For Fast And Effective Diagnosis And Treatment Of Knee Cartilage Damage In London Contact The Capital Orthopaedics Team Here
Your knee is the largest joint in your body, and it takes a massive force every step you take. 346% of your body weight goes through your knee when youre walking downstairs. Running can put 11 times your body weight through your knee joint. And the heavier you are, the greater the force.
Our knees have to be pretty extraordinary structures to be able to cope with this enormous strain.
As in all joints, the bones are coated in a layer of slippery cartilage which enables smooth, friction-free movement. In the middle of your knee are two rubbery, semi-circular pieces of cartilage called menisci, which provide additional shock absorption.
Small fluid-filled sacs called bursa also help with cushioning as you pound away at your knee joints.
Just as in any mechanical structure, repeated force or a sudden impact will cause the parts of your knee joint to get worn, torn or damaged.
The result is a pain in your knees. It may be a dull ache, or sharp, debilitating pain. It may be accompanied by swelling and a feeling of instability. It may change your life
No matter what the best thing you can do is get a diagnosis, and the sooner the better. Joints that take that much force on a daily basis rarely get better on their own. Many knee conditions can be resolved with physiotherapy if they are caught soon enough. Even if you need surgery, the sooner you can get treated, the less likely you are to have ongoing repercussions such as osteoarthritis.
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What Is The Best Supplement To Rebuild Cartilage
Dietary supplements: Dietary supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin are the non-surgical treatment options for cartilage restoration. Chrondroitin sulphate and glucosamine are naturally occurring substances in the body that prevent degradation of cartilage and promote formation of new cartilage.
What Makes Yale Medicine’s Approach To Articular Cartilage Injuries Unique
Our experienced providers will assess your condition and help you make an informed decision, says Dr. Allen. Our Sports Medicine surgeons are fellowship-trained and have expertise in meniscus transplant, osteochondral autograft and allograft procedures, and 2nd and 3rd generation cartilage restoration procedures.
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Will Damaged Cartilage Heal
While cartilage is very beneficial to the body, it does have a drawback: it doesnt heal itself as well as most other tissues. The cartilage cells known as chondrocytes do not often replicate or repair themselves, which means damaged or injured cartilage will not likely heal well without medical intervention.
What Are The Success Rates Of A Full Recovery From Knee Cartilage Regeneration
Knee cartilage restoration techniques have come a long way since they were first introduced. Today, patients can expect success rates up to 80% to 90% for some procedures. Dr. Van Thiel will provide you with complete followup care to ensure you experience the best results from your procedure.
To learn more about knee cartilage regeneration and restoration methods, including FDA trials where Dr. Van Thiel is a researcher, call OrthoIllinois at 774-1110 or schedule an office visit today.
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What Is Articular Cartilage
The matrix of cartilage is made up of collagens, proteoglycans, and non-collagenous proteins. While cartilage is a highly-organized structure, about 85% of cartilage is water. This decreases to about 70% of older people. Chondrocytes are the only cells found in cartilage and this produces and maintains the cartilage matrix.
Articular cartilage serves as the cushion and shock absorber within the joint. It does so because it lines the ends of the two bones that form the joint.
Cartilage damage can be caused by several conditions including:
- Joint injury
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Joints affected by cartilage damage become painful, stiff, and have a limited range of motion.
Cartilage has a limited capacity to heal itself. Consequently, articular cartilage has become the focus of many researchers and tissue engineers who strive to be able to grow new cartilage and transplant it in place of damaged or worn cartilage.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Cartilage Injury
Cartilage exists all over the body, and therefore the symptoms of injury differ depending on where the tissue has been torn. When talking about the cartilage in your joints, symptoms often include pain, swelling, decreased range of motion, and deformity, as well as catching, locking, or clicking in the affected joint. At the time of cartilage injury, you may feel a pop or tear.
If the trauma is not acute, but rather from long term erosion, it is referred to as Degenerative Joint Disease, or osteoarthritis. The symptoms are similar, but involve more pain, swelling, deformity, decreased range of motion, and in some cases warmth of the skin around the joint, though catching, locking, and clicking are still possible. If you have arthritis joints, the cartilage injury treatments available for your condition will be different from those suffering from an immediate trauma or tear.
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Knee Cartilage Regeneration: How Long Does It Take To Recover
Recovery times vary depending on the type of procedure youre having and the extent of the treatment. During recovery, youll have limitations on weight-bearing activities. You may need to use a cane or wear a brace or cast for a brief period. Once healing is under way, physical therapy may help your knee regain strength and flexibility. After your evaluation and exam, Dr. Van Thiel will discuss how long your recovery will be and what you can expect.
How To Rebuild Knee Cartilage Naturally
As discussed previously, researchers used to believe that articular cartilage could not regenerate on its own because it had no blood supply, which of course is the primary pathway of nutrient delivery to tissues.
However,studies have shown that there is some evidence that articular cartilage can be stimulated to grow naturally.
We always recommend a preventive approach to wellness, so here are a few tips to help rebuild your cartilage naturally:
- Eat foods that are rich in nutrients such as vitamin C to help synthesize more collagen in your body.
