I'm worried about my mom's knee in the cold wind...Pain exacerbated by decreased blood circulation and muscle stiffness
Dec 15, 2024
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As the cold wind begins to blow, more and more people are complaining of pain. When the temperature drops, blood circulation is not smooth, so the oxygen and nutrition required for the joint are not properly supplied, and the muscles and ligaments around the joint become stiff. Therefore, symptoms of arthritis intensify and pain becomes greater.
"Cold weather slows the circulation of synovial fluid inside the joint and worsens inflammation," said Kim Tae-ho, head of the joint center at Incheon Nanuri Hospital. "Especially degenerative arthritis patients may experience more pain."
Knee arthritis is a degenerative disease that causes pain and inflammation by causing direct friction of joint bones as cartilage in the joint is damaged or worn out. It mainly occurs in middle-aged and elderly people after their 50s, and obesity, excessive joint use, and genetic factors are considered the main causes. Recently, the number of young patients due to accidents, wrong postures, excessive exercise, and injuries caused by sports is also increasing.
Arthritis is divided into stages 1 to 4 depending on the patient's knee cartilage damage status and symptoms, and it is important to find an appropriate treatment method step by step. If you feel a little pain or stiffness when moving your knees, it corresponds to the first stage of knee arthritis. In particular, discomfort is noticeable when going up and down the stairs and joints become stiff.
During this period, symptoms can be alleviated through weight management and strength training. It can reduce the load on the knee and relieve inflammation with medication. Combining physical therapy helps maintain joint flexibility. If it goes to the second stage, you will feel uncomfortable even during daily activities. The symptoms of swelling and stiffness of the joints intensify and damage to the cartilage also begins. In addition to medication for inflammation and pain relief, injection treatment such as hyaluronic acid injection or collagen injection is effective in improving intra-articular lubrication.
In the third stage, the pain intensifies to the point where you can feel it not only when you move but also when you are still. Damage to articular cartilage progresses considerably and deformation of the joint begins.
At the same time, it is important to strengthen medication and injection treatment, while maintaining joint mobility through rehabilitation treatment and strengthening the muscles around the knee to relieve the burden on the joints. The key is to maintain the maximum function of the joint through proper exercise and treatment. When it progresses to the fourth stage, joint cartilage is worn out, and daily life becomes difficult due to joint deformation and extreme pain.
At this stage, artificial joint surgery is inevitable because it is no longer expected to be effective with non-surgical treatment. Recently, robotic artificial joint surgery has attracted attention. Robotic artificial joint surgery precisely analyzes damaged areas and replaces joints while preserving normal tissues as much as possible. In particular, it analyzes the bone condition with real-time 3D images without CT scans and maximizes safety with precision that does not allow even 1mm of error. Reducing bleeding and recovery time through minimal incision is also a major advantage.
Director Kim Tae-ho advised, `It is important to manage arthritis early because it becomes more difficult to treat it as it progresses.' `In winter, the pain can become especially severe, so pay attention to proper exercise and warmth, and consult a specialist for a detailed examination if the pain persists.'
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bellho@sportschosun.com
