| oscopy is a means of examining a joint with a slender | | | | The patient can leave the hospital hours later but it |
| fiber-optic instrument called an arthroscope or | | | | takes weeks to recover from surgery. During this |
| endoscope. This instrument has a lighted tip and is | | | | time, the patient should refrain from overusing the |
| used by a surgeon to detect disease or injury inside | | | | joint. |
| a joint or to repair tendons and ligaments. The | | | | Like other surgical procedures, arthroscopy has its |
| procedure, which usually takes an hour, can be | | | | risks although these are rare. These include surgical |
| performed in a hospital or in an outpatient surgical | | | | wound infection and damage to internal structures. |
| department. | | | | In “The Complete Guide to Symptoms, Illness |
| “How you prepare for arthroscopy depends | | | | and Surgery”, Dr. H. Winter Griffith, a fellow |
| on the joint you need examined and the type of | | | | of the American Academy of Family Practice, said |
| anesthesia you need. Some arthroscopy procedures | | | | the surgical risks of arthroscopy increases with |
| may require only local or regional anesthesia - | | | | obesity, smoking, poor nutrition, recent illness and in |
| anesthesia limited to the general area of your body | | | | adults over 60. Those .who use antihypertensive, |
| that's being evaluated. Other arthroscopy procedures | | | | muscles relaxants, tranquilizers, insulin, cortisone, |
| may require general anesthesia, which affects your | | | | sedatives and mind altering drugs like, narcotics and |
| entire body and puts you in a temporary state of | | | | marijuana are also poor surgical candidates. |
| unconsciousness,” explained the Mayo Clinic. | | | | “After you go home, you'll need to wrap, |
| Before surgery, blood and urine studies are usually | | | | rest, ice and elevate the joint for several days to |
| taken as well as x-rays of the joint. During surgery, | | | | reduce swelling and pain. Depending on which joint |
| the doctor may remove fluid or tissue (a biopsy) | | | | required the procedure, you may need to temporarily |
| from the joint and have these examined in a | | | | use splints, slings or crutches for comfort and |
| laboratory. After the operation, the incision is closed | | | | protection. You may also have stitches, or there may |
| with sutures or dips which can be removed a few | | | | be small adhesive strips over the incisions. Your |
| days later. | | | | doctor removes these when you return to see him |
| “An orthopedic surgeon specializing in bone, | | | | or her for a follow-up visit,” the Mayo Clinic |
| muscle and joint surgery performs the procedure. | | | | said. |
| The surgeon cuts a small incision into your skin. He or | | | | “Your doctor may suggest a rehabilitation |
| she then inserts the arthroscope, which is about the | | | | program that includes physical therapy to speed your |
| width of a pencil. The joint is filled with saline solution | | | | recovery. Most likely, you can resume daily activities |
| to provide a better view. A beam of light and a small | | | | within a few days, but it may take several weeks |
| video camera with a magnifying lens are attached to | | | | for the joint to fully recover,” it added. |
| the arthroscope and connected to a monitor so that | | | | To avoid joint and back pain caused by aging, arthritis |
| the surgeon can see the magnified image of the joint. | | | | or overactivity, take Phosoplex. This natural |
| If your joint needs repair, the surgeon may insert | | | | supplement lubricates and soothes painful joints, and |
| surgical instruments through additional small incisions | | | | helps rebuild healthy cartilage so you can regain your |
| made around the joint,” the Mayo Clinic said. | | | | active lifestyle. |