On today’s episode, we do a bit of a pivot and learn the causes and treatments of the epidemic of knee pain. Both Kyle and Candace have traveled this journey and have a personal interest in learning more about this topic and sharing this knowledge with our listeners.
Our guest today is Dr. Russell Riggs, who spent 25 years in the ER treating all kind of patients. His interest in treating knee pain grew from his father’s experience, as well as his own, plus from all of the patients he saw in the ER who struggled with this issue.
Many factors have made knee pain one of the top conditions globally: three of the leading causes are obesity, aging and an unprecedented number of knee injuries. Another common cause is the tendency for young athletes to concentrate on one sport while growing up, which can lead to overuse injuries of the knees.
Dr. Riggs co-opened Reflex Knee Clinic in Tigard, OR back in 2011 and has since opened two more: One in Bellevue, WA and a third in Scottsdale, AZ. During today’s episode, we delve into various non-surgical options for knee pain/injuries/conditions.
Some of the topics that we cover during our time with Dr. Riggs:
- What sets his approach apart from more traditional ones
- The parts of the knee & how different activities can be hard on knees
- Why he uses ultrasound to evaluate knee problems
- How does a doctor make a decision to do a total knee replacement (TKR): are these often done too soon? What can people do to avoid this?
- What happens with a TKR: what is the usual outcome and what limitations are there afterwards?
- What is stem cell treatment? What is the cost and what is its effectiveness?
- What is PRP (Platelet rich plasma)? What is its cost/effectiveness?
- What makes some PRP treatments more effective/less painful: Dr. Riggs explains how various machines work and why some are better
- What is hyaluronic acid? Cost/effectiveness?
- Which of these treatments are covered by insurance? What is the outlook for the future in terms of insurance coverage?
- What is a cortisone injection? When is it appropriate/what are its limitations/are there long term undesirable effects?
- The importance of staying active and stress management
- Best diet & supplements for knee health
TAKEAWAYS:
- Avoid processed foods, added sugar and simple carbs. Fats are NOT the enemy
- Helpful supplements: Vit D, Glucosamine/chondroitin, ginger, turmeric, fish oil, MSM (all excellent for joint health)
- Manage stress: too much cortisol being released can have an effect like a cortisol injection and causes more inflammation and damage
- Estrogen is protective against joint damage. Postmenopausal women not on (Bio-identical) hormones have accelerated joint damage.
Join us today to learn more about how you can keep and/or get your knees healthy again!
WORK WITH DR RIGGS
CONNECT W/CANDACE + KYLE
Candace Burch:
YourHormoneBalance.com
Info@yourhormonebalance.com
Kyle McAvoy:
kylebmcavoy@gmail.com
