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Suggest Treatment For Rheumatism In An Elderly Person
Question: My mother is suffering from rheumatism for the last 15 years. She is taking a lot of medicines attached prescription. The medicine are same for the last 4 years. Currently she is taking 4 pills of high blood pressure medicine. She is 52 years of age and can't walk due to shooting pain in the knees while walking. She can't do exercises. Please help.
Brief Answer:
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Detailed Answer:
Good evening
thank you for writing on health care magic
Well, I have gone through your presciptions. It does look that the knees have Osteoarthritis. It may have got damaged due to rheumatoid arthritis as her age is not too much for it.
But If the pain is intolerable and she cant walk, I would suggest 2 things which can be tried:
1. You can consult your rheumatologist and go for a local injection in the joint. IT is known to work to help relieve the pain and swelling. It is a small dose of steroid with local anaesthetic
2. If it has been already tried or it fails to work in her case, then last treatment would be knee replacement. There is no point delaying it if it affecting her quality of life..I understand people are reluctant for surgery, but it will definately help improve quality of life. Medicines are not known to help much in osteoarthritis.
Hope the information is useful
Do let me know for more queries
REgards
Dr Naval
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Detailed Answer:
Good evening
thank you for writing on health care magic
Well, I have gone through your presciptions. It does look that the knees have Osteoarthritis. It may have got damaged due to rheumatoid arthritis as her age is not too much for it.
But If the pain is intolerable and she cant walk, I would suggest 2 things which can be tried:
1. You can consult your rheumatologist and go for a local injection in the joint. IT is known to work to help relieve the pain and swelling. It is a small dose of steroid with local anaesthetic
2. If it has been already tried or it fails to work in her case, then last treatment would be knee replacement. There is no point delaying it if it affecting her quality of life..I understand people are reluctant for surgery, but it will definately help improve quality of life. Medicines are not known to help much in osteoarthritis.
Hope the information is useful
Do let me know for more queries
REgards
Dr Naval
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks sir for your reply.
The 1st one was prescribed by the rheumatologist but he himself asked to stop citing bad effects on health.
can you please let us know how much it would cost for the 2nd option?
The 1st one was prescribed by the rheumatologist but he himself asked to stop citing bad effects on health.
can you please let us know how much it would cost for the 2nd option?
Brief Answer:
Knee surgery
Detailed Answer:
Good evening
Well, first option wont have much effect on the system as it is a local injection in the knee joint...So for time being you can use that as it will help provide pain relief...
As for the replacement, it depends on where you are getting it done. Most hospitals have their own rates. In private it varies from 4-6 lakhs for both knees( including stay) while government hospitals it will be around 1.5-2 lakhs. But government you will have a waiting period...So if opt for it, choose the best knee surgeon around who does give a good post op care as well
Do let me know for more queries
Regards
Dr Naval
Knee surgery
Detailed Answer:
Good evening
Well, first option wont have much effect on the system as it is a local injection in the knee joint...So for time being you can use that as it will help provide pain relief...
As for the replacement, it depends on where you are getting it done. Most hospitals have their own rates. In private it varies from 4-6 lakhs for both knees( including stay) while government hospitals it will be around 1.5-2 lakhs. But government you will have a waiting period...So if opt for it, choose the best knee surgeon around who does give a good post op care as well
Do let me know for more queries
Regards
Dr Naval
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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