October 2024 Healthy News from OrthoIllinois Chiropractic Treatment Options via Chiropractic Care for Knee Pain
HELP FOR KNEE PAIN
Knee pain is common, too common. While McHenry knee replacement surgery can offer relief, it is not without risks. According to a study by Iordache et al., factors that predict the likelihood of replacement such as severe pain and limited mobility must be considered alongside potential complications like infection, device failure, and the need for revision surgery. More specifically, the characteristics of a patient who will likely need a total knee arthroplasty due to knee osteoarthritis include being female over 65 years of age with high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hypertension, and fibrinogen value (a blood-clotting protein made in the liver in response to injury, infection, and inflammation) associated with low overall KSS (knee society score) and specific KSS function values averaging 56.70. (1). Good to know! For those seeking non-surgical options, innovative treatments like those based on the Cox® Flexion Distraction Decompression technique are promising. A retrospective case series by Albano (2) highlights its potential in decreasing knee discomfort by gently decompressing the knee joint, presenting a less invasive alternative for those aiming to improve joint function and reduce pain. Albano treated 25 patients with knee pain. Their mean VAS (visual analog score) scores which reflect how they see their pain decreased from 7.7 to 1.8. The mean number of treatments was 5.3 over an average of 3 weeks. Acute pain patient scores went down from 8.1 to 1.1 in 4.8 treatments in 2.4 weeks while chronic knee pain patient scores lowered from 7.5 to 2.2 in 5.4 treatments in 3.3 weeks. And the best part: no adverse reactions! (2) Distraction of the knee follows the same principles of Cox® Technic spinal manipulation. In crude terms, open the joints by stretching to reduce pain! We’re ready to talk about any knee pain you may be suffering when we next see you at OrthoIllinois Chiropractic!
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Luigi Albano on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson about the use of distraction principles based on The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management to ease knee pain.
TIP OF THE MONTH: Supplement with Chondroitin Sulfate and Curcumin
You can see in the paragraph above on McHenry knee pain that an elevated ESR (sed rate) – a sign of inflammation - is a risk factor for knee replacement. Chondroitin sulfate and curcumin are two influential allies in the battle against inflammation, particularly for those experiencing conditions like knee osteoarthritis. Chondroitin sulfate has been shown to deactivate the NLRP3 inflammasome, which has a key role in the inflammatory process, thereby potentially decreasing joint pain and stiffness as evidenced by the study conducted by Chang and colleagues. (3) Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, is another potent anti-inflammatory agent that helps ease osteoarthritis symptoms by modulating the p38MAPK pathway, according to research by Wang et al. (4) These two offer a promising approach for many knee pain sufferers looking for relief from joint discomfort, helping improve mobility and quality of life. OrthoIllinois Chiropractic is ready to chat about the suitability of these natural compounds for you at your next appointment!
Bring your knee pain (and send that of your friends and family!) to OrthoIllinois Chiropractic! We are ready to help.
Make your McHenry chiropractic appointment today!
Thank you! Have a great October!