Sunday 7 May 2017

Steroid injections, physio and fish oils: what really works for painful knees?--- Dr Jayant Arora answers some of the common questions his patients ask about knee pain.


It’s not until your knees start hurting that you realise how much work they do. So, which problems should you worry about, and which treatments work and which won't.....
Our knees are a marvel of engineering. They take quite a battering over the course of a lifetime, especially an active one; knees bear our full weight when we’re standing, with extra force when we run, jump, twist, go up and down stairs, kick a ball or run around a tennis court. Little wonder knees are susceptible to short-term (acute) injuries and long-term (chronic) problems such as osteoarthritis (“wear and tear”). Most acute knee problems get better without specific treatment, and the best initial treatment for chronic knee pain is exercise and weight loss.Other options include simple painkillers, physiotherapy, steroid injections, cartilage and ligament repair, and total knee replacement. Claims are made for dietary supplements and spices such as fish oils, turmeric and glucosamine. Newer therapies being investigated include injecting the knee with hyaluronic acid, stem cells or platelet-rich plasma.

Does it matter if my knees pop or crack when I squat?

A popping or cracking noise does not matter if there’s no pain, swelling or difficulty moving your knee. The alarming sound can be caused by air bubbles popping in the joint fluid or ligaments and tendons snapping back into place after moving or catching on bits of bone or cartilage. If you also get pain, swelling or find the knee catches in certain positions, you may have a small cartilage tear. Most minor tears get better without specific treatment within six weeks; if not, see your Doctor.

I have heard people talk about ACL and meniscal tears. What’s the difference?

It helps to visualise the whole knee. The joint between the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone) is helped by the patella (kneecap) and stabilised by four powerful ligaments, which are fibrous bands between the bones (anterior and posterior cruciate – ACL and PCL – which cross the joint space, and lateral and medial collateral – LCL and MCL – which run down either side of the joint). The strong quadriceps (thigh muscles) are attached to the patella via a tendon and are key to the smooth movement and stability of the joint; strong quadriceps make for strong knees. Cartilage lines the surfaces of femur and tibia to prevent bone grinding on bone, and two cushions of cartilage (menisci) sit in the joint as shock absorbers. Most cartilage and ligament tears get better on their own within a few weeks, but surgical repair is sometimes needed. An ACL tear is a common sports injury that makes the knee painful and unstable. It particularly affects footballers, badminton and tennis players who stop or change direction suddenly or get a direct blow to the knee during a tackle.

I’ve got patellofemoral pain syndrome; should I give up my gym membership?

Patellofemoral pain syndrome often affects young, sporty women and is a fancy name for the dull ache and crunching sound you get at the front of both knees around the kneecap. It can be worse after sitting for a long time, pounding up and down stairs, kneeling or doing squats. Ice packs and anti-inflammatory gel or tablets help in the short-term, and exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knee may solve the problem. You may have to change your exercise regime; walking and cycling in place of running and jumping. Giving up the gym is your call but you would be advised to stay active for your physical and mental wellbeing.

My knees are weak; should I avoid running?

Not necessarily. Professional athletes, runners and footballers certainly get knee injuries as an occupational hazard. But for the rest of us, the evidence suggests that even long-distance running doesn’t increase the chances of developing osteoarthritis. Older runners with mild osteoarthritis don’t seem to make it worse if they keep on running.

I’ve been told that my knee pain is osteoarthritis and there’s nothing I can do. Is that really true?

No, there’s lots you can do, but it’s not about heroics or headline-grabbing new therapies. It’s essential to keep exercising and lose weight. “If people lose weight, their knee pain improves, and if they need surgery, they do better.” People can take a low dose of mild painkillers if they need something to keep active, but  use of regular use of opiates and NSAIDS(Brufen, Voveran etc) taken regularly can cause  huge problem in the form of dependence or Kidney damage. Steroid injections help some people in the short-term, but injections of platelet-rich plasma, stem cells or hyaluronic acid haven’t been shown to have any long term benefit in arthritis. These may provide short term pain relief and may delay need for surgery by a few months

I get occasional knee pain and my X-ray shows severe osteoarthritis; should I have a knee replacement? 


It’s best to treat the person, not the X-ray. X-ray and MRI findings don’t correlate well with symptoms; you can have an awful-looking X-ray but not suffer much pain or stiffness, and vice versa.  You should not consider undergoing  a knee replacement until your symptoms are severe and you have tried other options such as exercise regimes, weight-loss and painkillers. Rapid developments in technology like robotics, patient specific knee implants etc. mean that partial and full knee replacements are likely to become even safer, more effective and long lasting in the coming years.

