Steroid Injections? What You Didn't Know.

Sometimes called degenerative joint disease (DJD) or “wear and tear” arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic condition of the joints. It begins when the cartilage or cushion between the joints breaks down leading to pain, stiffness and swelling. SYMPTOMS

Symptoms include stiffness, especially first thing in the morning or after resting, and pain. Many joints may get swollen after extended activity.

RESEARCH

The January 28, 2019 issue of Osteoarthritis and Cartilage showed that patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis who used joint injections of corticosteroids experienced accelerated progression of osteoarthritis compared to those those in a matched group who had not received joint injections.

Another study showed that quarterly corticosteroid injections for knee osteoarthritis increased cartilage loss without providing any clinical benefit, according to a randomized controlled trial published in an issue of The Journal of The American Medical AssociationJAMA."Although the cartilage loss was not associated with worsening of symptoms, rates of cartilage loss have been associated with higher rates of arthroplasty, raising the possibility of potential for longer-term adverse consequences on the health of the joint," write Timothy E. McAlindon, MD, MPH, from Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, and colleagues.

OPTIONS

Reduce inflammation by determining the root cause. Heavy metal toxicity will be a problem contributing to inflammation and joint pain. Remove imbalances that may be occurring in the joint by evaluating your current meridian status. Balance any structural problems in a joint.

If you or a loved one are experiencing joint pain, have tried everything and would like to consult with me and receive a Wellness Score Report with analysis at our N Rodeo Drive clinic location…..give us a call at 310.295.1078.