Knee Pain in Females Increases with Changes in BMI | Cold Laser Therapy for Knee Pain Dallas-Fort Worth
Knee Pain in Females Increases with Changes in BMI | Cold Laser Therapy for Knee Pain Dallas-Fort Worth
A report published online on July 7th, 2011 in Arthritis Care & Research by researchers at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom found that women who gained weight over a fifteen year period had greater knee pain in both knees. The study followed 594 females body mass index over a period of fifteen years and discovered that an increase in body mass index was associated with greater knee pain in both knees regardless of the severity of osteoarthritis diagnosed on the x-rays.
Basically, this study reported on something women already intuitively know… that is the greater the weight gain the more stress it places on the knees.
Of course, ask any woman, losing weight for many is always easier said than done. If you’ve ever experienced severe knee pain then the last thing you want to do is walk, stand, or even exercise. Most women suffering with severe knee pain would love to be able to be active again but sometimes the pain is so unbearable that this seems impossible.
So if you’re an overweight female and are suffering from knee pain and cannot exercise because the pain is unbearable then you should consider Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Therapy Knee Program. Dr. Schnee’s program is for those who want to experience knee pain relief and improvement in function, non-surgically, so that they can get back to exercising comfortably.
Dr. Alexandra Schnee, D.C. has been helping patients get knee pain relief for over ten years. She is one of the most experienced Cold Laser Therapy Doctors for the treatment of knee pain in the United States. Her knee program consists of specific protocols she designed to treat knee pain, along with other non-invasive modalities. Cold Laser treatments for knee pain are safe and effective.
The bottom line is if knee pain is keeping you from exercising then call Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee’s office, at the DFW Spine & Joint Center at 214-596-1051.
To order a FREE 16 PAGE Booklet about Cold Laser Therapy for the Treatment of Knee Pain and Dr. Schnee’s Program fill out the form on the right hand side of the screen or visit http://www.helpmykneepain.com
To find out about other cold laser therapy programs that are offered at our office please visit http://www.coldlasertherapy.com
Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, D.C., practices in Irving, Texas at the DFW Spine & Joint Center – Your Cold Laser Therapy Doctor for the Non-Surgical Treatment of Knee Pain in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Surrounding Texas Areas- “ Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Therapy Program Has Been Helping People with Knee Pain Avoid Knee Surgery, Medications and Knee Injections Since 2001.”
Dallas Cold Laser Therapy knee pain treatment Doctor in Irving, TX shares study about how knee pain worsens with increased body mass index. Dallas-Fort Worth.
Study Reveals Risk of Death Increases with Getting Both Knees Replaced At the Same Time
A study, by leading researcher Dr. John Meehan from the University of California at Davis suggests that patients who have bilateral knee replacements at the time are less likely to get a major infection, but more likely to be killed from the surgery.
The study looked at 11,445 patients who had both knees replaced at the same time while the other group comprised of 23,715 patients had both knees replaced several months apart. The study suggests that those patients who had both knees replaced at the same time had a higher risk of having a heart attack and pulmonary embolism but had a lower risk of infection.
Whether you get one knee replaced and wait a few months to get the other knee replaced or you get both knees replaced on the same day there are risks and complications. One option has a greater rate of infection whereas the latter option has the possibility of heart attack and pulmonary embolism. If you’re ready for bilateral knee replacements you have to choose the ‘lesser of two evils’.
If you are not ready for knee replacements and you are suffering with knee pain then exhaust all conservative care options first.
If you live in the Dallas, Fort-Worth or surrounding areas one option might be Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program- Call Dr. Alexandra Schnee, D.C., at 214-596-1051 if you’re not ready to ‘go under the knife’, but you’re ready to experience knee pain relief.
Article by Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, B.S.,D.C.,-Your Cold Laser Therapy Knee Doctor Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas Area-“Helping People with Knee Pain in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area since 2001.”
Getting Both Knees Replaced Increases Risk of Death – Dallas-Fort Worth
Avoid knee surgery for Both Knees says Dallas Cold Laser Therapy Knee Doctor Alexandra Schnee, D.C. – Study suggests patients who have both knees replaced at the same time have higher risk of heart attack and pulmonary embolism…
The Differences Between Knee Injections, And Cold Laser Therapy
- There are over 2,500 published studies on the topic of cold laser therapy. This is not the case with Synvisc, or any of the other hyaluronic acid injections. For example, there were only three clinical studies completed before Synvisc was FDA approved. Two were conducted in Germany and one was performed in the US. All three had very small study groups. The study conducted in the US, with 90 subjects, concluded that there were no significant differences between the group treated with arthrocentesis (joint aspiration aka fluid removal) and those who had a Synvisc injection.
