Each day, new treatments are developed for treating rheumatic conditions including conditions such as OA or osteoarthritis, one of the most common rheumatic conditions in the U.S. Impacting millions of people, OA most commonly impacts those over 45 causing knee pain and joint injury. While you as a sufferer can do your part to help control the symptoms of OA by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising and living a healthy lifestyle, there are also a number of treatments which may help including one treatment called Synvisc. A type of Viscosupplementation, Synvisc is an injectable fluid which is used to treat the symptoms of OA.
To understand how Synvisc works and how other treatments similar work, you need to understand how OA affects your joints. OA breaks down and wears away the cartilage and fluid found in a healthy knee making movement painful and causing swelling and damage to the joints. Synvisc is a fluid which is injected directly into the affected joint relubricating these joints with an elastic fluid made from hyaluronan, the fluid normally found in your joints. This injection usually helps to restore the “shock-absorbing” affect of the fluid which may be missing or thinner than normal, reducing pain and improving your quality of life.
Like all treatments, it is important before you begin, that you talk to a qualified rheumatologist about allergies, your symptoms, your current health and any other problems. It is also important to remember that treatments do not always have the same outcome with every patient. Talk to your rheumatologist about all your concerns right away.
Rheumatologist Gregory MI
Dr. Dowd is a rheumatologist serving Gregory and the surrounding areas. If you live in Gregory and are dealing with a rheumatic condition, the Arthritis Institute of Michigan can help you. We are accepting new patients. If you would like to learn more about how we can help, contact us at 1.810.225.7553.
You may also fill out the form below to schedule an appointment.