Osteoarthritis Treatment

" Welcome to our webcast by doctor David Marks thank you offer setting in your questions about arthritis we're gonna try to answer them on this webcast. Joining me to do that is doctor Allen -- about -- professor of medicine and public health at Cornell and rheumatologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery thanks for helping us out. Thank you get questions from normal for now says. I have osteoarthritis in my hands are getting very disfigured stiffens -- with surgery helped us and it's I would like finger still be stiff and painful."

" An excellent question and again difficult to answer without knowing that degree of disability."

" There are a variety of surgical techniques but the patients with osteoarthritis. And the questioner hasn't it prior evening whether it's I struck buyers of the wrist osteoarthritis of the farms dot to a price of fingers what have you. Now we have to carefully differentiate between the -- are not perils of our grandparents which are -- medically problematic. But not functionally problematic. And those joints which as a result of chronic weren't there have become degenerative. In some instances we can replace certain of the finger joints."

" In other instances the degeneration. May not be advanced enough to require the kind of surgery. And another instance is the generation maybe two events to resort to surgery for anyone joint."

" There are several dozen joints in the hand and it would not be possible to replace repair all of them but if a joint is replaced. Will that. Joint be painful ones and stiff and sore. One thing we do know is that -- placement of the joint takes away pain. -- have -- in a joint that's been replaced by a piece of plastic put the pieces of metal. As far as range of motion that he may be improved."

" But then depending upon that this qualities and the other joints around the joint it may not be possible to get back to regular. Function. When -- give you one anecdote."

" I had a patient with severe rheumatoid arthritis. Condition different from what the questioners talked about who had very deformed hands. She worked as a typist because of the deformities in her hands she trained herself. Who hit the keys with fingers other than the ones we traditionally teach people to lose."

" Which came in and had her fingers repaired."

" She was no longer able to work as a -- because I really remember her fingers she couldn't train yourself again enough time. He took the -- the right way so sometimes we have to be aware. That not everything we do necessarily has the desired outcome. -- interest me. The next question says how do you treat moderate osteoarthritis of the -- what about cortisone injections every three months."

" Moderate osteoarthritis of the -- as a variety of therapies available to it and trying used them all and hastily sequential but sometimes can kind fashion. We know prescribed. Medications to relieve pain. And they prescribed medications to reduce swelling. We're -- if there is acute swelling meaning that the new itself is blowing up and collecting fluid. Nate couldn't even -- drain fluid that's correct it and leave behind a little bit prejudice on -- on."

" Which is a very powerful anti inflammatory medication."

" We don't like to do this more than three at -- times per year if the bat. The -- it is not benign procedure there is a risk of infection. And there's a risk of leaving behind crystals. Which compressed further information. So I think we kind service to the individual and individual needs many more than three shots and they need. It may well be time to see -- orthopedic surgeon about removing or replacing Antony. Would they were appropriate structure and one that will be less painful. Thank you very much -- thank you for your questions and thank you for joining a webcast I'm doctor David Marks the body."