Joint surface check ups can delay knee osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis can happen to anyone. The differences lie only in the extent of degeneration. If it is only beginning and the degeneration is minor, no symptoms are shown However, if it progresses to the point of severe degeneration… or if the surfaces of the bones have experienced significant changes, that is, your cartilage has already worn down, you will feel the bones under your cartilage grinding against each other. As a result, pain symptoms of the knee occur. Normally, osteoarthritis of the knee happens over time due to extended usage. Then it gradually develops to the extent that the degeneration requires knee surgery as treatment. That is why when we talk about osteoarthritis of the knee, we often think about patients who are over 55 years of age.
Knee pain… knee creaking… These are warning signs of knee osteoarthritis.
You can know that you already have knee osteoarthritis when there are creaking noises inside your joints when you move or stretch or when you experience pain symptoms according to your usage. However, these pain symptoms might not be caused only by knee osteoarthritis, because your own tendons can also cause them. As a result, pain symptoms and loud noises in your joints are only basic warning signs of knee osteoarthritis.
X-Ray Testing to Diagnose Osteoarthritis
In testing for knee osteoarthritis by use of x-ray imagery, we will often detect osteoarthritis of the knee when it has developed beyond its preventable stage, and you might only be able to delay the time to undergo surgery. This is because artificial knee has a limited service life and cannot be used lifelong. Specifically, it can be used for about 15-20 years. Therefore, if you undergo knee replacement surgery too early, for example, when you are 50 years old, you might have to undergo another surgery after reaching about 70 years of age. Because of this, we have to pursue other treatment options until there are indications that these other treatment options are no longer viable. Only then will knee replacement surgery should be opted for.
Urine CTX-II Testing as a New Option for Diagnosing Knee Osteoarthritis
This other method is also known as the biomarker method by testing the blood or urine. In biomarker testing, there is a component that is a sign of cartilage inflammation. Known as CTX-II, research has shown that this compound is linked to osteoarthritis, because when the cartilage surfaces begin to wear down or suffer from injury, Type 2 collagen is being destroyed, and the destruction of this Type 2 collagen is connected with rising urine CTX-II values. Accordingly, urine CTX-II testing helps allow doctors to identify cartilage damage based on higher values of urine CTX-II even before x-ray testing discovers any sign of abnormalities.
Delay knee osteoarthritis now through behavior modification
One benefit of urine CTX-II testing is that it allows us to know when the joints have begun to deteriorate or become damaged. If test results show signs of damage, additional testing might be needed, e.g., patient background check to identity patient’s joint use, the patient’s occupation or risk factors contributing to degeneration, such as squatting or walking up and down the stairs, in order to begin modifying usage behaviors and reduce causes for joint degeneration.
After modifying your behaviors, if urine CTX-II values remain high, we have joint degeneration prevention drugs or supplements to help repair cartilage damage, or we can give injections to stimulate new cartilage cell production or synovial fluid production to reduce joint damage.
If we know early that degeneration has occurred, then behavior modification and medication treatment can help delay onset of knee osteoarthritis, so that you can enjoy every forest or mountain trip or play your favorite sports without any concern.
You may find our specialist here at Orthopedics Institute, Phyathai 2 Hospital
Phyathai 2 Hospital
International Correspondence Center
Tel: +66-2617-2444 ext. 2020 or 2047 E mail: onestop@phyathai.com
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Phyathai 2 Cambodia
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