Infection in Hip-Knee Replacement

Infection remains the most dreaded complication affecting total joint arthroplasty patients. Infections may be superficial or deep. The usual flora in infected patients are Staphylococus or Streptococcus species, although cases with Pseudomonas and other hospital acquired pathogens have been reported.

Infection should be considered in any patient with a total joint arthroplasty presenting with acute onset pain in the setting of a previously painless functioning joint; or prolongation of the post-operative pain.

The factors associated with increased risk of infection include, skin disease at the operative site, immunosuppression due to systemic illness or prolonged steroid intake, diabetes mellitus, concomitant urinary tract infection, previous surgery in the same region, and inflammatory arthritis.

The use of filtered vertical laminar flow operating rooms, body exhaust suits, proper operation theatre discipline and prophylactic antibiotics (three doses of 1st generation Cephalosporin (Cefazolin / Cefuroxime) starting one hour before surgery with the remaining two doses given within 24 hrs post surgery) have greatly reduced the incidence of infection.

Early evidence of infection can be substantiated by elevated levels of C- reactive protein (CRP).

Early infection (less than 3 months post surgery) is treated with a extensive surgical debridement and the implant is retained, if found well fixed. Implant if found loose is removed, and a two stage revision surgery is planned.

Treatment of late onset infected arthroplasty depends on the duration, as well as the microbial flora involved. For chronic infections options include- implant removal followed by two stage revision arthroplasty, resection arthroplasty or arthrodesis.

In two stage revision arthroplasty, the first step consists of removal of all the implants, extensive debridement followed by antibiotic impregnated cement spacer. The second stage is carried out when there is no clinical and laboratory indication of active infection. The definitive components are inserted with antibiotic loaded bone cement.

Natural Herbal Relief For Menopause Symptoms

I've heard it said that there are two things in life you can be sure of, death and taxes. For women there is one more that should be added and that's menopause. It is a natural event that happens in every woman's life.

Grandma called it the change of life. As with any life change there are pros and cons. For me personally it was a celebration. The baby factory was gone and I was left with the playground. No more hit you in the stomach,double you over, knock you to your knees cramps. No more worries about soiled clothes. No more dealing with PMS or any of the other symptoms you suffer from that time of the month. Although menopause does bring with it, it's own symptoms.

Menopause symptoms can also give you a swift kick in the butt. For those of you going through it and the ones that have already been there, you know what I'm talking about. Your watching the TV and a commercial comes on or maybe it's a song on the radio. Doesn't matter, the next thing you know you got the blues and the tears are flowing and the mascara is running down your face. Night sweats can also wreak havoc with your sleep. Your either sweating or your freezing. The alarm goes off and all you know is your tired and soaking wet. Your in an important business meeting and you start to feel your face turning red and you just know it's 120 degrees. Some of the other symptoms include irritability, mood swings, weight gain, bloating, gas, vaginal dryness and loss of sexual desire.

Thank goodness there is relief for these symptoms. Realizing that menopause is a natural event in your cycle, why would you treat your symptoms with anything other than natural herbal relief? Menozac is a botanical medicine containing a blend of all natural herbal extracts. Menozac was developed to ease the transition and provide effective Menopause Symptom relief from the start through the duration of your menopause symptoms. It has been formulated with the best known combination of high potency phytoestrogen botanicals which have a long empirical history of relieving menopausal symptoms and supporting the body's hormonal balance.

Menozac is the natural answer. What are you waiting for. Two tablets a day and you can say bye bye menopause symptoms. Stop crying and become One Hot Mama without the hot flashes.

Be Healthy and Happy...Naturally.

The Top Ways to Get Relief From Knee Pain

If you suffer from knee pain the last thing you want to hear is that you will need to undergo knee surgery. Fortunately knee surgery is now treated as a last resort and there are several other treatments to help relieve knee joint pain symptoms.

Treat Knee Pain With Orthotics & Knee Braces

Sometimes the best pain treatment can also be the simplest. The simple thing such as changing your posture or ceasing a particular activity can be all that's needed. In my case it was using orthotics that resulted in complete pain relief. All this did was to slightly change the way I walk which changed how my knee was working and the rest is history. I'm now back running. Of course, it's not always that easy.

Some people find using a knee brace can be a great knee pain reliever. The brace works in a similar way to orthotics in your shoes in that it changes and corrects the way the knee moves and in many cases can reduce knee joint pain greatly.

Knee Pain Relief Using Corticosteroids

In the medicinal world there are some highly effective knee joint pain relief products. One that is widely used in the treatment of knee pain and also for other types of pain is corticosteroid injections. In this treatment the knee is injected directly with the medication. Although usually not permanent, many people get relief from their knee and joint pain which lasts sometimes many months. It may not be suitable for every patient. Your medical practitioner or specialist will advise if the procedure would be of benefit.

Effective Creams For Knee Pain Relief

There are also creams which in some cases can be effective knee pain treatments. Again they may not be suitable to treat all types of knee pain but can be effective pain treatment in many cases. Thee creams are based on cetylated fatty acids. There have been studies that have shown creams such as these can be very effective with good results happening quickly and continuing with ongoing use of the knee pain relief cream. One such cream is called Celadrin.

