OSTEOARTHRITIS
Osteoarthritis
What happens in osteoarthritis?
The hyaluronic acid in synovial fluid does not stay there for a whole lifetime, but is continuously broken down and replaced. Normally, there is an exact balance between the breakdown of old hyaluronic acid and the production of newhyaluronic acid. In osteoarthritis, however, this balance is disturbed and breakdown happens faster than production. As a result, the synovial fluid becomes more watery and stops working properly. Due to the change in the synovial fluid – and for other, more complex reasons – the cartilage in the joint gradually wears away. In some places, in fact, the cartilage may eventually disappear altogether. The thinning of the synovial fluid and wearing away of the cartilage lead to the symptoms of osteoarthritis, which include pain, stiffness and swelling. Osteoarthritis develops as people get older and is present in almost everybody over the age of 60 (although not everyone in this group has bad symptoms). Osteoarthritis of the knee or hip may also occur in younger people, usually (but not always) because these joints have been overloaded. Possible causes of overloading include sports, jobs involving a lot of lifting and carrying, too much bodyweight and abnormal joint development.
What we use at The Podiatry Centre: Ostenil
What is Ostenil®, and how does it work?
Ostenil is a solution containing hyaluronic acid. It is injected into the space in the joint that contains synovial fluid and works by restoring the normal balance between the breakdown and production of hyaluronic acid. This effect of Ostenil means that it can decrease pain and stiffness and improve the other symptoms of osteoarthritis. The hyaluronic acid in Ostenil is very pure and is manufactured using a process called fermentation. It contains no animal proteins, which means that it is very unlikely to cause an allergic reaction.
Ostenil has been given to thousands of patients and has now been found to cause no serious side effects. The exact make-up of the hyaluronic acid in Ostenil has been carefully chosen so that it is as effective as possible in treating osteoarthritis.
For more information on Osteoarthritis related to your feet.
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