Archive for the ‘arthritis’ Category

New research from Sweden, to be published in the Annals of Rheumatic disease, has found that children in their first year of life who develop serious infections have an increased risk of developing arthritis. The study followed the health of 3500 people born from 1973 to 2002.

If a child is sick enough to get admitted to a hospital, they roughly double their risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis as an adult, as well as juvenile idiopathic arthritis which only affects young children and teens. There is an even greater chance of developing one subtype of rheumatoid arthritis.

Keep in mind that this increased risk is greater than other childhood causes of increased risk of arthritis including low birth weight, longer than normal pregnancy, premature delivery, high birth weight, childhood living conditions, and girls who are exposed to maternal smoking during pregnancy.

So should you change anything with regard to infection prevention and treatment in your children? While normal hygiene, including regular hand washing is recommended, parents should be more vigilant about infections in their children and if they seem to be rapidly worsening or fail to get better, they should consult their physicians to prevent worsening to the point of needing hospitalization.

There are however, plenty of other studies, for instance a German study published in the British Medical Journal in 2001 that showed that normal mild viral childhood infections, not including lower respiratory infections, actually help mature the immune system and prevent childhood asthma as well as other atopic diseases.

This Swedish study is just one more study that indirectly supports vaccination in children since the diseases we vaccinate against can be severe enough to require hospital admission, and thus gives your child an increased risk of developing arthritis later on.

Other References:

1) Illi, S, et al. Early childhood infectious diseases and the development of asthma up to school age: a birth cohort study.BMJ 2001;322:376-377 ( 17 February )

2) Hopkin JM. Early life receipt of antibiotics and atopic disorder. Clin Exp Allergy 1999; 29: 733-734

So you tore your meniscus, the cartilage based shock absorber between joints, and your knees are painfully locking, catching, maybe buckling, and likely throbbing or aching.  Your orthopaedist has said you may need surgery to take out or repair the meniscus.  Before committing to a procedure, ask your doc about  a new meniscus implant called Menaflex™.

Menaflex™ is a new collagen meniscus implant  that was unveiled at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (”AAOS”) annual meeting February 25-28 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is the first device of its kind and has been used in Austria by orthopaedic surgeons for many years.

It has been approved to be used as scaffolding and reinforcement for repair of soft tissue injury of the medial meniscus, the cartilaginous shock absorber in the knee. Once damaged the tissue may be removed surgically, and Menaflex aids in the regeneration of new meniscal tissue.

Traditionally, once damaged meniscal tissue is removed, new meniscus is not likely to grow back in its place, and while the pain and mechanical catching and locking may be improved, the patient may be at risk for developing arthritis in that area. The new meniscus implant may enable new meniscus tissue to grow over the scaffold, perhaps improving shock absorption and preventing osteoarthritis.

So far, few if any U.S. orthopaedic surgeons have been trained in this procedure so unfortunately, you domestic choice for meniscal repair with this implant is limited and you would have to travel to Europe to have this procedure done but hopefully in six months to a year, this will be a more established option for patients.

Symptoms of meniscal injury are many including mechanical locking, painful catching, popping, pain with deep knee bending and often swelling and aching. Meniscal injuries tend to occur with planting and twisting injuries to the knee. It is important to see your sports medicine physician as soon as possible so that if you do have a torn meniscus that may be salvaged rather than cut out, this surgical procedure may be done early. In general, the longer you wait, the less chance it may be salvaged depending on where the tear is. Thankfully, Menaflex gives patients the ability to regrow meniscal tissue but you have to find someone that does this procedure first!

FYI, I have no financial connection to this company or product.

http://www.menaflex.com/en-us/en/

Welcome to my new blog “Shape up!” As a sports medicine physician, an athlete and a huge proponent for preventative health, I am naturally interested in bringing practical fitness and well being knowledge to you, my readers. In my years in the medical world, I have noticed that much of the focus of medical training and patient care is based in “reactive” medicine- that is, the problem has occurred, and the goal of therapy is damage control, and if possible to cure.

Many of the cases I see clinically, I realize could have been prevented or controlled with healthy living based in regular physical activity, stress reduction, striving to be at an optimum weight and healthy nutrition. Unfortunately obesity is an epidemic that results in numerous health risks and conditions and is a direct result of poor nutritional choices and a lack of physical activity as well as genetic predispositions. I hope to, in small part, prevent obesity and promote physical activity in you, my readers.

Please understand that Kosmix, and myself are not liable for anything that may happen to you and that this blog does not substitute for regular medical advice, diagnosis or treatment from your personal physician or health care provider. Never delay seeking medical treatment based on anything you read or see on this blog. Your use of or reliance on any information on this blog is solely at your own risk.  Please consult with your health care provider before attempting anything described in this blog and call 911 in case of emergency.

My hope is to present the latest news in the world of exercise, fitness, obesity and preventative health, as well as “core topic” posts about common sports medicine problems that I see in my clinic. Hopefully we can together learn and promote the underlying truth that “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure!” The result is more cost-effective health care for you and the country, and a happier, productive life. I hope you enjoy my posts, and I am open to feedback. Let’s “Shape Up!”

–Sincerely, Rowan Paul, M.D.