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Knee and hip replacements are two of the most common surgeries performed in the United States. These surgeries have been around for decades. Not surprisingly, advancements over that time have improved many aspects of the procedures. For example, there has been a dramatic change in how soon patients can go home after surgery. In the past, […]

Q: I have scoliosis and have been told there is no cure. How can I deal with the pain? A: Scoliosis is a sideways curve in the spine. The disorder can develop in childhood, but adult-onset scoliosis is even more common. Many adults ages 60 and older have some amount of spine curvature that can […]

Physically Demanding Jobs May Increase Risk for Knee Osteoarthritis Regular, even strenuous, exercise has not been found to increase risk for knee osteoarthritis. However, a recent study found that some work-related repetitive joint movements may make knee osteoarthritis more likely. Researchers, who published their findings in Arthritis Care & Research (July 2020), synthesized results from […]

Of the many types of arthritis, the most common one is osteoarthritis. Among people who have osteoarthritis, a small percentage has a severe form of the disease called erosive osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is sometimes referred to as “wear-and-tear” arthritis because it involves the wearing down of cartilage. Cartilage is the shiny material that covers the ends […]

One-quarter of adults ages 65 and older fall at least once every year. One in five of those falls results in a serious injury, such as a head trauma or bone fracture. You may be aware of some of the risks for falling, including trip hazards and dim lighting. But did you know that a […]

You hear this advice over and over: Eat more fruits and vegetables. They’re packed with nourishing vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Many have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and a vegetable-rich diet can help keep your weight under control. So, what’s the best way to get more of them into your diet? There’s no shortage of […]

A variety of therapies can be used to help relieve the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis in the hip. Although not the first step in management, corticosteroid injections can be used when other therapies aren’t sufficient. “We can get out of homeostasis with our arthritic joints, and the pain is no longer getting better with […]

Sharp, stabbing pain at the elbow that doesn’t go away may mean you have what is commonly referred to as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow. In medical terminology these are called tendinopathies because they involve tendons. Tendons are cords of fibrous tissue that attach a muscle to a bone. Tennis elbow occurs when the tendon […]

Q: In the June 2020 issue you recommend that people with rheumatoid arthritis who take immune-suppressing drugs get a shingles shot. I take infliximab (Remicade®) and methotrexate. I have not had the vaccine. Isn’t the vaccine live? Would I be more at risk of getting shingles by taking it? A: There are two vaccines against […]

Osteoarthritis Increasing Around the World The number of people with osteoarthritis is increasing in most countries, according to a study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (June 2020). Researchers analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study, which included data from 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2017. […]

Osteoarthritis in the knee is a leading cause of pain and disability. Symptoms usually start off mild and worsen over time. Pain and stiffness can make it difficult to stay active, and ultimately simple daily functioning can be challenging. There’s no cure for osteoarthritis. It’s not possible to prevent loss of cartilage or grow new cartilage. […]