Caring for Hips and Knees to Avoid Artificial Joints New York Times
That’s the message of today’s column, which could be headlined Joint Economics.
If you are one of the more than 400,000 people a year who have already had one or more hips or knees replaced — or someone who already has no choice but to consider joining their ranks — we offer our sympathies or encouragement or even congratulations, depending on how you are faring. But this column is for people who are not yet destined to necessarily become part of those statistics.
Although the human body has an amazing capacity to repair itself, our joints are surprisingly fragile.
When the cartilage that cushions bones wears away, it does not grow back. Thinning cartilage contributes to osteoarthritis , also known as degenerative arthritis , a painful and often debilitating condition.
Over time, arthritic joints can become so sore and inflamed that they need to be replaced with mechanical substitutes. A result: more pain, at least in the short term, and big medical bills.
CBS NewsHighlights: Obama's Press ConferenceAnd of those 46 mn without insurance, an estimated 10 mn or so are non-US citizens who may not be eligible, according to statistics from the Census Bureau), Sullivan reports. Myth: ?The uninsured can?t afford to buy coverage.
