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Answers tagged physiotherapy: Page 1 of 1
Q:

Tina from St. Albert asks: I have arthritis in my knees. It is so bad and the meds I tried don’t help… from advil to Voltaren to ketoprofin and Diclofenac Sodium. Is there a shot of something that would help? It’s hard to walk and swim and sleep etc. I’m trying to lose weight and exercise, but it hurts too much to keep up my walking regiment. Thanks.

The goal for treatment of osteoarthritis, be it in the knees or elsewhere, is to improve pain and function.  There are a number of different strategies, many of which can be used at the same time.  Pain relievers, starting with regularly scheduled acetaminophen, or NSAIDs as described above, work for some people.  For the knees in particular, braces can help.  Weight loss, exercise, and maintaining muscle strength around the knees can also be an important part of management.  Injections into the knees, often with cortisone but also hyaluronic acid, can also help some people.  A walking aid, such as a cane or walker, may also help.  If none of the above are helpful alone or in combination, speaking to an orthopedic surgeon about the benefits and risks of a knee replacement may be an appropriate next step.

Q:

Faith from Calgary asks: Can osteoarthritis in the back hurt?  Do rheumatologists treat osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis, regardless of its location, certainly can cause pain.  There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but treatment options do exist which revolve around pain control and improved function.  For osteoarthritis of the back, we always need to be careful to ensure it is truly degenerative arthritis causing the pain, as x-rays of the back which show osteoarthritis do not necessarily mean that’s the cause of back pain.  One of the best treatment options for back pain is physiotherapy, with an emphasis on exercises related to strengthening, stretching, range of motion and core abdominal muscles.  While those with back pain need to do these exercises regularly to have benefit, they can improve pain significantly, and can all be done from home without needing regular physiotherapy appointments.

Rheumatologists do see patients at times with osteoarthritis, often for one appointment for a full assessment and provide advice to the patient and the referring physician.



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