- Eat brown rice and other sources of hyaluronic acid to ensure your joints are well lubricated and that your joint cartilage is not wearing out.
- Maintain healthy exercise habits to keep your joints in shape and to prevent atrophy of the articular cartilage.
- Make it a habit to include herbal supplements in your diet like these that have beneficial properties for preventing and alleviating joint deterioration.
Studies have also shown that certain traditional plants have the ability to increase the synthesis of collagen, which then boosts the activity of chondrocytes in forming more cartilage. Such plants include Pleurostyia capensis, Pterocarpus angolensis, and Eucomis autumnalis.
We hope this helps you learn how to increase cartilage in your joints naturally so you can avoid the pain and suffering associated with joint deterioration.
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Our Unique Approach To Articular Cartilage Repair
Early identification and treatment of articular cartilage damage can have a significant effect on outcomes for patients. We address cartilage damage as part of our biologic joint replacement procedure. By repairing or replacing the damaged cartilage before it completely wears out, the arthritic damage can be reversed and the joints preserved.
If this step is not taken, eventually the cartilage wear will progress so much that the bones will touch on each side of the joint, called bone on bone wear. At this stage, artificial joint replacement becomes necessary.
Progress With Cartilage Regeneration
Several techniques have been developed that show progress in cartilage regeneration.
All of the procedures yield mixed results. There are still many questions that plague attempts at cartilage regeneration.
More clinical trials are needed to find definitive answers and to develop procedures that relieve arthritis symptoms and produce a durable replacement for damaged cartilage.
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How Are Articular Cartilage Injuries Treated
Several treatments and therapies are available, including nonsurgical and surgical options. The choice of treatment depends on several factors, including age and overall health, physical activity level, desired post-treatment activities, and the type and severity of the articular cartilage injury.
Nonsurgical Treatment. Nonsurgical treatments are used to relieve symptoms and to prevent or slow further degeneration of cartilage. Nonsurgical treatments can improve quality of life by reducing pain and enhancing strength and mobility, but they cannot repair damaged articular cartilage. They are often used in the initial period following an injury, or when cartilage loss is extensive, as in the case of arthritis.
- Resting
- Applying ice to the affected joint for 15 minutes every one or two hours to reduce swelling
- Elevating the joint to reduce swelling
- Taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, such as acetaminophen, to reduce pain and swelling
- Avoiding sports and activities that cause pain or involve heavy use of the affected joint
- Using an unloader brace to unload the cartilage injury
- Corticosteroid injections, to reduce inflammation and pain
- Viscosupplementation, a treatment in which a physician injects the affected joint with hyaluronic acid. This lubricates the affected joint, reducing friction between bones in the joint and decreasing pain.
Can Your Cartilage Repair Itself
Our ability to heal and regenerate new tissues and cells is one of the amazing aspects of being a human. So, its natural to be curious if our cartilage can do the same and regenerate on its own. Learn more about your joint health as you discover more about the binding substance that is key in your overall mobility the cartilage.
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Why Choose Johns Hopkins
- Our team includes experts with years of experience in cartilage regeneration surgery a complex set of procedures who specialize in minimally invasive approaches.
- Our orthopaedic surgeons approach cartilage regeneration surgery with cutting-edge technology, incorporating the latest methods into their practice.
- Not everyone is a good candidate for cartilage regeneration. These procedures are ideal for active people under age 55. Our experienced team will assess your condition and help you make an informed decision.
Collagen For Knee Cartilage Healing
Do collagen supplements work to rebuild knee cartilage? The answer in short is, yes. Collagen is primarily found in various types of connective tissues around your knees such as cartilage, ligaments, tendons and bones. Collagen is one of the most important components which can contribute to cartilage repair and collagen can also stimulate cartilage regrowth. Collagen plays a vital role in supporting the growth and repair cartilage tissue over time as well as relieve joint inflammation and joint pain. Research has shown that Type 2 collagen is commonly found in knee joints, which are doing weight-bearing for your body but suffered from wear-and-tear during exercise.
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Is This The Gateway To Limb Regeneration Research
These two findings lay important groundwork for future research because, one day soon, scientists will be able to identify those cells in salamanders not found in humans which enable salamanders to regenerate entire limbs.
When this happens, perhaps researchers will be able to reproduce these regenerator cells and create a cocktail mixture with human MicroRNA that can be injected into humans to repair joint injuries or maybe be developed into medicines that can prevent or reverse arthritis.
And, who knows? Maybe one day in the not too distant future, scientists will discover the key to regenerating entire human limbs so we humans can channel our inner salamander!
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Foods To Increase Lubrication In The Knees
To help increase lubrication in the knees through nutrition, there are several foods to consider adding as a part of your healthy and well-balanced diet.
Some of these foods include salmon, trout, olive oil, nuts, avocados are all high in omega-3s. When you combine these foods with glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin, they can all work together to help increase lubrication while also decreasing inflammation. All of this will work wonders when it comes to pain relief as well.
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Immobility Or Reduced Activity
Just like the muscles, cartilage should be put into constant use to maintain them in a healthy condition.