Alternatives to Using a Cream - Supplements or Patches.

We all know that as we age joint problems become more likely and because our knees are subject to a lot of stress, especially if you've been active, knee joint problems are very likely. However, in this day and age, it is not necessary to put up with the pain associated with knee joint problems.

Even if the pain in your knee is caused by arthritis there is usually a way of treating the it. It is important, if you have sore knee joints to consult with your doctor who should be able to point you in the right direction whether it is to consult a foot specialist for orthotics or a brace, use of a cream or supplement or to see a specialist for a more complicated treatment.

If orthopedic knee surgery is recommended, with all the advances in modern medicine and technology, the results can be nothing short of miraculous and the thought of knee joint surgery should not scare you. Just remember that knee surgery is a last resort and there are many other non-surgical options to give you relief from knee pain.

Do You Think You May Have Degenerative Knee Problems? Consider Using Knee Braces!

Degenerative knee problems are also called osteoarthritis (OA) and degenerative joint disease (DJD). It may start with stiffness and swelling of the joint but may eventually develop into severe deformity of the joint so that even walking becomes an ordeal.

There are several ways to treat DJD depending on the age of the patient and the severity of the condition. You can check on the following case studies so you will be able to make the right choice for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Case I: Beth's Story

Beth was only 42 when she twisted her right knee. It had swollen and she then felt excruciating pain. As a first aid measure, she used an ice pack to alleviate the pain but it continued to get worse. She decided to see the doctor and was diagnosed to have osteoarthritis. The doctor then recommended that she wear knee braces for added support.

Beth sought a second opinion and the doctor advised her to undergo knee surgery which involved complete knee replacement. She did not have any medical insurance that would cover the cost of the operation. Furthermore, there was still no guarantee that surgery could help the knee become fully functional again and the doctor could not assure her as well that she will be free from pain.

In the end, Beth opted to take the advice of the first doctor, and it turned out that she made the right choice. The knee braces provided comfort and support to her knees. Today Beth is able to do her daily activities.

Case II: Dave's Story

Dave is a softball player all his life. He was 53 when he developed pain in both knees but he noticed that the right knee was worse. He was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and he opted to get surgery.

Dave had full right knee replacement, undergone rehabilitation, and was subsequently off from work for nearly a year. The right knee did work well but the left knee occasionally gave him discomfort. Instead of opting for another surgery, he treated it conservatively and used knee braces. He also performed some of the exercises he had learned from the rehab. Today, Dave walks with ease and still uses the knee brace on his left knee. He does not recommend surgery to anyone.

It is always best fit to opt for conservative treatment methods that can help ease out the discomforts of degenerative knee problems without any adverse effect. Based on the two cases, conservative methods of treatment, combined with knee braces, are extremely effective.

It is important, however, to seek for professional help if you think you may have osteoarthritis or if you experience severe pain in your knees. This article is for health information and should not be seen as a substitute for the advice of a medical professional.

Your Job Could Be the Cause of Your Sore Knee Joint Discomfort - Brace Yourself For Improved Support

Do you experience sore knee joint pain or discomfort on a regular basis?

Are you one of the millions of people in the world who have had their daily lives drastically affected because of such an ailment?

The truth of matter is that over the past decade more and more people have reported some sort of discomfort or sore knee joint pain without experiencing a major injury to the knee.

Why?

This may sound shocking and frightening to many people but the truth is that there rise of factory and industrial type jobs, along with an increase in farm work hands and an influx in office based jobs. Millions of people all over the world are now experiencing sore knee joints due to the physical elements of their every day jobs.

You also might be surprised to hear that many sufferers of a sore knee joint are people who don't work in a physically demanding job! As stated above, even office workers are reporting more cases of sore knee joints.

How Does My Job Affect My Knee Joints?

Consider how you "move" about in your job. Are you constantly standing up and down? Do you have the need to bend and stay crouched in a squatting position for longer than five minutes at a time? Are you constantly having to bend down and back up again systematically while working? If yes, then you may have just discovered the cause of your sore knee joint!

When you put so much strain on your knee joints and are putting them into motion in specific ways over extended periods of time, you may begin to wear down and cause irritation of the muscles, ligaments, or menisci surrounding located in the knee joint. This pain could be mild or it could be so severe that you can't bend your knees without experiencing excruciating pain.

I Can't Quit My Job, So What Can I Do?

There is good news for sore knee joint sufferers! There are simple things that you can do and cheap products that you can purchase that will not only assist in helping alleviate the sore knee joint pains that you currently have but can also prevent future knee pains.

The regular and disciplined use of a knee brace or knee sleeve can prove beneficial and life saving to a sore knee joint pain sufferer. Knee braces are clinically designed and tested. They are fashioned to provide structure for the knee, along with decreasing the amount of soreness and pain that many people are dealing with on a regular basis when it comes to their knee joints.

Wearing a brace is comfortable and affordable, and in the long run can save you from having to deal with discomfort and other physical issues with the joints. They are light weight and can be concealed beneath clothing.

