Derek L. Hill, D.O.

Fellowship-Trained Orthopedic Surgeon and Specialist

Joint Pain: Three Foods To Avoid

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foods to avoidThere are three foods to avoid when trying to avoid joint pain.  Prevention magazine’s online version (www.prevention.com) lists an article by Kasandra Brabaw about joint pain and foods that increase its likelihood.

The Centers for Disease Control state that about 1 in 5 American adults have a doctor’s diagnosis of arthritis. While so-called “anti-inflammatory” foods such as olive oil, nuts and fatty fish are known to help decrease the incidence of joint pain, some are known to exacerbate it.Read More >

Travel Tips To Avoid Joint Pains

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avoid joint painsDo you ever think about traveling with joint pains?  It’s not ideal to be on vacation and hurting.  We’ve compiled a list to help you avoid joint pains while traveling.  Conditions like arthritis, which cause joint, back and neck pains can make the thought of going on a vacation seem like a nightmare. However, traveling does not have to be painful if you follow these pain-free travel tips.Read More >

When To See A Doctor For Knee Pain

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see a doctor for knee painWhen is it time to see a doctor for knee pain?  Sometimes it’s hard to gauge on your own pain.  What is normal joint pain and what is something more serious?  The best plan of action is to leave it up to the professional.  Make an appointment with your physician and see what’s really going on.  Because, believe it or not, there is actually a lot you can do.  Here are some clues that you should see a doctor for knee pain.Read More >

Arthritis of the Knee

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PR 012- SI - 27_03_12-866Arthritis is a condition which is characterized by inflammation of the knee joint. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons states that osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis of the knee joint. This degenerative condition most often occurs in persons over 50 years since it is caused by “wear and tear” of the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis and gout are other forms of arthritis which affect the knee, but they tend to occur in younger persons.

Symptoms of knee arthritis include pain, which is usually felt during movement and especially after periods of rest. The knee may also become swollen and stiff making it hard to bend the joint. The American College of Rheumatology states that crepitus or a grinding noise, which is felt as the joint moves, is another symptom of knee arthritis.

There is no cure for knee arthritis but various forms of treatment are available to relieve the pain and improve joint function. Palo Alto Medical Foundation reports that the non-surgical treatment of this condition involves the use of medications, exercise and weight loss.

Medications used to treat knee arthritis include pain killers like ibuprofen, naproxen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Physical therapy exercises are also used to treat knee arthritis, since they help strengthen the joint and increase its range of motion.

Losing excess body weight is one lifestyle modification that is used for this condition, since it helps reduce knee pain by minimizing the stress placed on the joint. Another lifestyle change that is used to manage knee arthritis is avoiding high impact activities like jogging and playing tennis, since they also strain the knee.

If the pain from knee arthritis cannot be relieved by non-surgical treatment, operations can be done to treat it. These include total or partial knee replacement (arthroplasty) in which the damaged bones and cartilage are removed and replaced with prosthetic parts made from metal and plastic.

Written by: Marian Kim, Rust Built, Marketing Services

How Omega 3’s Can Relieve Joint Inflammation & Pain

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Broccoli-Salad-with-Sesame-VinaigretteAs your body ages, whether you suffered an injury or not, you’re going to experience expected and unexpected pain. Muscle and joint pain is prevalent in people who have suffered some form of injury. No matter how old you are, finding ways to relieve joint and muscle pain can be a challenge, even though there is a long list of pain products and natural pain treatment alternatives available. Your diet is one of the most effective ways to help relieve chronic joint pain, especially pain that’s caused by inflammation.

Implementing Omega 3 fatty acids into your diet, which are an essential nutrient to your health, serves as an excellent way to decrease joint pain. Omega 3’s have been well known for ages for the health benefits they offer, including pain relief. They also help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. They also reduce associated symptoms of hypertension, depression, joint pain and rheumatoid problems.

Naturally, our bodies cannot produce Omega 3, so it makes you wonder how such attributes are made. The success of Omega 3s, according to research, encourages the body to produce chemicals that help control inflammation of the joints, bloodstream and body tissue. Since the body does not naturally produce Omega 3s it has to be ingested through food and supplements, and the source of consumption is very important.

Both supplements and foods with Omega 3s will supply your body with the necessary essentials, however foods naturally high in Omega 3s is the top approach. Introducing foods high in Omega 3s into your diet will give your body immediate relief from joint pain at the fastest rate of time. Some examples of foods that offer an excellent source of Omega 3s include cold-water fish such as anchovies, bluefish, herring, mackerel, salmon, sardines, trout, canned white tuna (not light tuna) and canned albacore tuna. There have been concerns of mercury contamination in fish and rightly so. However, if you just add high Omega 3 fish (i.e. salmon, mackerel or tuna) to 1 or 2 meals a week, you get a great weekly dose without raising concerns over mercury.

Some other Omega 3 options for you include canola oil, broccoli, cantaloupe, kidney beans, spinach, grape leaves, cauliflower, walnuts, flaxseed oil and flaxseed. Ground flaxseed ranks the highest of its form for Omega 3, and if you combine any of these Omega 3 rich foods with foods high in Omega 6 (eggs, poultry, and cereal) and cooking oils like olive oil high in Omega 9, you will reap so many awesome benefits of Omega for joint pain relief.

Medical Disclosure: Always consult with a medical professional before making any lifestyle changes to alter your health and diet.