In situations such as chronic diseases where people are bedridden, or in paralysis where the individual cant put the affected joint to use, cartilage begins to reduce in size and degenerate a process called atrophy.
Nowadays, advancements in medicine and scientific knowledge have made it easier to understand how new cartilage can be produced.
Lets take a look at how that occurs.
Who Are Candidates For Cartilage Surgery
Most candidates for cartilage repair are young adults with a single injury, or lesion. The size of the lesion, site of the lesion and the status of other structures in the knee will determine whether surgery is possible for you. Often, additional operations such as knee re-alignment and ligament reconstructions may also be required to improve the chance of success. Older patients, or those with many lesions in one joint, are less likely to benefit from the surgery, as this process is more representative of OA.
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What Is The Outlook For People With Articular Cartilage Injuries
The outlook is good for patients with these injuries, although not everyone will be able to resume all activities. Pain and discomfort can be relieved with both nonsurgical and surgical treatments. When the articular cartilage is damaged, surgical procedures can effectively repair and restore the tissue. In general, healthy individuals younger than 40 with minor articular cartilage injuries have the best outcomes and often successfully return to pre-injury activities. But not every patient is a suitable candidate for cartilage restoration or repair. These procedures are ideal for active people under age 50.
If left untreated, articular cartilage injuries can lead to the development of osteoarthritis, a condition in which the articular cartilage wears away, exposing the underlying bone. Joint replacement surgery may be required to treat osteoarthritis.
Direct Trauma To Joints
Some people start having cartilage complications when theyre involved in some sort of activity that exposed their joints to heavy impact.
Classic examples are automobile accidents and/or a bad fall such as in contact sports.
Unlike joint disease where the cartilage is literally eaten away, trauma can causetearing of the cartilage or just a displacement of articular cartilage from its usual location.
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Cartilage Repair And Transplantation
Articular Cartilage is the white tissue lining the end of bones where these bones connect to form joints. Cartilage acts as cushioning material and helps in smooth gliding of bones during movement. An injury to the joint may damage this cartilage which cannot repair on its own. Cartilage can be damaged with increasing age, normal wear and tear, or trauma. Damaged cartilage cannot cushion the joints during movement and the joints may rub over each other causing severe pain and inflammation.
Cartilage restoration is a surgical procedure where orthopaedic surgeons stimulate the growth of new cartilage that restores the normal function. Arthritis condition can be delayed or prevented through this procedure.
Several techniques are employed for cartilage restoration including dietary supplements, microfracture, drilling, abrasion arthroplasty, osteochondral autograft, and allograft transplantation.
Microfracture: In this method numerous holes are created in the injured joint surface using a sharp tool. This procedure stimulates healing response by creating new blood supply. Blood supply results in growth of new cartilage.
Drilling: In this method a drilling instrument is used to create holes in the injured joint surface. Drilling holes creates blood supply and stimulate growth of new cartilage. Although the method is similar to microfracture, it is less precise and the heat produced during drilling may damage other tissues.
Can Cartilage Be Repaired Without Surgery
While cartilage does not regrow or replace itself, it can be repaired or supplanted by a few different treatment options. Many cartilage injuries can be treated without surgery, via physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medication. This is especially true if you have a sedentary to moderately active lifestyle.
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How Are Stem Cells Used In Joint Repair
Joint Repair. Biomedical engineers at Hopkins have caused stem cells from adult goats to grow into tissue that resembles cartilage, a key step toward creating a minimally invasive procedure that may one day be used to repair injured knees, noses and other body parts.
The work builds on previous research at Stanford that resulted in isolation of the skeletal stem cell, a self-renewing cell that is also responsible for the production of bone, cartilage and a special type of cell that helps blood cells develop in bone marrow.
What Is The Function Of Cartilage
Cartilage is a form of connective tissue that covers the end of each bone in the body. It provides cushioning and shock absorption to the joints, allowing them to move smoothly without restriction. When there is decreased cartilage within a joint, you may experience pain, stiffness, and difficulty moving your joints through their full range of motion.
A variety of treatments are used to treat loss of cartilage in the knee, ranging from conservative measures like pain medications, weight loss, and physical therapy to more invasive procedures like injections and surgery, depending on the severity of your symptoms and degree of cartilage loss.
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What Types Of Treatments Can Restore Knee Cartilage
While damaged knee cartilage used to mean joint replacement surgery, now there are cartilage repair techniques designed to replace damaged cartilage. Other techniques are aimed at promoting cartilage regeneration in an area thats been damaged. Dr. Van Thiel has extensive experience in a wide variety of cartilage repair and regeneration techniques.
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Stem cell treatment
Stem cell treatment is emerging as a very good option in some patients. This treatment uses a patients own stem cells harvested from their bone marrow. The cells are programmed to form new, healthy cartilage cells to replace damaged cartilage. Recent studies have explored taking cells derived from facial cartilage to encourage growth. Two independent studies demonstrated that facial cartilage shows more effective repair than cartilage taken from limbs. Studies into stem cell regeneration therapy is still ongoing, but shows great promise for future treatment options.