffness or inflammation is a good thing and drugs are the fastest means for that relief. However, there are two problems with relying on synthetic drug therapies over the long term.
Problem 1: The drugs and cortisone injections are toxic to the system, causing in some cases damage to the liver and stomach lining, weakening of the joint cartilage and the immune system, and GI tract issues.
Problem 2: Drugs do not change the course of the condition and thus, as the arthritis worsens over time, drugs that are more potent are needed, causing more toxicity and potentially damaging side effects.
The good news is that a multi-pronged approach to arthritis can do wonders, and even feel like a miracle to those suffering its nasty symptoms. Because there is no cure, it is extremely important to become proactive in managing, treating and slowing down the condition

Dr Wilkhoo H S www.wellnessdrwilkhoo.com