- Cold laser therapy is painless, and non-invasive there are NO documented side effects from treatments. Whereas, Cortisone injections and hyaluronic acid injections are painful and there documented side-effects from the treatments.
- Besides reducing inflammation, and pain in the knee; Cold Laser Therapy is a treatment that utilizes specific wavelengths of light to interact with damaged and irritated tissue, on a cellular level, to help repair it by ‘jump starting’ and accelerating the healing process. Whereas, the purpose of hyaluronic injections is not to treat inflammation. Instead, Gel injections are used to help lubricate the joint to temporarily relieve osteoarthritis knee pain. Both hyaluronic acid and cortisone injections do nothing on a cellular level to reinvigorate tissue; therefore the results with injections are often temporary in nature.
I realize there is no magic cure for arthritis knee pain and injections alone will not cure your problem. I am not suggesting that Cold laser therapy is a cure-all either; however, it is safe, and painless. In addition, since 2001, I’ve been successfully helping severe knee pain sufferers avoid knee surgery, medications, and knee injections. So I know firsthand that cold laser treatments are effective.
I you’re experiencing knee pain and you want to treat the problem conservatively then consider my Cold Laser Knee Program first.
Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, B.S.,D.C.,-Your Dallas-Fort Worth Cold Laser Therapy Knee Doctor specializing in knee pain using cold laser therapy-“Helping People with Knee Pain in the Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding areas since 2001.”
Major Differences in Cold Laser Therapy and Knee Injections | Dallas-Fort Worth
Irving Cold Laser Knee Doctor, Dr. Schnee, D.C. Discusses Cold Laser Therapy and Knee Injections, the Differences Between Them and Knee Pain Relief Dallas-Fort Worth.
Different Types of Knee Injections
There is so much confusion out there regarding the different types of knee injections available. In general there are two key categories: cortisone injections and joint viscosupplementation. Cortisone injections are obviously made up of the medication cortisone; whereas, hyaluronan is the medication found in joint viscosupplementation injections. Cortisone is used as an anti-inflammatory, versus hyaluronan is used to help temporarily relieve arthritis knee pain.
Cortisone Knee Injections:
Cortisone is a steroid that is naturally produced in times of stress by our adrenal glands. However, cortisone can also be synthetically produced. If you’ve ever visited your knee doctor for a cortisone injection he is injecting synthetic cortisone into your knee joint. For example, Kenalog, and Celestone are name brands of synthetic cortisone injections.
A common misconception is that cortisone injections are pain relievers. In fact, cortisone injections are used to get rid of inflammation they do not directly treat pain. Of course, if the injection is effective, and the inflammation dissipates this indirectly helps relieve the pain.
The Upside To Cortisone Injections:
Cortisone knee injections are very effective at temporarily relieving swelling and inflammation.
The Downside To Cortisone Injections:
- Cortisone injections for knee pain will be ineffective if there is no swelling or inflammation in the knee.
- If the area isn’t numbed properly the injection can be painful.
- Doctors typically only allow three injections a year since long term and repeated use can cause bone loss, weakening of tendons, and cartilage loss in the knee joint.
- Infections are also possible since the needle is injected into the joint.
- Moreover, cortisone injections can spike blood sugar levels in diabetics, so they have to be carefully monitored.
- Most importantly getting a cortisone injection is not a long term solution to relieving chronic knee pain since it is not repairing or healing the tissue in the joint causing the pain.
Joint Viscosupplementation:
Also known as: Gel Injections/ Rooster Comb injections/Intra-Articular Injections/Hyaluronan injections/Joint-Fluid Therapy
Hyaluronan is the name of the medication found in gel injections, and it is made from chicken combs (hence the name rooster comb injections). It is injected into the knee joint to help temporarily relieve symptoms of arthritis knee pain.
It is thought that hyaluronan, a gel like substance, works by mimicking synovial fluid found in the joint; therefore, lubricating the joint allowing for pain relief. These injections are supposed to act like WD-40 for your knee joint.
Hyaluronan is found in the following brand names: Hyalgen, Synvisc, Euflexxa, Orthovisc and Supartz.
- Euflexxa, and Orthovisc are given in a series of three injections and are injected over a three week period of time.
- The ‘old’ version of Synvisc was also given in a series of three injections over a period of three weeks. Recently, though Synvisc-One replaced the ‘old’ Synvisc injections and just like the new name implies only one injection is required.
- Hyalgen and Supartz injections are a series of five injections that are given over a five week period of time.
According to the FDA it has approved all five of these injections to be used in patients for the temporary relief of arthritis knee pain, and have failed to respond to conservative treatments such as physical therapy, physiotherapy, and over the counter pain killers.
The Upside to Joint Viscosupplementation Injections:
Most of the time, orthopedic surgeons will suggest these injections to patients who want to postpone knee replacements hoping that it will provide them enough relief to delay surgery.
The Downside to Joint Viscosupplementation Injections:
- The downside to these types of gel injections are side-effects like itching, increased fluid, redness, rashes, stiffness, swelling, and increased knee pain and changes in gait (limping).
- Gel injections just add lubrication to the knee joint. GEL INJECTIONS DO NOT GROW OR ADD CARTILAGE IN THE KNEE.
- Studies have indicated that hyaluronan injections work as well as placebo injections. While other studies (funded by the same pharmaceutical companies that manufacture the injections) suggest that they provide temporary relief for 6 months.
- When these injections are administered properly the first thing the doctor will do, prior to the injection but after disinfecting the area is to drain excess fluid from the knee. Interestingly, according to a several studies this step, the draining of the excess fluid, is thought to be the reason patients said they experienced relief -and not from the injection itself.
Unfortunately, the jury is still out on whether gel injections actually work since there are no long term studies (over a year) that have been conducted on a large number of patients. The last thing anyone wants is years from now to find out that the injections have been recalled (much like the Vioxx scandal and Zimmer knee replacements) all because the pharmaceutical companies pushed them through the FDA approval process without doing their due diligence.
Where Does This Leave You?
I believe that if your condition can be treated conservatively you should avoid knee surgery. This means you should exhaust every viable option before considering knee surgery. This includes getting knee injections, cold laser therapy, exercises, and other forms of physiotherapy.
Knee injections don’t work for everyone, and many don’t want to deal with the pain or side-effects that are associated with them. If you’re looking for an alternative then my Cold Laser Knee Program offers a non-invasive, painless treatment option to patients who want to experience knee pain relief, and improved function-without any of the side effects.
If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth or surrounding areas call the DFW Spine & Joint Center at 214-596-1051 or visit http://www.HelpMyKneePain.com
Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, B.S.,D.C.,-Your Cold Laser Knee Doctor Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas Area-“Helping People with Knee Pain in the Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding areas since 2001.”
Different Types of Knee Injections| Dallas-Fort Worth
Dallas cold laser expert, Dr.Schnee,D.C. discusses different types of knee injections and alternative knee treatments for knee pain Dallas-Fort Worth.
Non-Surgically Zap Away Knee Pain with Cold Laser Therapy
Mr. Kalani S. came in for Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program after he tore his medial meniscus PLAYING DARTS. Since he had arthritis in his knee joint and the cartilage was already dry and brittle the twisting motion from playing darts was enough to tear his medial meniscus.
Several years prior, Mr. Kalani had already had one arthroscopic knee surgery for a medial meniscus tear on the opposite knee. The surgery never got rid of his knee pain so he did NOT want to go through arthroscopic knee surgery again.
The following is Mr. Kalani’s story of how Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program saved him from having knee surgery.
Initially, when I first arrived at Dr. Schnee’s office I was in excruciating pain in my right knee. I was walking with a cane and barely able to walk, stand, sit or sleep. I have never heard of Cold Laser Therapy until I read an article about Dr. Schnee’s work. I had arthroscopic knee surgery on my left knee and was recommended by my physician that I might need surgery on my right knee. This was my main concern because I refused to have knee surgery again since my left knee was still hurting me even after the surgery.
I am very pleased with Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program, and I thank God that I found Dr. Schnee. I am 110% better and still improving.
Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program works if one doesn’t wish to have knee surgery. I am living proof and without a doubt I would recommend this to everyone. I can walk, sleep, stand and resume my normal everyday routine without any significant pain.
Thank You Dr. Schnee, and God bless you.
Kalani S., 65 years young, retired flight attendant, Paradise, Texas
If your knee is injured, and you are suffering from knee pain from a meniscus tear, a sprained/strained ligament, or arthritis in the knee then Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program may be able to help you!
If you live in the Dallas, Fort Worth or surrounding areas call our office at 214- 596-1051 to find out if you’re a candidate for Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program.
Or if you would like more information about Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program fill out the form on the right side of this screen to get your FREE report mailed to you entitled, Amazing Cold Laser Therapy the Missing Link to Knee Pain Relief!
Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, B.S.,D.C.,-Your Cold Laser Knee Doctor for the Dallas, Fort Worth, and surrounding areas-“Helping People with Knee Pain in the Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding areas since 2001.”
Patient Got Knee Pain Relief with Cold Laser Therapy | Dallas-Fort Worth
Dr. Schnee, D.C. shares a testimonial with us from a patient from Paradise,Texas who got Knee Pain Relief with Cold Laser Therapy Program Dallas-Fort Worth.
Find Out Which Two Tropical Fruits Can Help Decrease Inflammation in Your Knee
If you have inflammation in your knee due to an injury or arthritis then consider supplementing with digestive enzymes which have shown to help decrease swelling.
Enzymes such as bromelain, and papain have shown to heal damaged tissue by inhibiting inflammatory chemicals.
Bromelain: This is an enzyme found in pineapple. It helps decrease joint pain by blocking pro-inflammatory chemicals in the body.
Papain: This enzyme is found in papaya, and has been shown to promote wound healing and allows injuries to heal faster.
These enzymes assist in repairing tissue by decreasing permeability in the capillaries, improving blood flow, and eliminating fibrin clot deposits.
In conclusion, if your knee is inflamed or swollen consider adding pineapple or papaya into your diet, or you can purchase bromelain or papain enzyme supplements from any health food store.
If you live in the Dallas, Fort Worth or surrounding areas call our office at 214- 596-1051 to find out if you’re a candidate for Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program.
Or if you would like more information about Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program fill out the form on the right side of this screen to get your FREE report mailed to you entitled, Amazing Cold Laser Therapy the Missing Link to Knee Pain Relief!
Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, B.S.,D.C.,-Your Cold Laser Doctor for the Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas Area-“Helping People with Knee Pain in the Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding areas since 2001.”
Inflammation in Your Knees Can Be Reduced With Tropical Fruit | Dallas-Fort Worth
Irving Cold Laser Therapy, Doctor Schnee, D.C, discusses how inflammation in your knees can be reduced with tropical fruit and Cold Laser Therapy Dallas-Fort Worth.
Zimmer NexGen Knee Replacement is on the Growing List of Recalled ‘Parts’ in Texas
Zimmer NexGen Knee is on the growing list of recalled implanted devices distributed to orthopedic doctors and hospitals in Texas and in other States. The FDA states that Zimmer issued a recall of over 68,000 NexGen knee replacement devices. The recall was due to a growing number of complaints to the FDA and Zimmer documenting the defects of the replacement, and the additional knee surgeries needed to correct it.
In 2005, prior to the recall, 146 patients were surveyed by two doctors that had operated on their knees and had used the Zimmer NexGen Knee. Thirty six percent of the initially successful knee replacements eventually loosened causing the patients knee pain. In addition, 9.3% needed a surgical revision.
As of April 26, 2010 Zimmer NexGen products are no longer being used. However, if you are concerned that you may have had a knee replacement and the doctor used a Zimmer NexGen knee then refer to the FDA recall.
The reason individuals agree to have knee replacement surgery is so that they can get knee pain relief and get their quality of life back. I feel horrible for those individuals who went through with knee replacement surgery (which is MAJOR surgery) and the rehabilitation afterwards only to have the device LOOSEN AND FAIL LATER. Individuals with recalled knee implants must be horrified at the thought of having to go ‘under the knife’ for a second time.
Man made parts cannot compare to the ‘parts’ we were born with that is why I am such a huge proponent of conservative care. In my clinical experience, cold laser therapy combined with the appropriate physiotherapy can eliminate knee pain or significantly reduce it AND it can help individuals get their quality of life back without having to undergo knee surgery.
My Cold Laser Knee Program is a non-surgical, safe, painless treatment program that has NO SIDE EFFECTS! There are no implants or devices that will ever have to be recalled because we aren’t cutting out, removing or injecting anything into your body.
Surgery is always an option but for those thousands of individuals that had knee replacements with a RECALLED KNEE IMPLANT there is no undoing what was done.
Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, B.S.,D.C.,-Your Cold Laser Knee Pain Relief Doctor for the Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas Area-“Helping People with Knee Pain Using Non-Surgical Cold Laser Therapy in the Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding areas since 2001.”
