Patient Education
Information we provide on www.joint-docs.com and any other source or links from our site is not intended to provide medical advice. Information on this website is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Use of this site does not establish a doctor patient relationship. To diagnose or treat a health problem, for questions regarding a medical condition, or prior to starting any new treatment, you should consult with a qualified healthcare provider. For medical matters, please contact your doctor’s office by telephone. In emergency situations, call 911.
Information
- Though some of the joint changes are irreversible, most patients will not need joint replacement surgery.
- OA symptoms (what you feel) can vary greatly among patients.
- A rheumatologist can detect arthritis and prescribe the proper treatment. The goal of treatment in OA is to reduce pain and improve function.
- Exercise is an important part of OA treatment, because it can decrease joint pain and improve function.
- At present, there is no treatment that can reverse the damage of OA in the joints. Researchers are trying to find ways to slow or reverse this joint damage.
Osteoarthritis (also known as OA) is a common joint disease that most often affects middle-age to elderly people. It is commonly referred to as "wear and tear" of the joints, but we now know that OA is a disease of the entire joint, involving the cartilage, joint lining, ligaments, and bone. Although it is more common in older people, it is not really accurate to say that the joints are just “wearing out.” It is characterized by breakdown of the cartilage (the tissue that cushions the ends of the bones between joints), bony changes of the joints, deterioration of tendons and ligaments, and various degrees of inflammation of the joint lining (called the synovium).
This arthritis tends to occur in the hand joints, spine, hips, knees, and great toes. The lifetime risk of developing OA of the knee is about 46 percent, and the lifetime risk of developing OA of the hip is 25 percent, according to the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project, a long-term study from the University of North Carolina and sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (often called the CDC) and the National Institutes of Health.
OA is a top cause of disability in older people. The goal of osteoarthritis treatment is to reduce pain and improve function. There is no cure for the disease, but some treatments attempt to slow disease progression.
Source: American College of Rheumatology
Information
- Osteonecrosis can cause severe pain and disability, much like arthritis does. Early diagnosis and early treatment may improve the outcome.
- Osteonecrosis may result from use of glucocorticoid (sometimes called corticosteroid) medicine or from drinking too much alcohol.
- Though osteonecrosis can occur in almost any bone of the body, the hips, knees and shoulders are the most common sites affected.
- The cause and treatment for osteonecrosis of the jaw differs from that for osteonecrosis found elsewhere.
The bones and bone marrow of the human body are made up of living cells that need a steady blood supply to stay healthy. If blood flow to these cells greatly decreases, the cells may die, causing the bone to collapse. This process is called osteonecrosis. Osteonecrosis can lead to pain, arthritis and limited use of affected joints. Some people may even need joint replacement surgery.
Source: American College of Rheumatology
Information
- Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) may occur in patients taking strong antiresorptive medications such as bisphosphonates or RANKL inhibitors. ONJ has not been reported with other antiresorptive therapies such as SERMs or calcitonin. SERMs include therapies like raloxifene (Evista).
- Most patients with ONJ who are taking antiresorptive therapy for osteoporosis can be healed with conservative treatment and often do not require surgery.
- Good oral hygiene and regular dental care is the best way to lower the risk of ONJ.
Osteonecrosis of the jaw, commonly called ONJ, occurs when the jaw bone is exposed and begins to starve from a lack of blood. Most cases of osteocronosis of the jaw happen after a dental extraction. Osteo means bone and necrosis means death. As the name indicates, the bone begins to weaken and die with OJN, which usually (but not always), causes pain.
ONJ is associated with cancer treatments (including radiation), infection, steroid use, or potent antiresorptive medications. Antiresorptive medications help slow down bone loss in patients suffering from conditions such as osteoporosis. Examples of potent antiresorptive medications include bisphosphonates such as alendronate (Fosamax); risedronate (Actonel and Atelvia); ibandronate (Boniva); and denosumab (Prolia).
While ONJ is associated with these conditions, it also can occur without any identifiable risk factors.
- See more at:
Information
- Osteoporosis results from a loss of bone mass (measured as bone density) and from a change in bone structure. Many factors will raise your risk of developing osteoporosis and breaking a bone. You can change some of these risk factors, but not others. Recognizing your risk factors is important so you can take steps to prevent this condition or treat it before it becomes worse.
- Age is not the only risk factor for osteoporosis. Lifestyle choices, certain diseases and even medications can lead to this condition.
- A simple test known as a bone density scan can give important information about your bone health.
- Newer medications can slow and even stop the progression of bones getting weaker, and can help decrease fracture risk.
Osteoporosis is a common condition where bones become weak that affects both men and women, mainly as they grow older. Bone is living tissue that is in a constant state of regeneration. That is, the body removes old bone (called bone resorption) and replaces it with new bone (bone formation). By their mid-30s, most people begin to slowly lose more bone than can be replaced. As a result, bones become thinner and weaker in structure.
Osteoporosis is silent because there are no symptoms (what you feel). It may come to your attention only after you break a bone. When you have this condition, a fracture can occur even after a minor injury, such as a fall. The most common fractures occur at the spine, wrist and hip. Spine and hip fractures, in particular, may lead to chronic (long-term) pain and disability, and even death. The main goal of treating osteoporosis is to prevent such fractures in the first place.
Fortunately, you can take steps to reduce your risk of osteoporosis. By doing so, you can avoid the often-disabling broken bones (fractures) that can result from this condition. If you already have osteoporosis, new medications are available to slow or even stop the bones from getting weaker. These medicines also can decrease the chance of having a fracture.
Source: American College of Rheumatology