Written by: by Jamacia Magee, Rust Built, Marketing Services

Aching Joints

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iStock_000006934252MediumJoints play such an important part in our body. Joints undergo an incredible amount of stress. Joints connect your bones, support your weight, and allow you to move. Over time, joints can endure much wear and tear, ultimately leading to joint pain.

First off, what is joint pain? “Joint pain is discomfort that arises from any joint — the point where two or more bones meet.” (MayoClinic.com)

Aching joints can mean a number of different conditions. “Many different conditions can lead to painful joints, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, gout, strains, sprains, and other injuries. Joint pain is extremely common. In one national survey, about one-third of adults reported having joint pain within the past 30 days. Knee pain was the most common complaint, followed by shoulder and hip pain, but joint pain can affect any part of your body, from your ankles to your shoulders. As you get older, painful joints become increasingly more common.” (WebMD.com)

All joint pain is not considered arthritis, but one of the problems of joint pain could possibly be arthritis. Specifically, arthritis is a joint disorder featuring inflammation. There are over 100 different types of arthritis!

Joint pain can sometimes be treated at home in the following ways:

  • Over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (such as Aleve).
  • Overuse of your joint, as that could worsen the pain.
  • Apply an ice pack to the joint 15-20 minutes, a couple of times a day.

If the problem persists you should always consult your doctor. Your doctor will try to diagnose the problem. Treatment options usually consist of medications, topical agents, injections and physical therapy.

See a doctor if any of the following occur:

  • Swelling
  • Redness
  • Tenderness and warmth around the joint
  • Joint deformity
  • Inability to use the joint
  • Intense pain

Joint pain impacts each individual very differently. It is important to note that early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent joint damage.

References:
“Joint Point.” WebMD.com. http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/joint-pain
“Understanding Arthritis.” Arthritis Foundation. http://www.arthritis.org/conditions-treatments/understanding-arthritis/
“Joint Pain.” MayoClinic.com. http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/joint-pain/basics/definition/SYM-20050668

Written by: Sharan Kaur, Rust Built, Marketing Services

Cold Weather Tips for Knees, Hips and Joints

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Couple sat by treeDoes Cold Weather Really Cause Joint Pain? Or is it all in my head?

Does a change in weather really increase joint paint? According to lots of studies and anecdotal research, there are conflicting answers to this question. So is there really anything to this? Or is it all in our heads? We all have/had an older, arthritic relative who could pretty accurately predict the next rain storm, and I know that the creaking I hear in one of my knees every time the weather gets ready to change isn’t my imagination. In fact after a car accident that left me sore for about six weeks, my chiropractor pointed out on a day when I was more sore than usual, that the weather was changing and told me that my increased soreness was not uncommon.

According to an article by Katherine Kam (webmd.com “Does Weather Affect Joint Pain?”), there may be a correlation between weather and joint pain, and that one of the causes of increased pain may not be the weather itself, but the barometric pressure changes associated with changing weather that may be the culprit. Arthritic or injured joints which are already prone to inflammation may be affected by a decrease in barometric pressure that allows more swelling to occur.

There’s also the suggestion that cold weather thickens the fluid within the joints, making movement more painful. An article on weather.com (“Does Cold Weather Cause Joint Pain?”) references a study done at Tufts University that seems to support both the barometric pressure and the fluid thickening theories.

Regardless of conflicting research, if your knee hurts before it rains or you find your joints ache more in the winter, the weather.com article offers the following advice:

  • Eat foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins C & K. They also recommend avoiding Omega-6 fatty acids as these may trigger inflammation, and switching from refined to whole grains based on some early research that suggests refined grains may also cause inflammation.
  • Look into glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin supplements, and get plenty of vitamin D3.  Be sure to speak to your doctor before taking any supplements.
  • Try to exercise. Often we don’t get as much exercise during the colder months because, well, it’s too cold to go out and move. But movement helps keep the joints lubricated and will make movement less painful in the long run.

The Webmd article also suggests:

  • Speaking to your doctor about increasing arthritis pain medications during the colder months.
  • Keep warm in the winter. Dress in layers, keep the house warm, and maybe buy an electric blanket.
  • Try to prevent swelling. Warmth will help with pain but may not help with swelling.
  • Improve your mood. Chronic pain can lead to anxiety and depression. Learning how to deal with it over the colder winter months can be beneficial.
  • Realize that it will get better.

If you’re in a climate where cold weather or year round weather changes make your joints ache, there are a few things that can be done. Eat right, stay warm, keep moving, and remember that spring is right around the corner.

Written by: Tricia Doane, Rust Built, Marketing Services

5 Top Tips to Manage Joint Pain after Replacement Surgery

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Water Therapy Suzanne and Glenn 3 Large Web viewThe wonders of joint replacement surgery allow people who have been bedridden to rediscover their mobility. Joint replacement surgery is a medical miracle that can help people return to a normal life of mobility, but it is not without its drawbacks. There can be significant pain that comes with joint replacement surgery. Follow these five tips to help manage any pain you experience after a joint replacement surgery.

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When To Consider Joint Replacement Surgery

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Happy senior womanJoint replacements that were once considered high-tech are now a common operation. Studies show that joint replacements can relieve pain and increase mobility.  If you are struggling with joint pain, how do you know if it’s time to consider surgery?

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