Arthritis pain can be debilitating at times, causing much unwanted discomfort. For this reason, many individuals who have arthritis use modern medicine to help treat the condition, and lower the level of discomfort felt. There are many types of medications available, from pills to surgery. The rooster comb injections are helpful treatments for arthritis knee pain.
What Are Rooster Comb Injections?
This medication was originally made from the comb of a rooster, removing hyaluronic acid from the rooster's comb and injecting it into the affected join. It is currently only administered on patient's knees, although there is hope in the future that the helpful treatment can be utilized by individuals who have arthritis in different areas.
How They Help
As hyaluronic acid is responsible for lubricating joints, absorbing shock, and ensuring the joint can move without discomfort, injecting the molecule into joints stricken with arthritis can help to reduce pain. Unhealthy cartilage often has decreased levels of the naturally occurring molecule. When hyaluronic acid is injected into a joint, it can provide lubrication and help control sensations of pain, provide cushioning and prevent bones from rubbing, as well as replenish dwindled levels of hyaluronic acid. It is important to note that whilst the medication derives from the comb of a rooster, much of the medication used today is manufactured synthetically.
How to Use Them
Rooster comb injections can greatly reduce your knee pain for up to a year. That being said, the precise number of injections required for an individual to acquire relief from arthritis pain varies person-to-person, some may experience instantaneous relief after one injection, others may require several injections to attain relief. Once the treatment has been administered, it can take anywhere from four to twelve weeks for an individual to feel pain-free.
Are There Any Side Effects?
As with most medications, there are some side effects to consider when thinking about receiving this injection. These side effects include:
- Joint swelling and pain,
- Allergic reactions in those allergic to poultry or egg,
- Pseudoseptic reactions where a severe reaction to the viscosupplementation materials occurs, causing pain, redness and swelling.
- The treatment should also be avoided by those with joint or skin infections.
It must also be noted that this treatment is not intended to cure arthritis, but only provides relief from the pain associated with the condition. It should also be mentioned that rooster comb injections do not work for everyone, and some may experience no relief after numerous injections.
Other Treatments for Arthritis
Except rooster comb injections, there are many non-drug, drug, and surgical treatments available to those with arthritis. Some of which are detailed below:
Non-Drug Treatments
- Education About Self-Management
An individual can consult a health care professional to ascertain how to best manage the condition without causing it to exacerbate.
- Keep In Contact
By maintaining regular contact with a health care professional about your condition, you can receive continued guidance on how to best manage it.
- Proper Exercise
Trying certain, targeted stretches and exercises can help to reduce joint pain and inflammation. Consult with a physical therapist to best decide what will work for you. You can opt for aerobics, water-based and strength-building exercises. Exercising lightly but regularly can help to build and strengthen muscle, improve motion and mobility, as well as reduce sensations of pain.
- Lose Weight
If you are overweight or obese, then you will likely be putting excess weight onto your joints. By maintaining the recommended body weight, you will be able to reduce this pressure.
- Use Walking Aids
If you have particularly bad pain when walking, you can try crutches or canes to reduce the amount of pressure you are placing on your joints.
Drug Treatments
- Acetaminophen
Belonging to a group of medications manufactured for pain-relief called analgesics, this medication is generally used as an initial treatment for hip and knee arthritis. It is usually administered daily, often in pill form, and can provide relief from arthritis pain.
- Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
These medications often come in pill form and can help to ease arthritic pain. There are some concerns, however, about the possible adverse and unwanted effect the medication has on the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems. For this reason, a low-dosage is often recommended, and prolonged use is generally not advised.
- Topical Analgesics
This medication can be used instead of or in coalition with orally ingested analgesics (such as acetaminophen). It can come in the form of cream or gel, over-the-counter or prescribed.
- Other Medication
Other medications used to treat arthritic pain include: corticosteroid injections, hyaluronic acid injections, glucosamine and/or chondroitin, glucosamine sulfate, diacerein and/or chondroitin, and opioid and narcotic analgesics.
Surgery
- Joint Replacement Surgery
If other forms of medication have proven ineffective, then it may prove helpful to undergo joint replacement surgery, whereby your affected joint will be replaced with prosthesis.
- Unicompartmental Knee Replacement
Those suffering from arthritis of the knee may be advised to undergo knee replacement surgery. If only a specific area of the joint is affected, then unicompartmental (or partial) knee replacement surgery is administered to remove the affected area, whilst pertaining less trauma and intrusion when compared to a total knee replacement.
- Osteotomy and Joint-Preserving Surgery
In individuals who are young and have developed osteoarthritis, an osteotomy may be offered, whereby the joint is surgically realigned, postposing the need of further surgery by a number of years.
- Other Surgical Options
Other surgeries include: joint lavage and arthroscopic debridement, and joint fusion.
Whilst rooster comb injections can prove helpful in soothing arthritis pain, they can't cure this condition. Besides, there are numerous options you can use to manage this condition. For this reason, consult a health care professional to ascertain what treatment is best for you.