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Category: Therapy

Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of PennsylvaniaTherapy
By endmykneepain Physio, Therapy

Knee Pain Doctor West Chester, PA

Rapid Recovery for Knee Pain

Knee Pain Doctor West Chester, PA

Knee injuries are among the most persistent conditions many people are faced with. Whether it’s due to a sudden trauma or the result of repetitive strain, once damaged and without the proper treatment and rest, the knee can take a very long time to heal. It is not practical to sit out of your life and responsibilities for weeks or months, waiting for the knee to heal itself. A more proactive solution is required. See a knee pain doctor in West Chester, PA at the Premier Osteoarthritis Clinics of Pennsylvania.

 Knees play a crucial role in supporting and stabilizing your body weight. The knee is the joint where the upper and lower leg bones meet; in healthy knees the bones, cartilage, muscles, tendons and ligaments all work together. The hinge-like working of the knee joint provides flexibility and strength for standing, walking, running, crouching, jumping, and turning. The pain and reduced mobility from a knee injury or condition can have a major impact on quality of life, making simple everyday activities difficult and painful.

Osteoarthritis: Leading Cause of Knee Problems

Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, a group of conditions involving inflammation in bone joints, is also called degenerative joint disease or “wear and tear” arthritis. It occurs when the protective surface of the bone cartilage breaks down, making it difficult for joints to fulfil their roles as “shock absorbers” for the body. The body’s weight-bearing joints; the hips, spine and knees – are most susceptible to osteoarthritis. Just as the tread on a car tire thins and eventually starts to unravel, joints can wear out, too.

The end result is bone rubbing against bone. Knee injuries such as fractures, torn cartilage and damaged ligaments can lead to chronic knee pain, but osteoarthritis ranks as the leading cause of serious knee and joint problems.

Causes and Symptoms

 Aging is among the main risk factors for developing osteoarthritis, with the highest risk for people over 50. Obesity, a family history of osteoarthritis and being in overall poor health are also risk factors. The first noticeable symptoms are usually pain, stiffness, and reduced flexibility of the knees. The affected area may become swollen due to fluid build-up, further worsening the pain when weight is exerted on the knee.

The symptoms and severity of osteoarthritis tend to worsen over time, so early detection by a knee pain doctor in West Chester, PA is especially important. If you suspect you may have osteoarthritis, there are a number of tools at Premier Osteoarthritis Clinics of Pennsylvania that can help diagnose and assess your condition. 

Total Knee Replacement

In cases where non-surgical treatments prove ineffective, surgery is often the best option.

A variety of procedures are available to help repair damaged cartilage and provide pain relief.

For patients with severe cases of osteoarthritis, medical research points to total knee replacement as the most effective treatment option. During the procedure, the damaged knee is replaced with an artificial replacement joint known as a prosthesis which consists of four parts:

  •       The first part is called the femoral component. This replaces the end of the femur (thigh bone) and is usually made of metal. 
  •       There are two tibial components: a metal tray placed directly on the knee bone and a plastic spacer. These components replace the end of the shin bone, called the tibia.
  •       The fourth is the patellar component. This part of the knee slides up and down in the femoral groove when the leg bends or straightens.

Knee replacement prostheses typically last 12 to 15 years and can be replaced quite easily when they become worn.

Know your options if you have knee pain

At Premier Osteoarthritis Clinics of Pennsylvania, our other surgical options for treating painful knees include knee fusion, high tibial osteotomy and partial knee replacement. As with all surgical procedures, knee surgery involves some level of risk and potential side-effects such as thrombophlebitis, sometimes called Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT), infection and stiffness or loosening of the joint. Consult with our knee pain doctor in West Chester, PA today to discuss your options today.

 

By endmykneepain Therapy

Chiropractor

There are various ailments that can be treated or managed with Chiropractic care. Among them is a condition called Sciatica. A Chiropractor can help you understand and manage this problem.

Chiropractor Rockville, MD 

What Should You Know About Sciatica?

Sciatica is nerve pain in the leg that’s caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. This pain originally starts in the lower back, radiates into the buttock and travels down the affected leg. Your sciatic nerve branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks, and eventually down both legs. However, sciatica will only affect one side of your leg. Sciatica is most common after you’ve developed a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine, or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis). These things can cause compression of the nerve, which causes inflammation, pain and numbness.

What Does Sciatica Feel Like?

The symptoms of sciatica are felt along the path of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica pain is felt as a constant burning sensation, sometimes a shooting pain, starting in the lower back and buttocks, and then it radiates down the legs. It can affect the feet as well. Numbness is another symptom of sciatica pain. This numbness may appear in the back of the leg, or as tingling and weakness.

One-sided symptoms are common too because sciatica only affects one side of the body at a time, typically. It can affect both legs together, but it’s extremely rare.

Posture induced symptoms mean that sciatica may feel worse while sitting, trying to stand, bending your knees, bending your spine forward, twisting the spine, or laying down. Symptoms may be relieved by applying heat to the rear pelvic region.

Causes of Sciatica

Sciatica happens when the sciatic nerve becomes pinched. This is usually by a herniated disk in your spine, or a bone spur on your vertebrae. The nerve can be compressed by tumors or damaged by diseases like diabetes, too.

Risk Factors for Sciatica

Risk factors for sciatica include:

  •     Age-related changes to your spine, like herniated disks, bone spurs, and other similar issues are the most common cause.
  •     Obesity increases the stress on your spine and excess body weight can cause your spine to change and that can trigger sciatica.
  •     Occupations that tell you to twist your back, carry heavy loads or drive a vehicle for long periods of time may cause sciatica too. Sedentary lifestyles can worsen and cause sciatica as well.

Complications

While people can fully recover from sciatica, sometimes you can have permanent nerve damage caused by the disease. This means you may experience:

  •     Loss of feeling in the leg that’s affected.
  •     Weakness in your affected leg for a lengthy period of time.
  •     Loss of bowel and bladder function.

Prevention

To prevent sciatica, there are some things you can do, but the condition is not always able to be avoided:

Seeking the expert advice of a Chiropractor in Rockville, MD should be a priority. To treat ailments, a chiropractor may perform adjustments on specific points on your body. With controlled force, he or she can adjust your elbow, neck, shoulder or back so that it aligns better with your body. A chiropractor from a chiropractic clinic such as AmeriWell Clinics may also suggest applying heat or ice to painful joints to reduce inflammation, and may recommend rehabilitative exercises to do at home.

Exercising regularly will keep your back strong. You want to pay special attention to your core muscles, like your abdomen and lower back, because you want to be able to hold proper posture and alignment. Your lumbar disc herniation doctor can help you determine the best exercises for your case. You can maintain proper posture while sitting and use good body mechanics when you are standing for long periods of time.