Osteoarthritis Relief
 | What is Osteoarthritis?
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| Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
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| Treatment
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What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a disease that can cause pain and stiffness in the joints (i.e., lower back, hips, knees, etc.). The ends of the bones in normal joints are covered with smooth cartilage, which provides protection to these bones. Joints also contain a fluid called synovial fluid, which acts as a cushion or "shock absorber" and lubricates the joint.
In people with osteoarthritis, the synovial fluid becomes thinner and loses its elasticity and ability to provide a good cushion. For this and other reasons, the cartilage covering the ends of the bones begins to break down and wear away, sometimes enough to expose the bones themselves.
Osteoarthritis may be caused by many factors, including:
| Excessive wear on the joints
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| Age, although osteoarthritis does not occur in all people as they age
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| Obesity, especially with osteoarthritis of the knees
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| A small deformity of the bones in a joint
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| Joint injuries from sport
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| Work-related activities or accidents |
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
The main symptom of osteoarthritis is pain. You may feel pain during movement and even at rest. Your joints may also be stiff and swollen, and you may even experience a loss of range of movement in the joint. The symptoms of osteoarthritis may interfere with your normal activities, such as walking and dressing, and they may also disrupt your sleep.
Osteoarthritis can affect any joint. It commonly occurs in the knees, hips, and spine. For example, if you have osteoarthritis of the knee, you may feel tenderness in the knee area and pain during movement of the knee. You may also feel a "grating" or "catching" sensation in the joint during movement. The large muscles around your knee will become weaker with time if pain prevents you from moving or exercising the leg.
Treatment
The symptoms of osteoarthritis are treatable, especially in the early stages of the disease. If you have pain or stiffness in a joint, contact your health care professional to be evaluated for osteoarthritis and other conditions. There are different therapies available to help reduce or eliminate the pain associated with osteoarthritis. Your health care professional will choose the treatment that's best for you. One treatment option your physician may consider is viscosupplementation with SYNVISCŪ.
SynviscŪ is indicated for the treatment of pain in osteoarthritis of the knee in patients who have failed to respond adequately to conservative nonpharmacologic therapy (exercise and diet) and simple analgesics, e.g. acetaminophen, which occurs before nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) therapy. SynviscŪ has been shown to be effective in all stages of osteoarthritis, although it is most effective in the early stages of this disease.
To Learn More
| Patients should ask their physicians about osteoarthritis and whether or not SynviscŪ is right for them. You can learn more about the SynviscŪ family of products by visiting the SynviscŪ website. |
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Related Information
For a copy of our Osteoarthritis patient brochure Click Here
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CONTACT INFORMATION: |
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Genzyme Biosurgery Canada
2700 Matheson Boulevard East,
East Tower, Suite 800
Mississauga, Ontario
L4W 4V9
Product Information: 1-800-796-7991
To Order: 1-888-333-0506
Email
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