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VITALITY
Spring 2016
COMMUNITY
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ORTHOPAEDICS
Whether you’re walking
down the
street or climbing up some stairs,
moving your knee or hip shouldn’t
make you wince in pain. But that’s
exactly what can happen when
arthritis wears away the shock-
absorbing cartilage at the ends of
bones in a hip or knee joint.
And it’s no way to live.
If hip or knee pain has become a
part of your life, here’s welcome news.
There are more ways to ease your pain
than you might realize. Here are some
of the most effective strategies:
Trim down.
If you’re overweight,
those extra pounds place extra stress
on weight-bearing joints, like the hip
and knee. Losing weight reduces that
stress and can curb pain.
Give your hip and knee
someTLC.
Rest your joints and do
your best to avoid any activity that
makes your pain worse. Applying heat
or cold to your joint—for example,
by using warm towels or cold packs—
can also ease pain. Check with your
doctor to see whether you should try
heat, cold or both.
Make all the right moves.
Appropriate exercise—specifically,
physical activity that strengthens the
muscles that support your hip or
knee but doesn’t stress them—can
help you move more comfortably
and freely. For a customized exercise
program that can help you improve
range of motion and relieve pain,
your doctor may refer you to a
physical therapist.
Partner with your doctor
for pain relief.
Many different
medicines ease arthritis pain, and
your doctor can help find the right
match for you. You might be able
to control your pain with over-
the-counter or prescription pain
relievers. If not, your doctor may
recommend a corticosteroid injection
into your joint, which can reduce
inflammation and pain.
IS IT TIME FOR SURGERY?
If steps like these don’t help—and
your pain is severe—your doctor
may advise surgery to replace your
damaged knee or hip with an artificial
one. As many as 4 out of 5 people
who undergo replacement surgery are
completely pain-free within a year,
the American Association of Hip
and Knee Surgeons reports. But even
with an increasingly speedy recovery,
it is still major surgery. So be sure to
carefully explore its pros and cons
with your doctor.
Additional sources: American Academy of Family Physicians;
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; National Institutes
of Health
Say goodbye to
hip and knee pain
As many as 4 out of 5 people who
undergo joint replacement surgery are
completely pain-free within a year.