Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, commonly known as degenerative Arthritis of the Knee, is a condition in which the natural cushioning between joints (cartilage) wears away. When this happens, the bones of the joints rub more closely against one another with less of the shock-absorbing benefits of cartilage. The rubbing results in pain, swelling, stiffness, decreased ability to move and, sometimes, the formation of bone spurs.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. While it can occur even in young people, the chance of developing osteoarthritis rises after age 45.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, more than 27 million people in the U.S. have osteoarthritis, with the knee being one of the most commonly affected areas. Women are more likely to have osteoarthritis than men.

Causes of Knee Osteoarthritis:

•Age. The ability of cartilage to heal decreases as a person gets older.

•Weight, increases pressure on all the joints, especially the knees. Every pound of weight you gain adds 3 to 4 pounds of extra weight on your knees.

•Heredity. This includes genetic mutations that might make a person more likely to develop osteoarthritis of the knee.

•Gender, Women ages 55 and older are more likely than men to develop osteoarthritis of the knee.

•Repetitive stress injuries, These are usually a result of the type of job a person has.

•Athletics, that means athletes, should take precautions to avoid injury. 

Hip Osteoarthritis

Arthritis means joint inflammation. It causes pain and swelling in the body's joints, such as the knees or hips. There are many types of arthritis, but osteoarthritis is the most common. Also known as degenerative osteoarthritis is more likely to develop as people get older.

Osteoarthritis occurs when inflammation and injury to a joint cause a breaking down of cartilage tissue. In turn, that breakdown causes pain, swelling, and deformity. Cartilage is a firm, rubbery material that covers the ends of bones in normal joints. It is primarily made up of water and proteins. 

The primary function of cartilage is to reduce friction in the joints and serve as a "shock absorber." The shock-absorbing quality of normal cartilage comes from its ability to change shape when compressed. It can do this because of its high water content. Although cartilage may undergo some repair when damaged, the body does not grow new cartilage after it is injured, the changes in osteoarthritis usually occur slowly over many years. There are, though, occasional exceptions.

Patients who have osteoarthritis of the hip sometimes have problems walking. Diagnosis can be difficult at first. That's because pain can appear in different locations, including the groin, thigh, buttocks, or knee. The pain can be stabbing and sharp or it can be a dull ache, and the hip is often stiff.

The causes of osteoarthritis of the hip are not known. Factors that may contribute include joint injury, increasing age, and being overweight.

Treatment with Stem Cells

In 2014, doctors published numerous studies to highlight their findings that stem cell therapy from both bone marrow and fat sources show significant results in the repair of rotator cuff, meniscus, cartilage, and osteoarthritis problems.

Stem Cell Injections are part of our treatment plan for joint injuries and chronic pain. We have specialized, in platelet rich plasma therapy, and stem cell therapy to regenerate joint tissue.