Osteoporosis or osteoporosis: Understand the condition that causes knee pain in Pope Francis | health
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a Pope Francis He canceled his trip to Africa due to health issues – he was scheduled to visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan In early July. last week , Vatican He declared that the reason for the postponement, with no date to return to the Continent, was an illness that the 85-year-old Pope had suffered in his knee: in the spine.
“I regret having to postpone this trip, which I very much look forward to making,” Francis said in his address Sunday to thousands of people in St Peter’s Square.
He added, “I ask you to forgive me for this. Let us pray together that I can reach you as soon as possible with God’s help and medical treatment. We are optimistic.”
The Pope appears in a wheelchair
Osteoarthritis is also called osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, or degenerative joint disease, according to the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology (SBR).
It’s a special case erosion of articular cartilage and changes in bone, Among them, bone plants, known as “parrot’s beaks.”
Among the rheumatic diseases – a group of more than 200 diseases affecting the joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons – osteoarthritis is most common and accounts for about 30% to 40% of consultations in rheumatology clinics.
“Its importance can be demonstrated by social security data in Brazil, since it is responsible for 7.5% of all absenteeism from work; it is the second disease among those who justify initial assistance, with 7.5% of the total; it is also the second disease in relation to sickness benefits ( in extension) by 10.5%; it is the fourth defining retirement (6.2%),” SBR notes.
The Syrian Charitable Society – HICOR explains that the main reason is old age.
It is common for patients to have no family history of this condition, but after the age of 50, due to normal wear and tear, they develop osteoporosis. In addition, there are also other possible causes:
- Activities that may overload one or more joints;
- repetitive motion sports such as soccer and tennis;
- Lack of muscle tone, especially in the legs.
- Excessive activities that require repetitive movements, such as kneeling and getting up;
- trauma, such as from a fall, sprain, or blow;
- obesity;
- family history
According to the Albert Einstein Hospital Israel, there is no cure for osteoporosis. However, there are resources available to slow the progression of the disease and increase the quality of life.
- Conventional treatment: Combines medications (painkillers and anti-inflammatories) and physical therapy.
“In the initial stage, arthroscopy can also be an ally. With the help of a precise camera and appropriate tools, this minimally invasive surgical technique allows to treat a series of joint injuries, such as meniscus injuries, and to remove the parts that stick out of the meniscus cartilage tissue in the arthritic process” Hospital explains.
- New treatments: There is also a prescription for herbal medicines with an anti-inflammatory effect. According to Einstein, products of plant origin have less effect on the stomach and kidneys.
In addition, transplantation of cartilage cells extracted from the patient and grown in the laboratory is under development, according to Einstein, and transplantation of cartilage taken from cadavers. At the moment, these are procedures in the testing and research phase.
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