Orthopedic Services - The Christ Hospital

To schedule an appointment with one of our orthopedic surgeons, please call:

Daniel A. Funk, M.D. - 513-333-2580
Patrick Kirk, M.D. - 513-791-5200
Edward V. A. Lim, M.D. - 513-791-5200
Marc C. Schneider, M.D. - 513-791-5200

Learn more about our Orthopedic Services with Dr. Patrick Kirk's Video [1 min. 58 sec.]

Arthritis

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is not just a single disease. It is a term used to describe more than 100 different conditions that affect the joints in the body. The word “arthritis” actually means inflammation of a joint. Almost every animal that can walk is susceptible to this inflammation. Although many types of arthritis have common aspects, each type has its own pattern of symptoms and affects different people in different ways.

Two major forms of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. In cases of rheumatoid arthritis, the body's immune system appears to go awry and attacks healthy parts of the body, particularly the joints. In severe cases, the joints become deformed and internal organs are adversely affected.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is also called degenerative joint disease or "wear and tear" arthritis. Almost everyone is affected by it to some extent as they grow older. It most frequently occurs in weight-bearing joints, mainly knees, hips and ankles.

This form of arthritis slowly and gradually breaks down the cartilage that covers the ends of each bone in a joint. Normally, cartilage acts as a shock absorber, providing a smooth surface between the bones; but, with osteoarthritis, the smooth surface becomes rough and pitted. In advanced stages, it may wear away completely. Without their normal gliding surfaces, the bones grind against one another, causing inflammation, pain and restricted movement. In osteoarthritis of the knee, the shape of the bone and appearance of the leg may change over the years. Many people become bowlegged or knock-kneed. In osteoarthritis of the hip, the affected leg may appear shorter.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

The number one symptom of osteoarthritis is pain. The pain is caused by irritation and pressure on nerve endings as well as muscle tension and fatigue. The pain can progress from mild soreness and aching with movement to severe pain, even when resting. Additional symptoms include loss of easy movement such as bending or rising normally, and for some people, morning stiffness. These symptoms can lead to a lack of mobility, which in turn often causes the muscles serving the knee or hip to weaken and overall body coordination to suffer.

Diagnosing Osteoarthritis

A simple X-ray and physical examination to determine if there is grating of the joint with motion, joint swelling, limited range of motion and tenderness are used to diagnose osteoarthritis. Time consuming and costly diagnostic procedures are not required.

Treatment for Osteoarthritis

There is no cure for arthritis, but advances in technology continue to develop new ways to manage symptoms of osteoarthritis. The goals of these treatments are to:

reduce pain
increase the strength of the joints
maintain or improve joint movement
reduce the disabling effects of osteoarthritis.

Treatment often depends on the joints involved and can include medicines, lifestyle changes, physical therapy and surgery.

Medicines
The most common medications used to treat osteoarthritis are pain relievers known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen and can be either over-the-counter or prescription medications. While NSAIDs often work well, long-term use of these drugs is not recommended as they can cause stomach problems, increased risk of heart attack or stroke and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Another medicine used to treat osteoarthritis is cortisone, a steroid injected directly into the joint. Cortisone injections are used to treat inflammation of the joint and pain. For some people these injections can reduce or relieve osteoarthritis symptoms for months or even years.

Lifestyle Changes
There are a variety of lifestyle changes that can offer relief of osteoarthritis symptoms. These include:

Ice treatments – Ice packs on the knee (three times daily, 10-20 minutes at a time) can be helpful for inflammation and temporary relief of pain and soreness.
Heat – Applying heat can be beneficial to warm up the joint prior to exercise or activity.
Diet – While there is no evidence that any specific foods will prevent or relieve osteoarthritis symptoms, a balanced diet is important to maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight can aggravate arthritis by putting added pressure on the joints.

Physical Therapy
Exercise and physical therapy can be beneficial in reducing symptoms of osteoarthritis by improving muscle strength and regaining motion in stiff joints. Water exercises, such as swimming, can be especially helpful as they provide exercise in a low-impact environment.

The Christ Hospital Physical and Occupational Therapy Centers offer high quality outpatient rehabilitative care with licensed professionals using the latest equipment, a wide range of therapeutic exercise and a variety of modalities to help patients return to an active and healthy lifestyle.

To learn more about these services click here or to make an appointment at one of our nine convenient locations, call 513-585-REHAB(7342).

Surgery
In some cases, surgery can be the best treatment option for osteoarthritis. The most common joint surgeries for osteoarthritis relief are arthroscopy and joint replacement.

Arthroscopy is a minimally-invasive procedure used to diagnose and treat conditions of the joint using a small instrument that allows surgeons to see inside a joint and repair problems through a very small incision. Unfortunately, arthroscopic procedures generally are not helpful for arthritis. In some cases, a flap of torn knee cartilage can aggravate arthritis and cause additional pain. The cartilage flap can be removed by arthroscopy and may reduce or eliminate the pain.

Joint replacement surgery can be a very effective solution to the pain and disability of advanced osteoarthritis. During joint replacement, the rough, worn surfaces of the joint are relined with smooth-surfaced metal and plastic components. Click here for more information about hip replacement surgery or knee replacement surgery.