Texas Knee Replacement Parts Being Recalled | Dallas-Fort Worth
Dr. Alexandra Schnee, D.C. explains why it is smarter to just get cold laser therapy, since knee replacement is at risk of having recalled parts, Dallas-Fort Worth.
Why Does Cold Laser Therapy Help Relieve ‘Bone on Bone’ Knee Pain?
In previous blogs, I’ve written about how osteoarthritis affects the knee joint, and how the cartilage in the knee wears down eventually leading to ‘bone on bone’ knee pain. But let’s review how individuals become ‘bone on bone’…
In a nutshell, osteoarthritis causes the cartilage in the joint to start losing water, over time the cartilage gets soft then it fragments and it cracks. The cartilage continues to break down eventually exposing the underlying bone. The pain that a person experiences with ‘bone on bone knee pain’ is not directly due to a lack of cartilage instead the pain arises from the synovium or lining of the bone becoming inflamed and irritated. In addition, to the synovium causing knee pain, the nerve endings on the exposed bone are very sensitive, and when they become irritated and inflamed this also causes knee pain.
How does cold laser therapy help relieve ‘bone on bone’ knee pain?
Cold laser therapy is used on individuals seeking a non-surgical alternative to help improve function, eliminate pain, and swelling with ‘bone on bone’ knee pain. Cold laser treatments or low level laser therapy treatments use specific wavelengths of light which interact with tissue that is damaged/ injured, or irritated. Ultimately, cold laser therapy reduces/eliminates knee pain in patients who are ‘bone on bone’ in the knee by reducing inflammation and irritation to the synovium and the nerve endings. In addition, the physiotherapy that is completed along with the cold laser treatments helps strengthen the ligaments and muscles surrounding the knee to help reduce the pressure on the joint.
As a result, patients experiencing severe knee pain from ‘bone on bone’ often complete cold laser treatments, feeling 50-90% improvement compared to when they initially started care. For instance, Geralyn E., a 65 year old, from Hurst, Texas was diagnosed by her orthopedic surgeon with ‘bone on bone’ knee pain. He told her that she would need to lose weight before he would even consider doing a total knee replacement on her right knee. Of course, because of the severity of Geralyns’s condition she found it almost impossible to exercise so she was never able to really lose enough weight to undergo knee surgery.
Until now.
The following is what Geralyn wrote about her condition and the results she has achieved with Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program:
“The pain in my right knee was pure agony! Anything that required me to move my right knee hurt. I couldn’t walk, and sleeping was also painful. I tried pain medications and multiple injections in my knee but they didn’t work.
I am now almost finished with my treatments, and I am very pleased [with the results because] I can [now] move and sleep without experiencing any knee pain.”
Since starting care, Geralyn has experienced such a significant improvement in her knee that she no longer is contemplating knee surgery, and she is now able to exercise without complaining of knee pain.
Geralyn’s situation is not unique. At the DFW Spine & Joint Center, Dr. Alexandra Schnee, D.C. has helped hundreds of individuals with ‘bone on bone’ knee pain avoid knee surgery by eliminating the pain and swelling in their knees. For most individuals the results from the treatments are sustainable.
If you have ‘bone on bone’ knee pain and want to avoid knee surgery then call the DFW Spine & Joint Center to find out if you’re a candidate for Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program. Otherwise if you would like more information about Dr. Schnee’s successful knee program fill out the form on the right hand side of the screen and a FREE report will be mailed to you!
Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, B.S.,D.C.,-Your Cold Laser Dallas- Fort Worth Doctor for the Texas Area-“Helping People with Knee Pain in the Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding areas since 2001.”
Bone On Bone Knee Pain Can Be Relieved With Cold Laser Therapy | Dallas-Fort Worth
Irving Texas Cold Laser Therapy Doctor Schnee D.C. shares information on how cold laser therapy can effectively be used to help relieve bone on bone knee pain Dallas, Fort Worth.
Knee Injury Doesn’t Stop Skier from Winning A Race, But It Should Stop You!
Lindsey Vonn, the US women’s ski champion, won the World Cup Super G Race in Cortina d’ Ampezzo, Italy on Sunday. This is her 6th victory of the season. Vonn injured her left knee when she tried to keep herself from crashing while she was skiing downhill on Saturday. She told reporters that her knee was badly swollen and it hurt, but the injury obviously didn’t stop her from winning the race on Sunday.
Obviously, Vonn is a professional athlete, so immediately after her knee injury she began to have therapy on her knee. Moreover, she took a handful of pain-relievers right before the race so that she could get through it.
