Knee pain that begins to worry when it comes to middle aged. Some people may be accustomed to having hyaluronic acid injections on a regular basis.
When knee disease becomes severe, it interferes with daily life, and in the worst case, surgery may be required, and the quality of life may be greatly reduced.
This time, we will introduce advanced cartilage regeneration medicine from the cause of knee pain. It won't be long before you can be free from knee pain and stay healthy, so please use this as a reference.
table of contents
1. About the mechanics of the knee
Bending and straightening of the knees are involved in our daily walking and sitting movements.
The knee joint is made up of the following three bones, and muscles, ligaments, and tendons support the knee so that the bones of the knee do not shift.
- femur (thigh bone)
- tibia (shin bone)
- patella (kneecap)
Furthermore, the presence of meniscus and cartilage is indispensable for the cushioning and flexibility of the knee.
The meniscus is a fibrous cartilage between the femur and tibia of the knee joint that distributes load and absorbs shock.
Cartilage is a 2 to 4 mm thick material that covers the surface of the bones that make up the knee, and is made of collagen (fibrous tissue), water, and proteoglycans.
In this way, the knee is designed to move freely with three types of bones, the meniscus and cartilage that dramatically improve the range of motion.
2. Major knee related diseases
Knee pain is easier to get up with physical changes due to age. It is often thought that it is due to age, but in fact it progresses over time and the symptoms gradually become more severe. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are important.
Below are some of the most common knee problems. If you have any idea of symptoms, please consult your family clinic or clinic and try to deal with it early.
2-1. knee osteoarthritis
It is a disease in which cartilage wears down due to aging and a decrease in muscle mass, causing pain. The ratio of men to women is 1:4, and it is more common in women, and it is said to account for more than 90% of knee pain in middle-aged and older people.
When the gap between the bones of the knee joint narrows and the bone deforms, inflammation occurs, causing the knee to swell and accumulate water. Initial symptoms include a stiff feeling in the knee and pain when climbing stairs, but the characteristic is that it subsides on its own.
As the symptoms progress, the knee becomes swollen and deformity becomes noticeable. In the final stage, the cartilage is lost and the bones collide directly, causing severe pain. It may also affect your quality of life, as your range of motion may be reduced.
If the symptoms are mild, oral pain relievers and hyaluronic acid injections into the knee joint are performed. If there is no therapeutic effect, it is necessary to consider surgery such as artificial joint replacement, so be careful not to leave knee pain symptoms for a long time.
2-2. meniscus injury
It refers to a condition in which the meniscus within the knee joint is cracked or chipped. It is a disease that is often caused by sports injuries, and it is said that there are many cases where middle-aged and elderly people are injured when they twist their knees when standing up or in an unreasonable posture.
When the knee is damaged, it causes pain and discomfort when bending and straightening the knee, and when it worsens, water accumulates in the knee and the knee suddenly becomes unable to move. People over the age of 40 are more susceptible to even minor injuries. If it becomes chronic, it may become osteoarthritis of the knee, so let's see a doctor early.
Conservative treatment is performed with rehabilitation and prescription of anti-inflammatory drugs, and if symptoms do not improve, treatment such as surgery may be performed.
2-3. Knee chondrostenosis rupture
It is a disorder in which the cartilage in the joints peels off, and it commonly occurs in knee joints, elbow joints, and ankle joints.
Cartilage loss at the injured site due to repeated stress or injury causes symptoms such as pain and fluid accumulation in the joint.
Cartilage that has fallen off, separated, and has undergone extensive changes cannot be restored. Care must be taken as the risk of transition to knee osteoarthritis increases in the long term. Surgery may be indicated if the damage is severe or if the site is subject to heavy loads and interferes with daily life.
3. Causes of knee pain
There are two causes of knee pain:
- Causes of the knee, such as worn cartilage from wear and tear and age-related changes such as slow bone metabolism and muscle weakness
- Causes other than knees (coldness, obesity, past injuries, bow legs, bow legs, etc.)
Osteoarthritis of the knee tends to be more common in women, and the following reasons are thought to be the causes.
- Women have less muscle mass than men
- As we age, our basal metabolism slows down and we tend to gain weight, which places a heavy burden on our joints.
