Joint pain initiative is ‘life-changing’
Patients in Forth Valley with knee and hip problems are being offered a lifeline to not only relieve pain and prevent immediate surgery but, in some cases, avoid a joint replacement altogether.
The pilot project called ‘Best in Class’, which has been operating in Clackmannanshire over the past year, has received enthusiastic feedback from people with lower limb difficulties and is now to be extended aross the Forth Valley area.
It involves discussing with patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis, what sort of treatment they would like to try to avoid or delay surgery, and an exercise programme to help reduce pain.
Hip and knee briefings and information sessions, led by a physiotherapist, take place at a number of GP practices and health centres where emphasis is placed on a daily exercise regime to improve the muscles linked to the knee, hip and pelvic area. Patients can also attend special exercise classes specifically for lower limb problems at a range of community venues.
Health professionals report that even if the joint does eventually have to be replaced, exercises prior to surgery support a quicker recovery.
NHS Forth Valley operational manager for surgery, Amanda Forbes, said: “Best in Class allows people to make an informed choice as early in the patient’s experience as possible.
“X-rays may show arthritis but someone may not require a new knee for another five years. Advice and exercise helps them in the meantime. This is not about saving money or reducing costs it’s about making sure patients stay as fit as possible in case they do finally require a joint replacement.”
NHS FV consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Ian McLean, added: “Pain in a joint can be like a wake-up call from your ageing alarm clock. Our community team gives valuable and practical advice on activities, diet, relaxation and social support that can help people feel younger again.”
Patients described the exercise programme as invaluable and life changing. One woman who eventually needed surgery said attending classes helped her recovery enormously as just a day after surgery she was able to move around with two walking sticks.
It was announced in October that a £17 million investment in additional theatre capacity and a new MRI scanner had been introduced in a bid to reduce waiting times at Forth Valley Royal Hospital.
Figures had shown waiting times for inpatient and day case appointments were the worst in the country. Between January and March only 56.1 per cent of NHS Forth Valley patients in that category were seen within the 12-week target time, compared with 75.9 per cent across Scotland.
Orthopaedic, general and vascular surgery were said to have been experiencing particular high demand.
Two new operating theatres are being opened this year, however, to focus on general and orthopaedic surgery.
This will enable around 1500 extra joint replacement operations to be carried out each year. The new MRI scanner, the hospital’s second, will deliver around 8000 additional scans