New Advances in Treating Joint Pain

New research indicates that low doses of radiation therapy might be a helpful treatment method for reducing the amount of pain that people with osteoarthritis in their knees experience.

 

This research was conducted by the American Society for Radiation Oncology. They presented their findings recently at their annual conference.

 

The team found that this was a potentially helpful and safe treatment method for suffering from osteoarthritis. The treatment provides an alternative to surgery and painkillers, offering help to a wider variety of individuals. The team also found that there was little risk of immediate side effects, which are quite prevalent when it comes to other methods of treating chronic pain.

 

Opioid painkillers in particular are troubling. While these drugs can be quite effective at treating pain, over time they become less and less effective. Additionally, they pose a risk of addiction, health issues, and even death. Since the dangers of opioids became widely known several years ago, including many high profile deaths, doctors and researchers have been looking for alternative ways of treating pain to help reduce this risk. Hopefully, this research helps to further that cause.

 

 

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition where the cartilage between joints erodes. If it is left untreated, osteoarthritis results in very painful bone on bone contact when the joint moves. When it comes to the knee, this can make walking and moving around incredibly difficult or even impossible. Painkillers, cortisone shots, or even joint replacement surgery have commonly been used to help those suffering from this condition. However, the participants in this study that were part of the radiation therapy group found that they had noticeable pain relief in as little as four months. This was much better than the placebo group experienced.

 

If you suffer from knee pain, consult with a doctor and go over your options so that you can make an educated choice when it comes to your treatment. Depending on your needs and your prognosis, the best option might differ for you compared to others.

 

Senior care is quite similar. What works best for someone else might not be what’s best for you and your unique situation.

 

Care can play a role in helping to address joint pain. Having the right resources in place can go a long way toward helping seniors to live a higher quality of life. This isn’t because caregivers are medical professionals–they’re typically not. Rather, caregivers provide a level of supervision and companionship designed to keep people safe and engaged. There’s a good deal of research out there that indicates that when seniors are living in community, they experience a higher quality of life, both mentally and physically. Senior care helps to ensure that this happens.

 

If you’d like to learn more about how in-home senior care can help your family out, please get in touch with us. Our caregivers offer free consultation sessions designed to answer your questions, go over your unique circumstances and family dynamics, and help get you pointed toward the resources that will help the most.