ARTHRITIS 101:
HOW-TO RELIEVE JOINT PAIN
You can learn more about
arthritis at our Arthritis 101 class.
Register at
swYou101.org
.
TIPS FOR SPRING RENEWAL
BODY:
Spring is a time
to prepare for the sunny
months to come. Do that
for your body by scheduling
your annual physical. Visit
FindYourDoctorRight.org
.
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SOUTHWEST
health
Has your big toe been causing you big trouble lately?
Is it swollen, red, and warm to the touch, and does it
hurt—a lot? If so, one possible cause could be gout.
WHAT’S THAT?
Gout is a painful type of arthritis that often affects the
big toe. It can also settle into other parts of the foot,
as well as the ankles, knees, wrists, fingers, and elbows.
Gout is caused by uric acid buildup. This waste
product forms when the body breaks down substances
called purines, which are found in many foods.
Men are more apt to get gout than women. Your risk
may also rise if you:
•
Are overweight
•
Have a family
history of gout
•
Have high blood pressure
•
Have
high cholesterol
•
Have diabetes or kidney disease
Attacks may last a few days to longer than a week.
They come on suddenly—often at night. Sometimes
months or years pass between bouts of gout. Over
time, attacks can last longer and occur more frequently.
Gout attacks can be triggered by:
•
Eating foods
high in purines
•
Drinking sweet sodas or alcohol
•
Having an infection
•
Taking certain diuretics (water
pills)
•
Being dehydrated
•
Being under stress
THERE’S HELP FOR IT
Fortunately, gout can be treated with medicines and
lifestyle changes, which can ease or prevent attacks. If
you think you might have gout, see your doctor.
Get the facts on gout
Healthy
joints
A S Y OU C U T T O T H E HOO P D U R I NG Y OU R
weekly basketball game, you feel a pop in your knee. You
hobble to the bench in pain. Over the next few days, your
knee begins to stiffen and swell.
The likely culprit: a tear in the meniscus, one of the
shock absorbers in your knee. These crescent-shaped
pieces of cartilage are located between the thighbone and
shinbone in the middle of the knee. They are tough and
rubbery, but over time, they can weaken and tear.
HOW DOES IT TEAR?
Meniscal tears are among the most common knee injuries.
Anyone, at any age, can tear a meniscus. The American
Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports that athletes
who play contact sports face the highest risk.
In younger athletes, meniscal tears usually occur as the
result of trauma to the knee—like twisting it or taking a direct
hit to it. With older athletes, a torn meniscus can be caused
by squatting or twisting the knee or through repetitive
Healing a
tear
to your knee
activities that stress the knee joint, such as running.
“As you get older, cartilage in your knee weakens and
wears thin. Simply getting up out of a chair and twisting
your knee awkwardly may be enough to cause a tear,” says
orthopedic surgeon Evan Ellis, MD.
RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS
Along with the “pop,” other symptoms of a torn meniscus
may include:
•
Pain
•
Stiffness and swelling
•
Catching or
locking of the knee
•
Weakness
•
Loss of range of motion
See your doctor as soon as possible if you experience these
symptoms. Proper diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation
can allow you to return to pre-injury activities.
Evan Ellis, MD
Rebound Orthopedics
and Neurosurgery
200 NE Mother Joseph
Way, Suite 210
Vancouver, WA 98664
360-254-6161
To learn more about treatment options
from the comfort of your home, visit
swJointJourney.org
and watch the
Knee 101 informational video.
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