March 2003
Ask Dr. Marks: 03/03
Subscribers Only I’ve heard it’s important for people with arthritis to take plenty of vitamin C and/or vitamin E. Is this true? Research has been published on both sides of the issue. A recent major study from Australia showed no effect on cartilage wear and joint symptoms between Vitamin E and placebo-treated groups. Neither did dietary levels of antioxidants (Vitamin C and beta carotene) have any effect on cartilage loss. On the other hand, some studies, employing a…
New Wrist Fix Shows Promise
Subscribers Only Anew total wrist prosthesis, which borrows materials and mechanical concepts from successful hip and knee replacement procedures, was recently approved by the FDA. [IMGCAP(1)]Replacing a severely arthritic wrist has always been difficult—previous implants would sometimes dislocate, despite being cemented in. But now there is the Universal 2 Total Wrist Replacement System, which increases both wrist motion and power, while preserving far more bone than was possible with earlier procedures. It has been developed by a…
Good Habits Can Save Your Back
Subscribers Only You don’t have to wait for a problem to occur before getting involved in the care and maintenance of your back. Whether you’re in bed, in front of the TV, driving to work, or simply bringing groceries in from the car, there are a number of immediate steps you can take to improve the alignment of your back and reduce risk of injury, even after years of bad posture. …
Your Cartilage And How To Save It
Subscribers Only Surgeons, challenged to find fresh ways to reestablish normal joint function, have come up with several solutions which may avert joint replacement surgery. Among these are three relatively new procedures aimed at cartilage regeneration, says John Bergfeld, M.D., Director, Cleveland Clinic Sports Health. “At this point, we're treating arthritis symptoms–rather than curing arthritis–but these surgeries treat the symptoms well.” …
In the News: 03/03
Subscribers Only Smokers And Divorced At Greater Risk For Arthritis? It’s been well established that age, obesity and physical inactivity can contribute to the onset or severity of arthritis. But researchers at Atlanta’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now have found that arthritis appears to occur more commonly in people who are separated, divorced, or who have smoked. The findings, published in the Journal of Rheumatology and based on surveys of 17,556 people who had been diagnosed…
Pain Relievers — Which One For You?
Subscribers Only Pain takes many forms—headaches, migraines, joint pain, sore back, aching muscles, toothaches, just to name a few. Pain, in whatever form, is at best annoying and at worst disabling, but one thing is certain—you need to get rid of it to function properly and carry out your daily tasks. You reach for your pain reliever, or analgesic, and hope for the best. You’re not alone—millions of Americans spend over $7 billion on analgesics every year.…