Aching Joints May Need More Than Ice and Rest



Things have changed dramatically since grandma and grandpa were pictured sitting happily in their rocking chairs. Adults today expect to remain active, but joint pain can hamper mobility.

The most common cause of joint pain in adults is arthritis. While nobody is certain what causes the condition, a number of factors may contribute to joint deterioration and lead to arthritis, including:

• Heredity
• Developmental abnormalities of joint formation
• Genetic predisposition to abnormal cartilage metabolism
• Minor repetitive injuries
• Severe trauma to the joint cartilage (cushioning tissue at the end of the bones)

Excess weight may not cause arthritis, but it contributes to early and more rapid progression of joint problems. Once arthritis has developed, Cleveland Clinic orthopaedic surgeon Joseph George, MD, says medication and physical therapy may be effective in reducing or eliminating pain. When less invasive methods fail, joint replacement surgery is a highly effective means of easing pain, as well as correcting a deformity and restoring mobility.

“Joint replacement surgery is designed to replace the damaged cartilage and any associated loss of bone structure,” says Dr. George. “Using innovative joint replacement and bone grafting methods, we reconstruct thousands of hip and knee joints each year at Cleveland Clinic. Approximately 85 percent of joint implants will last 20 years.”

Are you considering joint replacement?
Visit lakewoodhospital.org/orthotour and watch a video about our new orthopaedic unit, or order a free guide that includes the right questions to ask your orthopaedic surgeon about joint replacement surgery.



To schedule an appointment with Dr. George, or any of the highly skilled Cleveland Clinic orthopaedic surgeons who practice at Lakewood Hospital, please call 440.204.7800.