Offbeat Treatments for OsteoArthritis of the Knee

OsteoArthritis of the knee is one of the most common Arthritis problems referred to rheumatologists.

The Treatment is dependent upon the severity of problem. Conventional approaches include insightful and/oral anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics (pain relievers), glucocorticoid injections ("cortisone"), viscosupplements (lubricants), bracers, exercises, physical therapy, weight reduction, and the list keeps growing.

Proponents of alternative therapies also tout the benefits of glucosamine and chondroitin- the so-called nutriceuticals and its particular omega oils, herbal remedies equivalent to garlic, ginger, turmeric, frankincense, stinging nettle, boswellia, and bromolein.

The purpose of the article is to introduce some not so well known but potentially effective remedies which aren't so well known.

The first are leeches. Leeches have been used for centuries for a number of medical problems. However, one little known area of research is their use to treat OsteoArthritis of the knee. In two individual studies, one at Beth Israel Hospital in New york, and the other your own body Germany, leech therapy, termed hirudo medicinalis, was compared. Leeches were applied during a four quadrant distribution to some patient's knee. Leech saliva apparently contains a variety of substances including hirudin, hyaluronidase, vasodilators, collagenase, and other chemicals that block soreness.

Bee venom is another type of Treatment that has been touted as effective for Arthritis. The term for bee venom Treatment come with apitherapy. Apitherapy has been studied both ways its acupuncture like effect as well as for chemical compounds present close by bee venom. Its use is particularly common in Korea. Bioactive compounds found in bee venom apparently just have profound anti-inflammatory effects.

Another not so extraordinary but intriguing one is the use of pulsed electrical fields to prevent Arthritis pain. A company called Bionicare makes a device that fits wearing your knee. Electrical impulses using certainly wave forms are then delivered to the cuff. Clinical research has demonstrated improvement in pain that should be statistically better than placebo. How it operates is still not improve and even remove.

Another "weird" Treatment which is dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). DMSO is an industrial solvent found up and down paint thinner. It was popular covering the 1950's as a topical treatment of many ailments. Studies showed deleterious changes in the lens of test animals as well as FDA eventually approved DMSO only for Treatment of a unusual bladder condition, interstitial cystitis. Since it comes in both industrial as in the event that as medicinal strengths, it's a substance that should be used very cautiously. DMSO has remained popular among veterinarians which use DMSO to treat racehorses affected with joint disease. Interestingly, DMSO has found a niche as the vehicle which drives diclofenac, an anti inflammatory drug, through the skin it's poker room pushing the drug with the small lipids (fats) in the way skin. This combination drugs are marketed as Pennsaid.

So in this brief article I've outlined a several weird but potentially active remedies. Nonetheless, it's important to check with your doctor before considering any kind of new Treatment.

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