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HEALTHY BONES
An unfamiliar
situation
OUR bones have the ability to The cause of OI is often
grow and provide a supportive attributed to deformed or
frame for our vulnerable insufficient type 1 collagen.
organs. This collagen is a protein that
Some bone diseases are functions to support and
common and form the bulk strengthen many tissues in the
of cases that orthopaedic body, including bone.
surgeons encounter, including Unfortunately, there is no
osteoporosis, arthritis and cure for OI, but there are
scoliosis. However, there also treatment options that aim
exist uncommon and perhaps to prevent fractures and
even rare diseases of the bone. deformities.
In a world crowded with Among the options available
billions of people, there are a are the use of assistive devices
few who live with disorders that (such as wheelchairs and neck
not many have heard of. braces), physical therapy and a
We look into recorded, yet procedure known as rodding,
unusual, bone diseases. where a metal bar is inserted
into a long bone to strengthen
A fragile condition and stabilise it.
A joint problem
PERHAPS you know of someone
who has complained of recurring
pain in his joints, particularly in
the knees or hips. This person
could have osteoarthritis – a
chronic degenerative disease of the
articular cartilage. the cells enough time to bone cysts and bone spurs,” says joint could be worn down.
Dr Ling How Tieng, consultant recuperate, thus worsening the Dr Ling. For pain, acupuncture is an
orthopaedic surgeon at Ara quality of the cartilage to the option you may wish to try.
Damansara Medical Centre,
explains, “Bones are hard, strong
point where damage is
irreversible.
Dealing with a diagnosis Physiotherapists can reduce
your pain through methods such as
and able to withstand our “Once we diagnose a person There are some things that you cold or hot pack application,
bodyweight, but it isn’t good for with osteoarthritis, we are saying can do to alleviate the symptoms infrared light and transcutaneous
bones to be in direct contact with that the cartilage cannot be of osteoarthritis. electrical nerve stimulation.
one another as they can break. healed,” he says. Most patients in the primary Besides this, exercises that
Nature has provided us with a osteoarthritis group have a higher strengthen the muscles
protective material at the ends of
our bones called articular
Reading the signs body mass index and are
advised to reduce their
surrounding the joints are highly
recommended.
cartilage.” In hip osteoarthritis, the site of weight to take stress off “Theoretically, osteoarthritis is
Having osteoarthritis means that pain is typically at the front of the their joints. preventable. However, due to
this cartilage is irreversibly, upper thigh or groin area, but For people who limitations in early diagnosis,
chronically damaged. The knee osteoarthritis symptoms can have alignment many medical professionals’
condition can be divided into two manifest in different ways. issues, a wedge in the work involves damage control
groups: primary osteoarthritis and Diagnosing knee osteoarthritis shoe can be used to and symptomatic relief,” reveals
secondary osteoarthritis. Primary is a little tricky because the site of correct the problem Dr Ling.
osteoarthritis is diagnosed when Dr Ling How Tieng. pain can vary between patients. – especially when
no known cause can be found to There are those who do not even the problem area n For more
the development of the joint “In early stages of the disease, feel it around the knee. is the knee, where information, call
disease. when there is still a chance for the Their discomfort one side of the 03-5639 1212.
“The risk of primary tissue to heal, people do not see a manifests in the thigh or
osteoarthritis does increase with specialist as they do not have any calf.
age, especially for those in their 60s pain,” says Dr Ling. “To nail down the
and 70s, but we do not consider it a Generally, osteoarthritis causes diagnosis and provide
final determinant for the disease mechanical pain, meaning that good evidence, we
because someone who is 90 years pain is felt when the joint is take an X-ray to
old can still have good joints,” he moved. Occasionally, if there is observe changes
says. inflammation, you can experience in the bone such
Secondary osteoarthritis is pain even when at rest. as the
caused by a known cartilage injury Dr Ling shares that this is narrowing
previously sustained to the joint. It around the time when people of joint
can be diagnosed even in one’s usually visit the doctor. space,
early 20s. Since many are not aware of
their condition early on, they
Painful movement continue doing activities that
damage the cartilage further such
The articular cartilage has no as hiking frequently and playing
nerve endings just like our hair contact sports.
and nails, so you do not feel pain “Continuing vigorous activity
when it is damaged. means that one does not allow