Month: November 2022

Categories
Fibroids

It’s Time to Take Action

Uterine Fibroid Embolization has a success rate of over 90%. Women report alleviation of symptoms and improvement in their quality of life.

If you have decided it’s time to take action against the heavy bleeding, pelvic pressure, urinary issues, and sexual problems that are common symptoms of uterine fibroids- Congratulations!

And, if you’ve chosen to treat the fibroid condition through a non-invasive procedure, Uterine Fibroid Embolization- Double those congratulations!

As you’ve chosen a treatment procedure that has a success rate of over 90%, with the vast majority of women reporting not only an alleviation of symptoms but a significant improvement in their quality of life.

Gone are the days of heavy bleeding, pressure, pain, and missing out on activities due to these and other symptoms of fibroids.

The process of experiencing relief from fibroid symptoms post UFE takes time, but not nearly as much time as other procedures to remove uterine fibroids such as a hysterectomy or a myomectomy, which can have a recovery time of several weeks and even months. Whereas the minimally invasive procedure of Uterine Fibroid Embolization allows for a much faster healing process and must faster result.

It is not uncommon for women to experience almost immediate relief after the procedure. In fact, many women have reported that they noticed that their first menstrual cycle following the procedure didn’t include severe pain or heavy bleeding. While for others it may take a little more time for all of these symptoms to resolve themselves.

The time it takes for the elimination of uterine fibroids symptoms, really comes down to how quickly the body responds to the UFE treatment, as well as the size of the fibroid or multiple fibroids.

The procedure itself begins with the insertion of a tiny catheter into the groin or wrist. Then, with the help of moving X-ray technology (fluoroscopy), the radiologist will then guide the catheter through the blood vessels until it reaches the artery that supplies blood to the fibroids.

Once the catheter reaches the artery that supplies blood to the fibroids, tiny gelatin beads are released through it, which travel into the artery, creating a blockage. This blockage cuts off the blood supply to the fibroids. And, without the fibroids being able to receive vital nutrients through the blood, they cannot survive and they begin to shrink.

So how long does it take for the fibroids to shrink?

Amazingly, uterine fibroids can begin to shrink immediately following the Uterine Fibroid Embolization procedure and will continue to shrink throughout the next year.

The majority of fibroid shrinkage usually takes place in the first six months following the procedure. However, it can take up to a year for the fibroids to shrink to their fullest capacity, with most women experiencing significant relief from their symptoms during this time.

Usually, patients will return to their radiologist for a follow-up appointment around two months after the procedure to access the amount of shrinkage of the fibroids.

You may be wondering:  How can you tell if the procedure was effective and the fibroids are shrinking?

Good question.

Though many women note improvement in their bleeding symptoms immediately following the procedure, it can take up to 3 months for fibroids to shrink enough for women to notice major symptom improvements.

Therefore, one of the best ways to track the progress of the fibroids shrinking is by paying attention to your symptoms both before and after Uterine Fibroid Embolization.

In fact, it can be very helpful to keep a journal or a list of symptoms and rank the severity of these symptoms with 1 being barely noticeable and 10 being the most severe.

Then following the procedure, continue to keep track of the changes happening.

Some of the symptoms you may be keeping track of could be:

• Unusually heavy period
• Long than normal periods
• Bleeding in between periods
• Pressure and pain in the pelvis
• Frequent urination
• Lower back pain
• Pain during intercourse

By keeping track of the severity of these symptoms before and after UFE you may be surprised by how quickly these changes are happening, as you watch your symptoms continue to improve over the next six to twelve weeks.

To learn more about Uterine Fibroid Embolization and to find out if this procedure could help you, please give us a call today at MidAtlantic Vascular and Interventional, and set up your initial consolation.

In our next article, we will take a look at what the research says regarding the effectiveness of Uterine Fibroids Embolization in shrinking fibroids and eliminating symptoms.

 

Categories
Knee Osteoarthritis

Hyaluronic Acid Injection for Osteoarthritis

A type of knee injection that is used to temporarily reduce knee pain,  is a Hyaluronic Acid Injection, also known as viscosupplementation.

Another type of knee injection that is used to temporarily reduce knee pain, is a Hyaluronic Acid Injection, also known as viscosupplementation.

Hyaluronic acid is a gel-like substance that occurs naturally in the body as part of the synovial lining that coats the joints. Hyaluronic acid is also present in other areas of the body such as the skin and eyes, where it helps retain moisture and keep these areas lubricated.

When it comes to relieving osteoarthritis knee pain, hyaluronic acid can be injected into the knee to help provide cushioning and lubrication.

The injection of this lubricating fluid into the knee joint can sometimes result in temporary lubrication that may help to decrease knee pain and inflammation, as well as improve knee function.

However, unfortunately, just like with corticosteroid knee injections, the relief experienced as a result of hyaluronic acid injections is temporary.

That being said, though hyaluronic injections are temporary solutions, and will not cure knee conditions, they can be effective at relieving knee pain, in some cases, for up to six months.

The process of getting a hyaluronic knee injection is done through what is known as an intra-articular injection. This injection is usually administered by a nurse or trained healthcare professional, who should first check to make sure that this type of injection is suitable for you.

Typically hyaluronic knee injections are between one and five injections, usually a week apart depending on the brand of hyaluronic acid your healthcare professional uses.

The recovery period, post-injection typically involves avoiding jogging, high-impact sports, or being overly active for at least a few days following the injections. It is also recommended to avoid carrying heavy items or standing for long periods post injections.

For some, hyaluronic injections can provide immediate relief. While for others, it can take several weeks for the inflammation and pain to subside.

In fact, several clinical studies have investigated the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid injections in treating knee osteoarthritis. And one of their findings was that the average time it takes to experience pain relief is around 4 weeks post-injection.

Studies have also found that the duration of relief periods can vary from 2 months to up to 6 months. With the most effective period, on average, being between weeks 5 and 13.

It’s important to note that not all studies conducted to test the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid injections in treating knee osteoarthritis have reported positive results. For this reason, some doctors may not recommend this treatment. Research also shows that these injections may not work in overweight people due to the narrowing of joint space in the knee.

More recently, other types of injections are emerging, though they are still in the experimental stage, and are not FDA-approved at this time. These include using platelet-rich plasma or stem cells to help relieve pain and potentially encourage the healing of damaged soft tissues. Some people have found that these injections can provide long-term relief and help them to remain active, but they may not be suitable for all.

The bottom line when it comes to hyaluronic knee injections is that they do not treat osteoarthritis or the knees themselves. However, they can provide temporary relief.

This temporary relief can be best put to use by using it as a time to begin physical therapy and exercises to help strengthen the muscles that support the knee. It’s also a potential treatment to help relieve the pain in the weeks leading up to surgery or genicular artery embolization, which will provide long-term pain relief.

In our next article, we will take a look at some of the side effects and risks associated with corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid injections. As well as dive deeper into what the research says about these temporary solutions to osteoarthritis knee pain.