StemCell Therapy

Many Nova Scotians suffer with the pain of osteoarthritis. In fact, Nova Scotia is the province with the highest rate of osteoarthritis in Canada. This high rate of osteoarthritis may be due, at least in part, to the high number of seniors within Nova Scotia. We have the highest percentage of seniors in Canada, with more than 18 per cent of the population being 65 years of age or older.

In cases of advanced osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, a joint replacement procedure is an excellent treatment which provides pain relief and significant improvements in mobility. However, Nova Scotians may have to wait extended periods of time in order to receive a joint replacement.

Statistics were released recently by Nova Scotias auditor general on knee and hip replacement wait times here in Nova Scotia. The wait times are worrisome and falling far behind the national average. While the national benchmark for these joint replacement procedures is six months, Nova Scotians suffering with advanced arthritis are waiting over two years on average.

Many factors contribute to these lengthy wait times, including the number of people needing these surgeries, healthcare infrastructure and a shortage of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Many people suffering with arthritis find themselves waiting for a joint replacement for extended periods of time (years) with pain which limits their lives. Unfortunately these arthritis sufferers may not be able to perform some activities of daily life including gardening, lifting heavy objects, doing yard work and walking short distances in some cases. Thankfully there are things which can be done in the meantime in order to limit the pain and disability associated with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee.

Exercise: Although exercise can be uncomfortable at times for some arthritis sufferers the discomfort typically eases after the first few minutes of exercise. The key is doing light to moderate levels of exercise on a regular basis and aiming to meet Canadas physical activity guidelines of at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week and two sessions of strengthening exercise per week. These goals could be achieved by walking briskly for 30 minutes five times per week and having two strength training sessions at a gym per week.

Weight management: Keeping a healthy bodyweight is important for the management of arthritis associated pain. If a person with osteoarthritis is overweight losing weight will help to alleviate their pain and improve their mobility.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): A PRP injection is a treatment for osteoarthritis which research has shown can provide lasting relief for the pain associated with osteoarthritis. This treatment uses a small amount of a persons own blood plasma which is rich in platelets. Platelet rich plasma works by introducing platelets (which are rich in growth factors) directly to the site of damage. This high concentration of growth factors stimulates healing within the arthritic joint. PRP is a safe treatment as it uses simply a component of your own blood.

Read more:
Arthritis patience wearing thin across the province - TheChronicleHerald.ca

This entry was posted on March 7, 2017 at 6:41 pm and is filed under Arthritis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |