Bones and Joints - What can modern medicine and technology do? (eefo.net user)

What can modern medicine and technology do?

Aims of treatment are to control pain, improve function and control the disease process by:

– Education and self management

– Drug therapies

– Orthopaedic surgery

– Physiotherapy and rehabilitation

Conditions Affecting the Musculoskeletal System:

• Joint diseases

– Osteoarthritis

– Rheumatoid arthritis

– Gout

– Infections

• Back pain

• Musculoskeletal pain

• Osteoporosis and low trauma fractures

• Bone infections

• Trauma

• Injuries

Musculoskeletal Conditions Cause:-

•Pain

•Loss of function

•Limit activities and participation

•Loss of vitality

•Frustration, anxiety and depression

•Fear of not being able to do what you need or want to do

How are they treated?

• Explanation, advice and support

•Enable the person to cope with their problems

– Often chronic or recurrent problems

– No “cures”

•Explanation

•Advice

•Support

•Self management

• Pain control

Pain killers

– tablets (analgesics)

– topical treatments (gels)

Non-drug ways

– physical therapies

Altering behaviour

– acceptance

– self management

Pain Killers

Simple analgesics

– Paracetamol

– Cocodamol

– Codydramol

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain killers

– Ibuprofen (Brufen, Nurofen)

– Diclofenac (Voltarol)

– Naproxen (Naprosyn)

– Meloxicam (Mobic), Celecoxib (Celebrex)

– etc

People tend to avoid taking pain killers

• Disease control

There are now many musculoskeletal diseases which can be effectively controlled:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (methotrexate)

• Gout (allopurinol)

• Osteoporosis (alendronate, risedronate, strontium, raloxifene)

This treatment is most effective if used early

Improving Function, Activities and Participation - Rehabilitation

• Self care

• Home care

• Work

• Leisure

• Social interactions

• Hand function

• Mobility

• Physiotherapy

• Occupational therapy

• Gadgets - aids

• Modifications in the home, at work and for leisure activities

• Maintaining joint movement

• Improving function

What are the “tools” used for treatment?

•Good communication to explain and support

•Lifestyle advice

•Pharmacological therapy

– Control symptoms

– Control disease

•Surgery

•Rehabilitation

Orthopaedic Surgery

• Remove (Meniscectomy)

• Repair (Fractures)

– Ruptured ligaments (Replace)

– Joints - arthroplasty (Modify)

– Tendon transfer

– Spinal fusion

Other treatments used by people

• Diet

• Supplements

• Complementary medicines

• Alternative treatments

• Manipulative treatments

• Magnetism

• Herbalism

Written by an eefo.net user

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