Answering Your Questions About Knee Replacement Surgery

It seems like you've tried everything to get rid of that nagging pain in your knee. You've gone to specialists, used ice packs, hot packs, and both topical and injected pain relievers. Now your doctor is suggesting total joint replacement as a way to relieve your symptoms.

When you need to make a big decision regarding your joint health, look no further than the team of experts available at one of Mercy Health Partners' hospitals. This network of care offers anyone in need of a new knee, hip, or shoulder proven options for a swift recovery.

"Orthopedics is an ever-growing and ever-changing field," says Carol Owens, RN, BBA, director of medical and surgical services at Mercy Hospital Anderson. "When you want to find the best surgical solution\ for your personal needs, having allies like those available through our orthopedic program can help you select the best procedure."

A Look at Your Options

Common procedures performed at Mercy facilities include:

• total hip replacement
• total knee replacement
• total shoulder replacement
• spine surgery

"While our most common procedure, far and away, is a total knee replacement, we offer a wide range of orthopedic services," says Nate Chaney, RN, BSN, orthopedic program director and unit based educator for the Orthopaedic Center of Excellence at Mercy Hospital Fairfield. "Our available options even include computer-assisted and minimally-invasive procedures."

World Class Care

What sets Mercy apart from other hospitals is the commitment to providing personalized care. At all five Mercy hospitals in Greater Cincinnati patients have the option to attend a joint replacement class. Designed to offer future patients a chance to view the facility, get to know the staff, complete important pre-admission testing, and find the answers to all their joint replacement questions, this course is greatly improving outcomes at Mercy facilities.

"The classes are not mandatory at our facility, but many doctors request patients attend them and a few require them," says Chaney. "When we first started offering the classes here, only a quarter of our patients attended, but now we're up to more than two-thirds. Patients who attend leave grateful that they came, and have fewer complications and faster recoveries."

By participating in joint replacement classes, Mercy hopes to educate joint replacement patients and transform them into partners in their own recovery process.

"We certainly encourage the patient and their family to get involved in the joint replacement process," says Owens. "By making a concerted effort to include everyone involved, and to educate those closest to the patient, the recovery process becomes a joint effort. Our proven results speak for the effectiveness of this approach."

For more information about orthopedic care available through Mercy hospitals, visit e-mercy.com.

Knee Brace For Big People - How to Find the Correct Size and Kind of Brace For Your Knees!

How are your knees holding up lately? Do you ever find that you have knee instability or pain issues that you have to deal with?

Introduction: Knee pain is the worst! If you have discomfort then we can feel where you are coming from! It can slow you down and if you consider yourself to be a "big person" then you better read this article. This free information can help you to reduce your knee pain, improve your stability, and also to help you protect the structures of your knee before something goes wrong.

1.) How To Measure For A Knee Brace

Typically there are three measurements that you need to take. What we suggest that you do is find a tape measure. The kind of tape measure that has the centimeters on side and inches on the other side. Then, what you need to do is find a land mark both 6" (15cm) above your knee, and 15cm (6") below your knee. Also, locate your knee center. With your leg and knee straight, take a circumference measurement at each of these 3 points we just talked about. What you will need to do is record your answers and then take them with you to a knee brace website later on... It is important to note that the circumference measurement taken 6" above your knee is them is the most important measurement. However, if you are a "Big Person" like the author of this article, then you will need to also have the other two measurements just to make sure you are getting the right size.

2.) How Knee Braces Help "Big People"

Let's face it, when we are big, then we have more stress on our knees. Its just a fact. The more weight you have to carry, the more your knees have to work. - After a while, knee pain and instability can occur due to an injury, or incident, or even a degenerative knee problem. - Knee braces can be extremely helpful in providing people with meaningful support. This support will help to promote healing, and it will help to provide stability and pain reduction as well.

It is important to note that knee braces can be very helpful, but they do not cure you. They can be extremely helpful, as this article can be, but you have to remember that self diagnosis is not recommended and speaking with your doctor for medical advice is important as well. This health information can help, but we are not our doctor.

Inflammation of Knees Can Be Reduced Naturally Using Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplement

You will be surprised to know that one out of every three Americans suffers from one or the other form of inflammation disorders like inflammation of knees, inflammation of hips, inflammation of fingers, etc.

Inflammation of knees is followed by pain and restricted movement. This is because; with age or with the persistent presence of foreign material in the body or because the body goes into an autoimmune mode (start treating healthy cells as foreign material) the joint cartilage covering the bones on the joints wears away with inflammation. Therefore, it is in our interest to stop the inflammation. Once inflammation gets under control, the pain also automatically goes away.

Studies have proven that inflammation of knees can be controlled if you take a regular dose of a fish supplement. This is because; fish oil contains DHA omega 3 fatty acids. Once eaten body can convert DHA to a chemical called Resolvin D2, which is a proven anti-inflammatory agent.

The only condition to get positive effects is that the supplement you take should be effective and should be of high quality. A substandard one can do more than good.

Below is a short list of parameters of an effective supplement:

1. High DHA content - More DHA means more effective a supplement is controlling body's inflammation cycle. They should be made from fish that are naturally high in DHA. 1000 mg of oil should contain at least 250 mg of DHA.

