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Some success with treating osteoarthritis
Four years ago, my doctor told me I had advanced degenerative osteoarthritis. I had an episode where the arthritis in my neck made it impossible to look up or side to side, During the next two years, my shoulder would suddenly scream and I could not hold a glass in my hands above my waist. For four months, my back pain prevented me from laying horizontal for more than 10 seconds. I slept sitting in a chair. I was on my second large bottle of Tylenol Arthritis, when I realized, I needed something stronger. A physical therapist at Mayo, two different exercise specialists at Dan Abrams, and two Mayo books on arthritis have changed the direction I was headed. For the last two years, I have been following an exercise routine 5 days a week which focuses on building strength, improving flexibility and some cardio. I haven’t had a Tylenol Arthritis in 6 months. The joint pain has not completely gone away. It’s like it’s in the closet, lurking and waiting to come out and ruin my day. I’m going to fight it. Today’s a weight training day and I’ll do some exercises from the Dan Abrams folks that focus on my core and flexibility. These exercises are not easy, it’s taken me over a year to be able to do some of them, I sweat when doing them, but I’ll sleep in bed tonight, I’ll look up and down and both ways before I cross the street, and tonight I’ll raise a glass of wine to my lips and toast my friends at Dan Abrams and Mayo.
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I talked to the dr. and he explained the hyaluronic acid vs. PRP vs steroids. The PRP, if it works for you, lasts the longest- usually up to a year while the acid is not as long lasting. Of course the $ consideration makes it difficult for some as the acid injection is paid through private insurance and Medicare while the PRP is self pay. The one that has the most success is the PRP. 80-90 % experience relief. The Hyaluronic acid works about 50% of the time. The steroid injection is also covered under insurance but it can lead to more damage to the joint. I decided on the PRP and the injection was done within a half hour. I left the office with the paperwork that warned me not to do any thing that would stress my knee out too much for the next week and not to submerge my leg in water for 24 hours. That is all reasonable. Now, I will just wait to see if it works. Meanwhile, my son told me to look at Ray Peat's info about avoiding tissue damage by using a hormone cream so I am going to try it on my other knee to see whether I can avoid another out of pocket expense. Ray Peat is the person who mentioned that people with hypothyroidism are prone to osteoparthritis because their hormones are disrupted by the thyroid issue.
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1 ReactionWhat exactly is prp? I would love some information. Anything to avoid a knee replacement. Thank you for sharing 😊🙏
Platelet Rich Plasma. The blood is taken from arm and the vial is put in a centrifuge to separate components. Then the component with the plasma is put into the syringe and injected into the joint. A very quick procedure and not particularly painful considering the pain that we go through daily with osteo. It is supposed to not only reduce pain but may help to stop the continued tissue damage. The acid and the steroids do not.
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6 ReactionsWhere can one get this done at? I am in a rural area but close to St. Louis.
Orthopedic specialists have PRP. Sometimes the orthopedic surgeons don't offer it. I would be very surprised if you can't find a dr. who has a practice centered around injectables for osteo. Sports medicine is also a place you might find it.