Charlie Goodchild Bsc (hons) MSc MCSP
Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and Head of Rehabilitation, Pure Sports Medicine
An active patient was so badly affected by arthritis pain that he couldn’t carry out important rehab exercises. Luckily, his life improved with a new treatment option.
Exercise is a hugely important way for people to manage their osteoarthritis. “That’s because keeping active strengthens muscles and protects joints,” explains Charlie Goodchild, a physiotherapist at London-based Pure Sports Medicine.
But what if osteoarthritis pain is so acute that it makes physical movement impossible? This was the frustrating issue for one of Goodchild’s patients: a 38-year-old semi-pro footballer and aspiring bodybuilder.
“This person had always been extremely fit and active but needed a major operation on his knee after an injury,” remembers Goodchild. “Post-surgery all seemed well until pain started to develop at the front of his knee, caused by early onset arthritis.”
Long term pain relief
At this point in his recovery the patient should have been exercising to improve the movement in his joints — but this wasn’t possible because the pain was so excruciating. “He was stuck in this vicious cycle,” says Goodchild.
“Every time we tried to progress and do something different, his knee pain would stop him in his tracks.” Apart from being physically debilitating, the situation began to take a toll on his mental wellbeing too.
The patient had tried steroid injections to reduce the inflammation in his knee, but these only provided pain relief for a couple of weeks. However, the patient’s consultant mentioned a new, single injection of non-biodegradable hydrogel that could provide longer term relief.
Every time we tried to progress and do something different, his knee pain would stop him in his tracks.
A few weeks after having the injection, the patient saw remarkable results. Because the pain cycle was broken, he could get back to a vital programme of rehab and exercise which, in turn, promoted better arthritis management. “He is now living a normal life and playing football with his children,” says Goodchild. “He has minimal pain, can move normally and isn’t feeling restricted anymore.”