2. Purity - Effective supplement undergoes the molecular distillation process. This is the only process known to human kind that can filter out all the harmful and unwanted chemicals and toxins from the oil. This process ensures that oil is of pharmaceutical grade and is good for human consumption.

3. Freshness - There should be no rancid odor in the gel, instead it should smell like ocean water only. Rancid oil results in fishy burps and prolonged metallic after taste.

4. Third party review of the quality standard - Effective supplement is always backed up by various quality standards.

5. Intentions and ethics of the company - Good customer care and buy back policy ensures that manufacture is sure of the quality of the product.

Now that you know inflammation of knees can be reduced naturally through an effective fish oil supplement and how to find the best among so many available in the market, your next steps - hit the internet, find a supplement that suits you the best and start taking it regularly.

If you need my assistance in recommending you a high DHA hoki-tuna mix supplement that is twice more effective in controlling inflammation of knees than any other supplement available in the market, visit my website Omega 3 Brief today.

Jogging And Your Knees

Jogging is perhaps the most common and practical exercise that anybody can be do anywhere and anytime. Statistics shows that more people jogs or runs more than people going to aerobic classes or visits the gym. But do these joggers know that jogging is actually a high impact exercise for their knees?

The knee is a very complex joint. It includes the articulation between the leg and thigh (tibia and femur) and the knee cap (patella). The most common knee problems in jogging relate to what is called the "patellofemoral complex". This consists of the quadriceps, knee cap and patellar tendon. What is now called patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is also known as runner's knee. For many years runner's knee was considered to be breaks down of the cartilage inside the patella.

Symptoms Of Runner's Knee

When you feel pain around and sometimes behind the kneecap, this would signal you that you might be suffering from runner's knee. As one of the most common injuries among joggers, runner's knee most often strikes as joggers approach forty miles per week for the first time. Even after taking a few days off, the pain seems to come right back, sometimes even more intense, after the first few miles of the next run. The pain often is the worst when running downhill or walking down stairs, and the knee is often stiff and aching after sitting down for long periods. You might hear a clicking sound when you bend or extend your knee.

To Test If You Have Runner's Knee

The foolproof test for runner's knee is to sit down and put your leg out on a chair so that it's stretched out straight. Have someone to squeeze your leg just above the knee while pushing on the kneecap. He should push from the outside of the leg toward the centre. Meanwhile, tighten your thigh muscle. If this is painful, you're suffering from runner's knee.

Early Treatments

Runner's knee can be further aggravated by simple overuse. If you have steeply increased your mileage recently, you might consider holding back a bit. Stop doing any activities that hurt the knee, and don't start again until you can do them without any pain. If you really have to exercise, select other forms of exercise which will give your knees a lower impact or strain, exercise such as swimming would be a better and advisable choice.

Use the R.I.C.E. formula:

Rest: Avoid giving impact on the painful knee. Most people will temporarily switch to a non-weight bearing activity, such as swimming.

Ice: Apply cold packs or ice wrapped in a towel for short periods of time, several times a day.

Compression: Use an elastic bandage such as a simple knee sleeve with the kneecap cut out or knee guard that fits snugly without causing pain.

Elevation: Keep the knee raised up higher than your heart.

It is always a good idea to look after your feet and legs because in order for them to serve you longer (for as long as you wish to live going places), you need to give them ample rest and attention. Many people does not know that foot health is as important as their internal organs' health, and sometimes neglected symptoms such as knee pains or heel pains which could change their lifestyle if not rectified early.

Therefore it is vital that attention is given to foot health and foot health information is easily obtained both online and offline. Help your feet and legs and they will benefit you for life.

Volleyball Knee Brace - Sports Knee Support When You Need It! - Brace Yourself

Do your knees bother you when you play volleyball?

The Benefits Of Volleyball Knee Braces

As you already know, you are extremely active when you play volleyball. The jumping, the diving for loose balls, the sudden changes in direction... You may know it all too well!

With the right kind of volleyball knee brace you can both reduce pain and increase your knee support. The stability that a well designed knee brace can provide can really keep you in the game much longer,... let alone extend your career. Whether you play professionally or in your spare time, it is important for you to seriously consider supporting your knees before something can go wrong.

Benefits of Support Before Or After an Injury

If you have found that you have a knee injury and want to help protect yourself then you will want to invest in a knee support. This is true, whether you have injured yourself or not. When you wear a knee brace it can help you to refrain from excessive movements that will trigger your "pain buttons" or increase your instability. - Padded knee supports are also available to help cushion the blow of the floor if due to your diving and landing on your knees.

Where To Find Volleyball Knee Braces Online

If you are going to try and find the best deal for a volleyball knee brace, it is probably gonna be online. Just a few important points on getting the best knee brace for your needs.

1.) Go to a website that is formed by brace specialists. - If you need support, do not always think that the pharmacy's $7.99 knee support will always do the trick. If you know what we mean. They may be helpful, but sometimes you need to get more serious about the support that you give to your knees.

