Can the concept of knee arthritis narcotics be a good idea in anyone’s book? There has been a very disturbing trend in pain management these last few years, with more and more long acting narcotics coming on the market to treat pain. The companies making these medications have convinced some physicians that these long-acting narcotics are much less addicting than their short acting cousins, but regrettably this isn’t really the case. In our experience, once a patient starts down this path, it’s very difficult to get them off these medications. While these medicines can be life savers for patients with cancer pain or untreatable severe pain, for conditions that can be treated in other ways (like knee arthritis), they are a very poor choice. From a business standpoint, the problem with cancer pain and untreatable non-cancer pain is that these are relatively small markets, so the drug manufacturers have their sights set on bigger and more lucrative markets. Enter knee osteoarthritis, which affects many more patients. I have blogged on addictive narcotics being used to treat knee arthritis and now there’s more “research” being published that this is a “good idea” (usually by consultants for the drug companies manufacturing these addictive drugs). This recent paper treated knee arthritis patients with high dose narcotics (extended release oxycodone like Oxycontin) happened to be published by the manufacturer of the medication. In particular, most patients were titrated to 40 mg of oxycodone a day, a dose equivalent to 8 Percocet tablets a day! While these high doses of narcotics seemed to work, one has to ask the question, with many options for these patients such as traditional knee replacement (we’re not big fans of the procedure for many patients, but it does beat being addicted to narcotics), hyaluronic acid injections, prolotherapy, platelet rich plasma, and our favorite – stem cells, why would a doctor want to get a patient addicted to high dose narcotics? Your guess is as good as mine!
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NOTE: This blog post provides general information to help the reader better understand regenerative medicine, musculoskeletal health, and related subjects. All content provided in this blog, website, or any linked materials, including text, graphics, images, patient profiles, outcomes, and information, are not intended and should not be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please always consult with a professional and certified healthcare provider to discuss if a treatment is right for you.
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Chris Centeno, MD is a specialist in regenerative medicine and the new field of Interventional Orthopedics. Centeno pioneered orthopedic stem cell procedures in 2005 and is responsible for a large amount of the published research on stem cell use for orthopedic applications.
Join Chris Centeno, M.D., founder of Regenexx, to learn about how Regenexx procedures can treat your knee injury.
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Regenexx is a world-wide network of specially trained physicians providing the world's most advanced, research-driven, regenerative-medicine treatments in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.
Regenerative procedures are commonly used to treat musculoskelatal trauma, overuse injuries, and degenerative issues, including failed surgeries.
Shoulder
Many Shoulder and Rotator Cuff injuries are good candidates for regenerative treatments. Before considering shoulder arthroscopy or shoulder replacement, consider an evaluation of your condition with a regenerative treatment specialist.
Many spine injuries and degenerative conditions are good candidates for regenerative treatments and there are a number of studies showing promising results in treating a wide range of spine problems. Spine surgery should be a last resort for anyone, due to the cascade of negative effects it can have on the areas surrounding the surgery. And epidural steroid injections are problematic due to their long-term negative impact on bone density.
Knees are the target of many common sports injuries. Sadly, they are also the target of a number of surgeries that research has frequently shown to be ineffective or minimally effective. Knee arthritis can also be a common cause for aging athletes to abandon the sports and activities they love. Regenerative procedures can be used to treat a wide range of knee injuries and conditions. They can even be used to reduce pain and delay knee replacement for more severe arthritis.
Many spine injuries and degenerative conditions are good candidates for regenerative treatments and there are a number of studies showing promising results in treating a wide range of spine problems. Spine surgery should be a last resort for anyone, due to the cascade of negative effects it can have on the areas surrounding the surgery. And epidural steroid injections are problematic due to their long-term negative impact on bone density.
Hand and wrist injuries and arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and conditions relating to overuse of the thumb, are good candidates for regenerative treatments. Before considering surgery, consider an evaluation of your condition with a regenerative treatment specialist.
Hand and Wrist Arthritis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Trigger Finger
Thumb Arthritis (Basal Joint, CMC, Gamer’s Thumb, Texting Thumb)
Hip injuries and degenerative conditions become more common with age. Do to the nature of the joint, it’s not quite as easy to injure as a knee, but it can take a beating and pain often develops over time. Whether a hip condition is acute or degenerative, regenerative procedures can help reduce pain and may help heal injured tissue, without the complications of invasive surgical hip procedures.
Foot and ankle injuries are common in athletes. These injuries can often benefit from non-surgical regenerative treatments. Before considering surgery, consider an evaluation of your condition with a regenerative treatment specialist.
DISCLAIMER: The procedures and claims made about particular procedures on or through this site have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. All statements, opinions and references provided by GetRegenerative.com are for informational purposes only. They do not constitute an endorsement of any medical provider nor guarantee the efficacy of the treatments provided. Get Regenerative does not diagnose or treat medical conditions via this website or via telephone. This site disclaims any liability for damages or negative consequences from treatments provided by the physicians listed herein to any person referencing GetRegenerative.com.
*DISCLAIMER: Like all medical procedures, Regenexx® Procedures have a success and failure rate. Patient reviews and testimonials on this site should not be interpreted as a statement on the effectiveness of our treatments for anyone else.
Providers listed on the Regenexx website are for informational purposes only and are not a recommendation from Regenexx for a specific provider or a guarantee of the outcome of any treatment you receive.
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