For those of you who are not professional athletes, and do not rely on participating in a sport for a paycheck it’s NEVER advised to continue exercising or doing any type of activity that causes knee pain immediately after a knee injury. Exercising with an injured knee in the acute phase only prolongs the healing process and worsens the injury.
About 1.3 million people every year in the U.S are seen in the emergency rooms for acute knee injuries. If you happen to be one of these people then give your knee a chance to heal…that is if you want your knee to return back to normal.
Immediately after a knee injury follow the RICE principle:
- Rest
- Ice- Use an ice pack for 20 minutes every 2 hours.
- Compression- Apply pressure over the area.
- Elevate- Elevate your leg.
Other options:
- Cold laser therapy can help accelerate the healing process of injured tissue. By using specific wavelengths of light to ‘jumpstart’ the healing process damaged tissue can repair itself, swelling and knee pain can be eliminated; therefore, function can be restored. There are no side effects to getting cold laser treatments. The treatments are performed by a qualified cold laser doctor.
- A Cortisone Injection may help reduce swelling, inflammation and reduce pain. Cortisone is helpful if you have acute knee pain and want immediate relief. However, cortisone doesn’t FIX the damaged tissue it just puts a ‘band aid’ on the problem. Since cortisone is a steroid there is a limit of three injections each year. Injections are performed by your doctor.
- Over the counter or prescription pain medication to temporarily help relieve knee pain and swelling. However, this is only a short term solution to help relieve knee pain.
If you would like more information about Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program fill out the form on the right side of this screen to get your FREE report mailed to you entitled, Amazing Cold Laser Therapy the Missing Link to Knee Pain Relief!
Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, B.S.,D.C.,-Your Cold Laser Professional for the Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas Area-“Helping People with Knee Pain in the Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding areas since 2001.”
The Seriousness of Knee Injuries and How to Relieve Knee Pain | Dallas-Fort Worth
Cold Laser Knee Doctor Schnee, D.C. shares a story of a skier who won with a knee injury, but why you should take precautions if you get hurt, Dallas-Fort Worth.
MRI’s Cannot Predict if Knee Cartilage Can Be Fixed With Knee Surgery
It was once believed that doctors could predict the reparability of a torn meniscus from an MRI. However, according to a new study released in Decembers issue of the American Journal of Sports Medicine this is not the case. In fact, when two senior ‘renowned’ radiologists were given a series of preoperative MRI’s of 119 tears to review and determine which tears would need to be repaired versus being removed only one radiologist was correct 63% of the time and the other only 58% of the time. Both agreed on only 38.1% of the cases. The study concluded that even though MRI’s have a 99% accuracy determining if there is a meniscus tear in the knee joint they cannot predict if the knee cartilage can be fixed with knee surgery.
Bernthal the head researcher in the study stated, “Patients having surgery for a meniscal tear will have to wait until the procedure itself to know just what to expect afterward…My assumption is that somewhere down the line we’ll get to the point of being able to predict (reparability). But we’re just not there yet.”
Based on this research study patients diagnosed with a meniscus tear will have to find out AFTER the surgery whether the surgeon was able to repair the tear or remove the tissue altogether. This is a scary thought for patients trying to weigh their options. Especially, since removing the meniscus tissue will likely create a ‘bone on bone’ situation in the knee. (Unfortunately, once removed, the meniscal tissue doesn’t grow back.)
The unpredictability of arthroscopic knee surgery is yet another reason to try conservative therapies FIRST!! Having a doctor treat your knee,who specializes in Cold laser therapy for knee pain is a good place to start with treatments.
If you are suffering from knee pain due to a meniscus tear and you live in the Dallas, Fort Worth or surrounding areas then Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program may be able to help you! Call the DFW Spine & Joint Center at 214-596-1051 to find out if you are a candidate for conservative care.
Or if you would like more information about Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program fill out the form on the right side of this screen to get your FREE report mailed to you entitled, Amazing Cold Laser Therapy the Missing Link to Knee Pain Relief!
Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, B.S.,D.C.,-Your Cold Laser Treatment Doctor for the Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas Area-“Helping People with Knee Pain in the Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding areas since 2001.”
Knee Surgery for Torn Cartilage Cannot Be Predicted with an MRI | Dallas-Fort Worth
Dr. Schnee,D.C., discusses research study which states MRI’s cannot predict if knee surgery for torn cartilage will be successful, Dallas-Fort Worth.