2.) Serious Knee Injuries: A really serious knee injury will need to be looked at by your doctor. As a matter of fact, you should speak with your physician about any medical advice that you need. - Having said that, do not forget that you will probably need a more deluxe knee support, if you have a more serious knee injury.

In The End...

When it comes down to it, you are the final person who decides whether to go with a knee support or not. We suggest that you do not look back, wondering what you could have done to help support your knee, before it is too late.

How Long Does a Knee Replacement Last? - Basic Facts Regarding Surgery and Recovery

How long will my total knee replacement surgery last? How long will my recovery take? How long does a knee replacement last? Will I experience a lot of pain after surgery? These are all part of the litany of questions patients have for their doctors when the subject of total knee replacement surgery comes up. Patients definitely have a right to feel concerned and have a right to know exactly what to expect from this major surgery. And, doctors will do their very best to make the surgery a positive experience and outcome for the patient. Most have no problem answering all of a patient's questions more than once.

Total knee reconstruction surgery comes about after all the various methods normally used to treat a degenerating knee are failing. Usually the decision to go forward is made only after x-shows show severe damage and pain, upon physical exam, is confirmed by the patient in that same area. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines will also be used until they no longer are able to ease the discomfort felt by the patient. Sometimes, braces are also used, as well as the relatively new approach of using Viscosupplementation which is the injection of hyaluronic acid into the patient's knee. When all of these fail, surgery is recommended and doctors can then discuss topics like how long a knee replacement will last, with the patient.

Typically, the highest number of studies taken on knee reconstruction patients show that the typical replacement knee will last anywhere from12 to 15 years. After this time, the hardware in the knee may begin to loosen, causing pain and initiating the need for a second surgery to revise the hardware components. A person is only allowed two surgeries per knee in their lifetime. This is one of the reasons most surgeons will wait until a patient is 60 or older to recommend surgery, unless a case is extreme. However, the replacement knee has been known to last up to 20 years or as little as a single year when it has been overused.

Knowing how long a knee replacement lasts is mostly a gamble of taking care not to damage the knee by behaving inappropriately. Doctors recommend that knee replacement patients do not take part in sports activities that place a lot of heavy stress on the knee, such as jogging. However, bicycling and swimming are both said to be great for patients with artificial knees. The knee will require motion to keep the hardware supple, so it sometimes can be a catch-22 situation. Work the knee, but don't overwork the knee. Following simple precautions should guarantee many years of use.

Finding Osteoarthritis Pain Relief

Finding osteoarthritis pain relief is not just a matter of looking for medication. There are many ways that you can get pain relief for this chronic condition without rushing to the medicine cabinet. Most doctors today agree that osteoarthritis pain relief should be as natural as possible, to avoid side effects.

Traditional Remedies: The problem with the traditional pain relief remedies for osteoarthritis is that they have negative side effects. Anti-inflammatory drugs, the most commonly prescribed medications for osteoarthritis, can have negative side effects in the digestive system. They have been linked with gastronomical problems as well as ulcers in the stomach. They have also been linked to liver disease. While they show promise in relieve the pain from osteoarthritis, they are not without their problems.

Over The Counter Pain Relief: Other osteoarthritis pain relief is found in over the counter medication such as Tylenol and aspirin. These over the counter medications also have a negative impact on the digestive tract. Studies indicate that stomach ulcers and liver problems can be caused by abuse of over the counter pain medications. Stomach cancer has also been linked to this type of abuse. While over the counter medications are ideal for relieving pain that occurs once in a while, they can be harmful if taken in great quantities for chronic pain.

Pain Killers: In some cases, doctors may recommend pain killers for osteoarthritis. Some people suffer from this condition to the point where it is debilitating. In such cases, the doctor may recommend this type of treatment for those who are in dire pain. The problem with pain killers is that they cause the patient to build up a tolerance for the drug that means an increase in dosage to achieve the same results. The pain killers are also very addictive. They can cause the person to experience pain magnified when they attempt to kick the habit.

Muscle Relaxants: Muscle relaxants are also used to combat osteoarthritis, but they can have the same results as pain medication. It is clear that alternate means of osteoarthritis pain relief must be explored in order to keep people from the negative side effects of prescription and over the counter drugs.

Heat Treatments: Heating treatments can also work well when it comes to osteoarthritis pain relief. Many patients find that heating pads as well as whirlpool and sauna treatments do wonders to ease the pain. Paraffin wax treatments for the hands and feet can also be a viable treatment for this condition.

Healthy Diet: Eating the right foods and taking supplements can also help with osteoarthritis. If you want to treat this condition, you should look to the cause. Many people who suffer from osteoarthritis are overweight. If this is the case, then you are doing your whole body a favor when you lose weight.

Exercise: Knee braces, lumbar support devices and even massage can help with osteoarthritis. Exercise does not harm this condition, in fact, it can help. Many doctors will recommend some type of exercise, such as swimming, to help with osteoarthritis pain.

When you suffer from osteoarthritis, you will feel pain. But instead of reaching into the medicine cabinet for osteoarthritis pain relief, look first to more natural pain relief for this condition to avoid harmful side effects.