What are alternatives people should look to?
So one of the cheapest alternatives
you have available, it's in your diet, your wholistic,
basically homeopathic like fish oil, turmeric and ginger.
Those are three very natural anti-inflammatories
you can take on a daily basis.
They're very powerful in being
very natural anti-inflammatory,
to help stop the aches, and maybe the inflammatory cascade,
you were talking about where the joint is undergoing damage.
So that's a great thing to start.
And then now we're using what's called PRP
where you take your own blood,
you spin it down a little bit,
and you get the good juicy growth factors
and then you inject it along maybe with a joint
lubricant that has been extremely
powerful in eliminating inflammation,
and helping possibly stop this
cascade of destruction that's going on basically,
and help nourish the joint.
That has been very well proven,
and very well noted in the literature now.
Infact, when I had my surgery, I had that done to my sore.
So ever since my knee surgery about a year ago,
every three months,
I'm actually getting that injection done in my knee,
and it's been very, very helpful with my recovery.
You highlight something so important though,
with osteoarthritis, once it starts,
once you lose that cartilage, it's gone, so prevention
is so very important.
Absolutely.
I think a turmeric supplement every single day,
and I think if people also develop a problem in their joint,
addressing it sooner rather than later,
because that cartilage destruction as it continues,
just gets worse and worse and worse.
Controlling your weight
The only thing I'd say
is important.
So much weight
is so important and orthopedic issues,
but I hope people are listening out there
because this is a very, very powerful message
that if somebody is recommending
steroid injections into your joints, just say no.
There's too many
'Cause it's still
recommended by many.
I think its hard though
because sometimes, well PRP injections
were very effective at this point are quite expensive right?
We're talking about 500 to $750 a pop,
many insurances in fact, the vast majority don't cover them.
If you start taking a bunch of supplements
like turmeric and fish oil,
and those things can also be anticoagulants,
So you do wanna make sure that you're checking what else
you're on, that they're no interactions.
So, is there ever a place Dr. Melamed,
where you think like an older patient,
or someone who doesn't have the financial means
to do these other alternatives
do you think there's ever a role for steroid injections?
Yes, look, I think there has to be an informed consent.
You'll have to let the patient know that
there are harmful effects of the steroids.
If somebody is extremely debilitated and as you said,
don't have the financial means
and they're not even a candidate for surgery,
sure, you wonna to help that patient,
help their quality of life to help them with the pain.
Sure, but as long as you have to tell them that,
you'll have to tell them the possible side effects
on what is going on?
Sure, no problem.
I was gonna say in one case if you have no cartilage
left at that point, if the steroid injection improves pain,
the joints are already destroyed I can see it.
If you're towards the end of your life
and you're in pain and that's gonna help decrease pain
and you don't care.
But otherwise due to me, if you have your life ahead of you,
I just don't understand your joints bothering
you a little bit, why would you risk it?
Exactly.
Right?
Correct.
That's the message.
The good news is how's your joint feeling now?
A plus.
A plus.
Strong like bull.
(laughing)
Dr. Melamed, you know what's funny is I always
say we're not only doctors, we're also patients.
Dr. Melamed, how is your knee?
Well, my knee is coming along very well.
I'm an year out,
and I had a great surgeon that did the operation,
and I use my bone marrow too, that's another thing.
That's an off label use of FDA approved
they spin down my bonemarrow and they injected,
it's amazing for the healing,
and I'm getting every three months
the PRP injection as we're talking about,
and its been unbelievable.
You did't get a replacement, right doc?
I had a cartilage transplant done,
Okay.
Which was with the use of the bonemarrow
and the PRP, it's really helping the cartilage recover
and regenerate very nicely.
Well, Dr. Melamed always appreciate your input, my friend.
