October 2024 Healthy News from Johnson Chiropractic Treatment Options via Chiropractic Care for Knee Pain
HELP FOR KNEE PAIN
Knee pain is all too common. While Richmond knee replacement surgery can offer relief, it is not risk-free. According to a study by Iordache et al., factors that predict the likelihood of replacement such as severe pain and limited mobility must be weighed against potential complications like infection, device failure, and the need for revision surgery. More specifically, the traits of a patient likely requiring a total knee arthroplasty due to knee osteoarthritis include being female over 65 years of age who has high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hypertension, and fibrinogen value (a blood-clotting protein made in the liver in response to injury, infection, and inflammation) linked to low overall KSS (knee society score) and specific KSS function values averaging 56.70. (1). Good to know! For those looking for 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 easing knee discomfort by gently decompressing the knee joint, presenting a less invasive option for those wanting to boost joint function and reduce pain. Albano treated 25 patients with knee pain. Their mean VAS (visual analog score) numbers which reflect their view of 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 dropped from 8.1 to 1.1 in 4.8 treatments in 2.4 weeks while chronic knee pain patient scores dropped from 7.5 to 2.2 in 5.4 treatments in 3.3 weeks. And the best part: no unpleasant reactions! (2) Distraction of the knee follows similar principles of Cox® Technic spinal manipulation. In crude terms, open the joints by stretching to ease pain! We’re ready to talk about any knee pain you may be suffering when we next see you at Johnson Chiropractic!
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Luigi Albano on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson about the utilization 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’ll note in the paragraph above on Richmond knee pain that an elevated ESR (sed rate) – an indicator of inflammation - is a risk factor for knee replacement. Chondroitin sulfate and curcumin are two mighty partners in the battle against inflammation, particularly for those experiencing conditions like knee osteoarthritis. Chondroitin sulfate has been shown to deactivate the NLRP3 inflammasome, which plays a key role in the inflammatory process, thereby possibly alleviating joint pain and stiffness as demonstrated by the study done by Chang and colleagues. (3) Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, is another strong anti-inflammatory agent that helps alleviate osteoarthritis symptoms by controlling 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. Johnson Chiropractic is ready to chat about the appropriateness of these natural compounds for you at your next appointment!
Bring your knee pain (and send that of your friends and family!) to Johnson Chiropractic! We’re here to help.
Schedule your Richmond chiropractic appointment today!
Thank you! Have a great October!