- Decreased hormone levels due to menopause weaken bones
4. Effective cartilage regeneration medicine for knee-related diseases
Just as a scratch heals in a few days, regenerative medicine is a treatment method that enhances the "natural healing power" inherent in humans. It is a treatment method that is currently attracting attention around the world and is expected to have a promising future. For those of you who are unsure if this is really all right, here is a detailed introduction.
4-1. No need to cut the knee for surgery
It is characterized by less burden on the patient's body because the knee does not need to be cut.
In Japan, regenerative treatment is permitted only at medical institutions that have passed an examination by a specific accreditation committee and whose treatment provision plan has been accepted by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
Injection treatment collects and extracts self-tissue, grows the tissue 2,000 to 3,000 times in one month, and suppresses inflammation, which is the cause of pain. No hospitalization is required and the injection treatment is performed under local anesthesia. It takes about 3 to 6 months to see the effect.
On the other hand, in the case of artificial joint replacement, an incision of 8 to 12 cm is made in the knee, and it takes about 3 weeks to leave the hospital. The pain subsides, but long-term rehabilitation is necessary.
- I am considering artificial joints but do not want surgery
- The effect of hyaluronic acid injection does not last and no effect is obtained
Regenerative medicine is a new treatment method that solves the above problems.
4-2. Some treatments are covered by insurance
Regenerative medicine has established safety and proven efficacy, but clinical data is not available because it is an advanced treatment. At this time, we basically provide medical care at our own expense.
However, diseases that meet the conditions can be covered by insurance.
４−２−１.[Regenerative medicine covered by insurance] Autologous cultured cartilage Jack
The diseases covered by regenerative medicine covered by insurance are as follows.
- traumatic cartilage defect
- Osteochondritis transection
This is a treatment method in which an autologous cultured cartilage called "Jack" is made from a part of the knee cartilage and transplanted into the knee cartilage. It has been covered by insurance since April 2013.
４−２−２.[Regenerative medicine not covered by insurance] Osteoarthritis of the knee
Diseases not covered by insurance include osteoarthritis of the knee.
It is collected from fat or blood for treatment. The content of treatment and the amount of money will change depending on which component is administered to which part.
Listen to the detailed explanation at the medical institution and think together about the treatment that suits you.
5. Preventive measures to protect knee function
When your knee gets worse, you feel resistance to exercise due to pain and anxiety. Let's start exercising while consulting with your knees.
5-1. Prevention method 1: Training to strengthen the muscles of the legs
Weakness of the muscles in the legs and buttocks increases the impact on the knee joints.
[Adductor muscle training]
- Stand upright, spread your legs, and place a firm pillow or cushion between your knees.
- Squeeze your inner thighs and hold for 3 seconds, repeat 3-5 times
5-2. Prevention method 2: Be aware of your walking habits
The correct way to walk trains the muscles of the legs and buttocks. Just by being aware of it, the way you walk changes and you can train your leg muscles, so please refer to the correct way to walk below.
[Correct way to walk]
- Knee stretches when stepping forward
- Land the front foot on the heel, and kick the back foot firmly with the big toe
5-3. Preventive method 3: Review of lifestyle habits
In addition to lack of exercise, obesity due to overeating and drinking can also put a heavy burden on the knees. Start with things you can practice in your daily life, improve your lifestyle, and take care of your knees.
- Warm your knees and improve blood circulation
- use a western toilet
- watch out for obesity
- When going out, walk on the stairs as much as possible
6. Summary: Let's learn about cartilage regeneration medicine and protect the healthy knee mechanism.
You may have felt uneasy about cartilage regenerative medicine, and worried about safety and money.However, cartilage regenerative medicine is one of the treatment methods that is attracting attention because it places less burden on the body.
Omotesando Helene Clinic specializes in regenerative medicine that does not place a burden on the body, and has acquired the "GCR: Global Clinic Rating Certification", which is a proof that it exceeds international standards.
If you are currently suffering from knee pain, please feel free to contact us once.
・Inquiry form (LINE, We Chat, email support): https://okusurinabi.com/contact/
[Regenerative Medicine Outpatient] 03-3400-2277
Before you give up and say, "I can't help it because I'm old," I recommend that you learn the mechanics of your knees again, and if you're suffering from knee pain, consult with your knees once.
I believe in the possibility of new treatments, and I hope that this article will serve as a reference for more people to take a step forward, get rid of knee pain, and regain a healthy life. increase.
Supervision: Dr. Yasushi Tsuda