Living With Osteoarthritis - Today and Tomorrow

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It is in the news almost daily. Arthritis is most common in older people and that brings us to ask the question: what age are you when you get old? I am not sure, but I think the answer moves as we age. When I was twenty, old was thirty or forty. Now that I have passed that mark, old is at or beyond social security age. Age is relative, but it sure creeps up on us. The bottom line is that as we age, osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis that faces us and we need to take whatever measures we can to delay or prevent this arthritis, or any other type of arthritis from invading our bodies. I say 'us' because I am in this age group also. As always, any and all types of pain, especially of the joints, is reason to consult your physician.

Now the question: what is osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis is sometimes called degenerative arthritis. It's a wear-and-tear condition that occurs when the cartilage in your knee deteriorates with use and age. This is the cushioning inside your joints. Experts don't know why this cartilage breakdown happens. Aging, joint injury, being overweight, and genetics are all contributing factors.

Arthritis Is mainly a disease of the spine, hip, hand, knee and foot, but it can happen in other joints of the body. It develops gradually and tends to cause varying degrees of pain, especially when you stand or walk. Swelling, stiffness, especially in the mornings and after you have been active, creaking or popping sounds, and a loss of flexibility in your knee joints are all symptoms of osteoarthritis.

How does one know if you have osteoarthritis?

Your joints may ache or the pay may feel a burning or sharp pain. The pain may even come and go. Constant pain while you sleep may be a sign that your arthritis is getting worse. Getting up in the morning can be hard. Your joints may feel creaky and stiff until you get moving. Sitting still for long periods of time may make you stiff also. As I have stressed in other articles, muscles around the joint become weak, mainly due to lack of exercise and working these muscles. You need strength training to help your muscles support your knees and help to delay or alleviate some of the pain associated with osteoarthritis. Swelling usually occurs in the joints, making them feel tender and sore.

Joints may even start to look like they are in the wrong place..deformed, especially as the arthritis gets worse. As the arthritis increases its hold on you, you may not be able to fully bend, flex, or extend your joints, or worse... not even be able to move them at all. You may even hear crunching, cracking sounds. Hmmn,, sounds like a little oil in these joints may help. Just a thought. You do oil the joints in your vehicle on a regular basis, don't you? Why? So the joints won't wear out from constant rubbing against each other in the absence of a lubricating substance. As we get older, our bodies produce less amounts of hyaluric acid, a protein that provides lubrication to help maintain moisture and function in moving joints and tissues thereby resulting in more pain-free joint movement.

What are some of the treatments for osteoarthritis? They are mixed and varied. Often a mix of things helps the most.

We are a nation that is accustomed to taking pills, maybe sometimes too much. However, if your pain is mild, over the counter pain medication such as Tylenol or other NSAIDS such as advil and motrin, naproxen (such as aleve) or aspirin may work. Because you will probably be taking these medications over a long period of time, you need to consult your physician. Your knees support your weight. If you are overweight, lose weight down to your optimum weight. Your knees and other body organs will appreciate it. Swimming, biking, and walking are good activities to lose weight. You may also get help from a physical therapist. Changing activities and lessening the stress on your joints can be very helpful in reducing the pain. Remember, osteoarthritis is due to wear and tear in the joints. Providing a lubricant for your joints will provide relief also.

Treatment Guidelines to Recover Faster After Your Total Knee Replacement Surgery

Total knee replacement (TKR) surgery is usually performed after conservative treatment options have been exhausted for arthritis or joint degeneration following injury or wear and tear. Every year in the US alone, over 300,000 TKR are performed. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, this number is expected to increase by 525% by year 2030.

Some general guidelines to keep in mind following your surgery to facilitate your rehabilitation process.

--Expect pain for 8-12 weeks following surgery - use the pain medications prescribed by your MD. Ice, exercise, and keeping the weight off the knee will help too.

--Avoid excessive walking for the first two months. Contrary to popular belief, walking more is not going to help you heal faster. Your knees are a load-bearing joint and you just had a major surgery. The more you load the joint by walking and standing, the more it will get irritated and inflamed. The more the inflammation - the more swelling - the less your local muscles around your joint will work. Especially the quadriceps, which tends to shut down and atrophy. So walk for FUNCTION...walk short distances and don't get the knee irritated.

--Use your walker for the first two months. It will help you keep the load off the joint and allow healing to take place faster.

--Focus on exercises in non-weight bearing position - laying on your back or sitting (consult your physical therapist).

--Stationary bike can be a good option - once you have adequate bend in the knee.

--Ice 4-5 times a day and elevate your leg to keep the swelling and inflammation under control.

--See your physical therapist as soon as your orthopedic surgeon allows you to start physical therapy after the surgery.

--Remember it is your knee. If you don't take responsibility and do your exercises or follow recommendations by your MD or physical therapist - you are the one who might suffer or have to live with a problematic knee. It can take up to 1 year for the knee to heal after the surgery and for you to get back to all your activities. This may vary from person to person.

Focus on maintaining good health throughout this process to help your body heal properly. Be patient with yourself and work diligently.

This information is for education purposes only. Please consult your physician, physical therapist or wellness practitioner before starting any rehabilitation, wellness or fitness program.