Study: Surgery for Knee Pain May Increase Your Risk of Heart Attack
Are you considering surgery to alleviate your knee pain? You may want to consider alternatives first, especially if you want to reduce your risk of acquiring further complications. According to a recent study published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology, people who underwent a total knee or hip replacement surgery have a greater risk of having a heart attack during the first month after the procedure.
Eight Times Greater
Previous studies estimate that over 1.8 million knee or hip replacement surgeries, also known as arthroplasty procedures, are performed annually worldwide. Most of these are done on patients suffering from osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis. What the new research conducted by the Boston University School of Medicine shows, however, is that these patients are eight times more likely to have a heart attack in the first 30 days after the procedure compared to those who didn’t.
Why the Risk?
The study wasn’t able to establish the exact link between knee replacement surgery and heart attack, and explained that like other types of surgery, there are numerous contributing factors. Furthermore, approaches like the use of heart medications, including beta and alpha blockers and aspirin, were found to be generally unsuccessful in lowering a person’s risk of developing a heart attack.
Taking Steps
According to the U.S. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, osteoarthritis affects 27 million Americans over 25 years old, some of them regarding knee replacement as a good option both in relieving pain and restoring mobility. While surgery remains to be a viable solution for knee pain, this should be considered as a last resort option. Before seriously considering surgery, know that there are alternatives to surgery that are equally effective.
Among the viable non-surgical treatments are knee pain injections, offered by centers around Paramus and Hackensack, NJ like MedWell Spine, OsteoArthritis & Neuropathy Center. This involves the use of hyaluronate injections, including Hyalgan and Synvisc, to treat knee pain for patients with osteoarthritis.
Hyaluronate, or hyaluronan, is a substance similar to the one naturally occurring in the joints, and acts as a lubricant that helps the knee move more smoothly. Injections like Hyalgan and Synvisc is the next best option for patients who are not responding well with other non-surgical treatments or are avoiding surgery altogether.
As numerous studies indicate, particularly one done by the Osteoarthritis Research Society International, these injections may even preserve cartilage and help slow the disease down. You don’t need to live with knee pain caused by osteoarthritis when you can have knee pain injections that can give you relief.
Sources:
Knee, Hip Replacements Linked to Heart Risks, WebMD, August 31, 2015
Planning a knee replacement surgery? Don’t forget to take care of your heart, The Health Site, August 31, 2015
Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Osteoarthritis, Arthritis Foundation
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