Acupunture is one of the most widely used treatments for back pain across the globe. This treatment has been used for centuries, and many studies have found good results for relief of back pain with the use of acupuncture.

An interesting twist has emerged, when a recent study found that while acupunture is helpful in relieving back pain, "sham" acupunture performed without needles, also relieved symptoms. Patients either had acupunture, sham acupunture, or medications for treatment of their back pain. Patients who had the acupunture treatment did better than patients who had medications alone, but it didn't seem to do better than patients who were unknowingly just poked with toothpicks.

Finding an answer for back pain is a challenge, and acuputnure does seem to have a role in the treatment of back pain. Patients do better when acupuncture is used compared to those given only medications for back pain. But the exact mechanism by which acuputure helps relieve back pain is unclear.

Related: Back Pain | Alternative Treatments | Chiropractic Treatments

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Cortisone injections are among the most frequently used treatments in orthopedics. Cortisone can be used for a wide range of conditions from knee arthritis, to shoulder bursitis, to tennis elbow. Many patients will tell you about the success they have had with cortisone injections, but what if your pain increases?

There is a common side-effect of cortisone shots called a cortisone flare. A cortisone flare can cause an increase in symptoms in the first 24-48 hours after a cortisone injection. The good news is that there are treatments for a cortisone flare, and the symptoms usually subside within a few days.

Related: Side-Effects of Cortisone Shots | How many cortisone injections can you have?

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According to the recently published guidelines from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), glucosamine and chondroitin should not be prescribed for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are nutritional supplements that are sold over-the-counter in pharmacies, grocery stores, and health food stores. The supplements have been thought to help stimulate cartilage healing and repair in patients with osteoarthritis.

The recommendations from the AAOS cite six randomized clinical trials that have investigated the use of these nutritional supplements, either alone or combined, that found no significant clinical benefit when compared to placebo. While no harmful effects of these nutritional supplements were noted, the AAOS advises that these supplements not be used in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Sources:

Richmond, JC "AAOS adopts clinical practice guidelines on OA Knee" American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2009.

Trigger finger is a common problem that causes pain and snapping of the tendons in the fingers.

The name trigger finger is from the symptom of triggering or snapping. This occurs when relaxing a fist, the affected trigger finger remains flexed. When enough force has been gathered, the trigger finger will suddenly extend, like pulling a trigger.

The most common treatment of trigger finger is with injection of cortisone. If the problem does not resolve, a surgery to release the tendon may be necessary.

Related: What is a trigger finger? | How many injections of cortisone can I have?

A rotating knee replacement implant is designed to replicate normal knee motion. Some surgeons believe the rotating knee replacements may last longer than a traditional knee replacement. Whether or not the rotating knee replacements are actually better is still being investigated. Here you can learn more about rotating knee replacements...

Related: Knee Replacement | Knee Arthritis

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Pain is frequently associated with orthopedic problems, and proper treatment of the painful symptoms is one of your priorities. However, controlling pain is not always a simple process. Many patients are easily discouraged when their treatment efforts to control pain fail. So what options do you have.

The first thing to do is to understand pain is a complicated problem, and treating it effectively can take some time and effort. There are a number of options for medications that can be used to help treat pain. With your doctor, you can try to establish a regime to effectively treat your pain.

Several studies have recently confirmed the importance of exercise in association with knee arthritis, and after knee replacement surgery. The investigations found that patients who participated in regular exercise and rehabilitation programs tended to have better outcomes than patients who did not exercise.

Exercise can certainly be a difficult concept for people who have painful knee or are recovering from surgery. But it is important to understand that there are ways to safely exercise and in a way that will keep pain levels low.

Related: Causes of Knee Pain | Knee Arthritis | Knee Replacement Surgery

Sources: "Exercise Key Player in Knee Replacement Recovery" HealthDay News - Feb 4, 2009.

Hate waiting around at the doctor's office? Here are a few simple steps that can help you avoid a long wait and expedite your trip to the orthopedic surgeon's office.

Related: Questions to Ask Your Doctor | How to Find An Orthopedic Doctor

Dupuytren's Contracture


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Needle aponeurotomy is a treatment option for patients with Dupuytren's contracture. Dupuytren's contracture is a condition that causes stiffness of the fingers and palm. Needle aponeurotomy or needle release has been used in Europe for many years and is gaining acceptance in the United States.

Needle aponeurotomy has gained interest because it uses minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of a problem that has previously been treated with a very invasive procedure with a long recovery.

Related: What is Dupuytren's Contracture? | Video of Needle Aponeurotomy

Recent research has investigated the question of whether or not wearing a back brace, also called a lumbar support, will help to prevent workplace lifting injuries. Several recent studies have very clearly shown that back braces do not lower the incidence of working having back problems.

These studies have found no difference in either the number of back injuries, nor in the number of workers who complained of back pain as a result of their lifting in the workplace.

Should back braces be worn?


There is evidence to show that back braces can help maintian a proper lifting posture, and therefore some workers choose to use a back brace. It should just be understood that this has not been shown to reduce the number of injuries. Wearing a back brace has not been shown to be harmful, and therefore it should be seen as an option, but not a necessity.

Related: How to Lift | Lumbar Muscle Strain

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