Ever since I Googled “knee osteoarthritis” I have been bombarded by things to buy and try. How do I know what works and what doesn’t?

Look at evidence and price. Does it work? Does it cause any harm? Is it worth the money? The trial evidence to date is that acupuncture doesn’t work, but it’s safe and may help some individuals. There’s a lack of evidence for the effectiveness of a Tens machine, but is cheap and safe. Lateral wedge insoles can be bought online and put in shoes to take pressure off the knee; evidence is weak, but they’re cheap, safe and sometimes effective. Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements are popular, but there’s no evidence that they have any benefit in delaying arthritis. The yellow pigment in the spice turmeric (Curcumin) contains chemicals that are said to be beneficial in osteoarthritis, but it’s likely you would have to eat 4-8 capsules a day for any significant effect

What about a steroid injection or Lubricating Gel injection?

Steroid injections alone or with combination with Gels into the knee joint can provide rapid relief from pain, swelling and stiffness. The effect lasts up to three months or more. But the evidence is inconclusive; 44% of people given a steroid injection reported an improvement in pain compared with 31% given a saline injection. The effect is bettter in patients who are sedentary, not obese and with moderate xrays changes of OA. Late stages of arthritis show no improvement in pain with any injection and thesde are a wate of time and money.

Wednesday 8 March 2017

Knee replacement surgery in Gurgaon by Dr Jayant Arora

Mr AD, a 67 -year-old gentleman seen two months after his bilateral knee replacement surgery done by Dr Jayant Arora , at Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon. Patient has recovered well and has regained  complete movement. This was possible due to advanced surgical techniques and high flex knee implants.






For further information please feel free to contact Dr Jayant Arora at

Dr Jayant Arora
1. Gurgaon  Knee and Shoulder Clinic.
Mon-Sat : 5.30- 8.00 pm
 570,  Sector 56, Behind Jalvayu towers.
For appointments  contact 01244214431 or 9999847468 or visit www.gurgaonkneeandshoulderclinic.com

2.Columbia Asia Hospital
Mon - Sat 8.00- 4.00 pm
For appointments 01243989886

Tuesday 7 March 2017

Partial Knee resurfacing-- an excellent alternative to Total Knee replacement surgery.

What Is Partial Knee Replacement?

Dr Jayant Arora explains the benefits of Partial knee replacement. Gurgaon Knee and shoulder Clinic offers Partial Knee replacement to patient suffering from Knee arthritis as an alternative to Total knee replacement.

A partial knee replacement is an alternative to total knee replacement for some patients with osteoarthritis of the knee when the damage is confined to a particular compartment of the knee. In the past, partial knee replacement was reserved for older patients who were involved in few activities. Now, with better implants and improved surgical techniques, more patients are being considered for partial knee replacement compared with a few years ago. About 15% to 20% of patients with arthritic knees are estimated to be eligible for partial knee replacement.

What is a partial knee replacement?

In a partial knee replacement, only the damaged part of the knee cartilage is replaced with a prosthesis.

What are the advantages of partial knee replacement over total knee replacement?

Compared to total knee replacement, partial knee replacement better preserves range of motion and knee function because it preserves healthy tissue and bone in the knee. For these reasons, patients tend to be more satisfied with partial knee replacement compared with total knee replacement, and they are still candidates for total knee replacement should they ever need it in the future. There is also less blood loss during surgery, and knee motion recovers faster with partial knee replacement.





Small Incision 

What is recovery like?

Because a partial knee replacement is done through a smaller, less invasive incision, hospitalization is shorter, and rehabilitation and return to normal activities is faster.

Patients usually experience less postoperative pain, less swelling, and have easier rehabilitation than patients undergoing total knee replacement. In most cases, patients go home 1 to 3 days after the operation.

You will begin putting weight on your knee immediately after surgery. You may need a walker, cane, or crutches for the first several days or weeks until you become comfortable enough to walk without assistance.

A physical therapist will give you exercises to help maintain your range of motion and restore your strength. You will continue to see your orthopaedic surgeon for follow-up visits in his or her clinic at regular intervals.

You will most likely resume your regular activities of daily living by 6 weeks after surgery.
People undergoing partial knee replacement surgery, in which only the parts of the knee affected by osteoarthritis are removed, have fewer complications, are less likely to be readmitted to hospital and less likely to have serious complications, the researchers found.The main benefit of the partial knee is that it provides better function.