Stem Cell Research For Osteoarthritis

Stem cells are getting a lot of press these days as the potential cure for just about everything. Their ability to differentiate into any cell type sees them as the focus of research into many medical conditions.

As osteoarthritis becomes a bigger issue - particularly knee osteoarthritis - there is money to be made on a massive scale and this type of expensive research is now being done.

Human trials are starting as are animal studies. Not all of the animal studies are on rats as this article shows.Vets are using Stem cells to treat zoo animals for knee arthritissuch as the endangered Snow Leopard. 

See this piece on Stem Cell Research For Knee Osteoarthritis

Non-surgical Management of Osteoarthritis

Total Joint replacement is very effective at treating advanced osteoarthritis but has its limitations and risks.

To delay the need for surgery other treatments can be used:

• Weight Loss
• Quadriceps strengthening
• Analgesia
• Unloader knee braces

These treatments generally have lower risks than surgery and you can always change your mind if they don't work out for you. It makes sense to give them a go before committing to surgical intervention.

ACL Injury and Osteoarthritis Risk

It has long been reported that rupturing the ACL leads to an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee.

A new study has looked at this issue a little closer and has reported that isolated ACL injuries have a lower risk than ACL injuries that occur with concurrent meniscal or chondral injury.

The "Unhappy Triad" of ACL, Medial Meniscus and MCL is a common combination and is likely to greatly increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis.

Medial compartment osteoarthritis will often end in joint replacement although non-surgical management including the use of medication and unloader knee braces can delay this.

Arthritis Drug Recall

Around 1 million Fentanyl Patches have been recalled the FDA announced. They were manufactured by Actavis Inc.

Fentanyl is a strong painkiller used to treat chronic conditions such as knee arthritis.

For more information see:     http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/news-540466-98.html

Those worried about medication should consider non-pharmacological treatments such an unloader knee brace.