«80% of patients with osteoarthritis who resort to biological therapies do not need prostheses»

Regarding treatments, the doctor explained: "A person with osteoarthritis is going to have to undergo a prosthesis, but now we try to avoid it or delay it as much as possible." For this, there are biological therapies, "which are based on doing therapy with living elements, such as cells and their components." "80% of the patients who have resorted to them, 10 years later, are still without a prosthesis, since the affected joint works, what happens is that it hurts. With these therapies the pain disappears and with it the surgery." 

The doctor also banished the myth that exercise is bad for the development of this disease; that despite the hereditary nature of the disease, "good habits can help prevent it"; and what is the difference between arthritis and osteoarthritis: "Arthritis is an inflammatory disease that acts against the joints and what needs to be treated is the inflammation. In osteoarthritis there is wear and tear, the cartilage is destroyed without inflammation. "Whoever has arthritis can have osteoarthritis, but not the other way around," he explained. 

matter of habits

Physiotherapy in water, moderate exercise, compliance with medication "people don't like pills, but taking appropriate medication to remove or relieve pain is essential" -, and being accompanied by health professionals such as physiotherapists, physical trainers or nursing are the tips that this expert has pointed out to improve the treatment of this disease.

Regarding supplements, Laclériga points out that "absorption of substances is not so important, but rather establishing mechanisms that help the body interpret that instead of destroying, it is necessary to build. It is better to take them on an empty stomach, with good hydration and avoiding foods that increase the acid in the stomach so that the substance can be absorbed better, but we do not have to be so obsessed with what we take but how the body responds to this stimulus that we are giving it.

In the case of prostheses, the doctor highlighted that "the body has a natural response to metal and can produce inflammation and it is normal, but apart from that, people must take care of their prosthesis, because nothing can be solved with the prosthesis alone. If the prosthesis works well, what you have to do is adapt the joint: go to the water, control your weight and work on your muscle strength. A prosthesis is a solution to the pain caused by osteoarthritis, and when you put it on you also have to. change habits," he points out.