Oeteoarthritis and HA

Oeteoarthritis and HA

Do you suffer from these symptoms

- Knee pain during movement
- Creaking or grinding sensation during movement
- Knee stiffness after rest
- Knee joint swelling
- Loss of range of movement / loss of mobility

Understanding HA

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring molecules that are contained in many tissues, not just the joints. HA is one of the components that give our tissues flexibility.

HA is essential for healthy cartilage. It’s the chemical backbone that olds together the molecules, such as chondroitin sulfate, that make up the cartilage and give joint cartilage its special properties. HA is what makes joint cartilage the smoothest and most friction-free substance in nature. Nothing man-made can approach the performance of this remarkable tissues.

Oeteoarthritis and HA

HA is what makes synovial fluid thick and viscous - and it’s these properties that are vital to normal knee joint junction.

But when osteoarthritis strikes, the amount of HA in the knee joint drops. In severe osteoarthritis, the level of HA in the joint fluid may decrease by 75% or more. When HA levels in the knee drop, for instance, the result is a creaking and grinding sensation, knee pain and, often, a condition called “movie-goers knee”.

It may sound funny, but movie-goers knee is no joke. it’s a real medical condition that occurs after someone with knee osteoarthritis sits with the knee bent at a sharp angle for a prolonged period of time - such as sitting through a feature movie or driving a car for a couple of hours.

Upon arising, a sudden, sharp, stabbing knee pain occurs. The knee pain usually goes away after walking a few steps, as the remaining fluid in the knee coats the surfaces of the cartilage ad cuts down on the friction.

Choosing the Best HA supplement

As researchers learn more about the HA pathways in the knee joints, they continue to discover new ways in which HA helps to relieve pain and improve function in patients with osteoarthritis.

One of things they've learned is that oral HA supplements can be very effective - but only if they’re a high quality product that closely mimics the body’s own HA.

Today, the oral forms of HA sold as dietary supplements come from three general categories:
1. Low-purity animal extractions with collagen
2. Fermentation from bacteria; or
3. Concentrated extractions from avian sources

The original pharmaceutical forms of injected HA were all derived from the avian sources, so it makes sense that this is also the optimal form for dietary supplements.

Low-purity animal extractions mixed with collagen are undesirable because of two reasons. To get an adequate quantity of HA from these supplements, you’d have to take them in very large amounts. Also it’s questionable whether the biological activity of this source of HA is comparable with the others. HA derived from bacterial fermentation may also be less functional and it doesn't have some of the natural active components found in the concentrated extractions from avian sources.

Anaesthesia

Anaesthesia

What is Anaesthesia

Anaesthesia is the absence of pain sensation in either all or part of the body. In general anaesthesia consciousness is lost and you go “sleep”. In local anaesthesia only a part of the body is made numb, example like your arm or leg or abdomen. This is call regional anaesthesia.

Epidural anaesthesia is a special form of regional anaesthesia which can be used to numb the area of your chest, abdomen, pelvis and legs.

What is an epidural

Epidural anaesthesia is used to temporary numb the nerves carrying pain sensation. A special epidural needle is inserted into the lower part of back; a small amount of local anaesthesia may be first injected into the skin of the area. This causes a little sting but it is often the only part that hurts. The tip of the epidural needle is advanced into the space which contains the nerves before they enter the spinal cord. With the epidural needle in place, a fine plastic tubing can then be passed through the needle. The needle is withdrawn and the plastics tube taped in place so drug doses can be made through it with no further injections.

Epidural anaesthetic - What happens first

Before performing an epidural anaesthetic, first your anaesthetist will ask you about your previous anaesthetic history and will assess your medical condition. You will be asked questions about any allergies you may have, and about any medications you may be taking. An intravenous drip will be started, usually through an injection on the back of your hand. Extra fluid is given through this drip. It is also used t give drugs rapidly when necessary. If you are in extreme pain when requesting your epidural, then your pre-anaesthesia consultation may be brief. You can rest assured that your anaesthetist will commence your epidural as soon as it is considered safe to do so. Any questions you wish to ask will be readily answered.

Anaesthetic - What are the risk

No anaesthetic is without risk, but most patients do not suffer any serious complications. When they do occur, complications vary from mild and inconvenient (headache, backache, nausea, vomiting, shivering, drip side bruising) to the severe but very rare, such as damage to the spinal cord or nervous system, or death. The risk of developing a serious complication is very remote when the epidural is performed by someone who is inexperienced, and when ongoing care is provided by staff who are experienced in epidural management.

Epidural anaesthetic - What are the side effects

Once your pain has been relieved, your  blood pressure can fall somewhat an this might make you feel a little light-headed or nauseated. A fall in blood pressure is usually not serious and can easily treated. Sometimes the fall is helpful, if your blood pressure is already high. It is important not to lie flat on your back because this position can affect your circulation and blood pressure and make you feel faint. You should always lie on your side, or arrange a pillow to tilt your body to one side.

Epidural anaesthetic - What more should I know

Occasionally the epidural needle is inserted a little further than intended, causing a “lumbar puncture” or mall leak of the fluid surrounding the spinal cord. This is not serious in itself but can cause a severe headache, which can be treated effectively. Infection following an epidural is extremely rare and if treated early with antibiotics usually recovered completely without complications. Epidural are very safe when performed and managed properly. Serious complications are extremely rare. Minor complications such as lumbar puncture headache, are uncommon and are easily treated.

Epidural anaesthetic - What drugs are used

Modern epidural in usually combine a low concentration local anaesthetic with a morphine-related pain relieving drug such as fentanyl. This takes away the pain but allows enough sensation for you to still feel your movements.