Gateway Doctor delivers lecture on osteoarthritis
Ginsberg wins high marks for treatment
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| JASON SIBERT PHOTO From left to right, Dr. Fred Ginsberg of Gateway Regional Medical Center's Center for Joint Therapy, Gateway's Public Relations Director Kate Allaria and Granite City resident Joyce Epperson at a lecture on osteoarthritis at Ravanelli's in Collinsville on Thursday. |
 
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Ginsberg, a member of the medical staff at Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City and medical director for the Center for Joint Therapy, delivered a slide show on osteoarthritis of the knee. According to the lecture, 40 million Americans suffer from arthritis and 50 percent of those suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee.
"This gives the public a chance to learn about new treatments that are available for osteoarthritis which are non-surgical," Ginsberg said in an interview before the lecture. "I've been doing this for six years."Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee are:
- A stiff knee in the morning,
- Pain in the knee when moving,
- Pain in the knee when not active,
- Hearing crackling sounds or having a grating feeling,
- Swollen and skin around the knee.
According to the lecture, before the age of 50, an equal number of men and women suffer from the disease. After the age of 50, three times as many women as men suffer from osteoarthritis. Ginsberg stated one of the biggest risk factors as being overweight. He also stated that previous surgery on cartilage or being an athlete, a runner or a firefighter can be a risk factor.
"Most people will get this around 60 years of age, but some will get it much sooner," he said.
Ginsberg advocated non-surgical treatment, or joint fluid therapy, for osteoarthritis. Joint fluid therapy restores lubrication in osteoarthritic knee joints. In osteoarthritis, the main problem is the degeneration of articular cartilage. Synovial fluid keeps the cartilage slippery. Hyaluronic acid in the synovial fluid, helps joints collect and hold water, improve lubrication and reduces friction. Osteoarthritis of the knee results in less hyaluronic acid in the synovial fluid. As a result, the joint surfaces of the knee don't receive lubrication and are more likely to become injured from stresses and strain. When the cartilage deteriorates, or wears away, the bones rub against one another.
Joint fluid therapy consists of injecting hyaluronic acid into the joint. According to information provided at the meeting, research suggests that joint fluid therapy stimulates the body to create additional hyaluronic acid. Ginsberg said that patients could use over-the-counter remedies like Tylenol and aspirin, but if the pain persists, it makes one a candidate for joint fluid therapy.
In addition, Ginsberg told the audience the medical treatment, injected directly into the knee, takes about 15 minutes. He also said pain and swelling are side effects.
The doctor made attendees aware that participating in an exercise program and losing weight are also essential to treatment of osteoarthritis.
Gateway Director of physical therapy Tim Burgess said Ginsberg's work acted as a catalyst in the lives of patients suffering from osteoarthritis.
"He's brought in a lot of patients who probably didn't know a lot about this," Burgess said. "By doing this, he's brought in a lot of patients who don't know a lot about this. I've seen a lot of improvement in patients that I wouldn't expect without this process. It's been very successful."
Burgess also said the treatment consists equally of physical therapy and injections, and not just one or the other.
Alice Hayes seemed convinced of the relevance of the treatment after the lecture.
"This is something new," she said. "I'm really thinking about trying it. I've been afraid to completely get a knee replacement. I've been afraid of that, but I've been about ready to do it because it's been so painful for me, and it's beginning to work on my back, stomach and everywhere. I have to do something and so I heard about this, and I thought I'd better give it a try. I'm going to give this a try."
Others said they became more aware of what the hospital provides through the seminar.
"I want to hear more about the medial center, the doctor and what the medical center provides," Judy Propes said.
Propes, who spends Fridays volunteering at the information desk at Gateway, said she often attends seminars sponsored by the hospital.
"I attend the seminars for educational reasons," she said. "I like to learn more about the hospital and what the doctor provides. I like to see who the new doctors are and what their specialties are."
The treatment Ginsberg advocated received high marks from Joyce Epperson, a patient in attendance.
"I've been through the knee program and had wonderful results," she said. "I was scheduled for a knee replacement and had two cortisone shots, and they weren't working for me. Dr. Ginsberg came to the hospital, and I thought it was worth a try."
Epperson said within three shots her pain level reduced and that she's currently "pain free."
Kate Allaria, the public relations director and Gateway and the coordinator of the slide show, called the event "a much needed service."
"It's valuable service to people who are in agony or knee pain," she said. "It's something that a lot of people don't know about. So, we do a lot of community outreach in order to educate the public."
