Almost 200 doctors across the Middle East will convene in Cairo this week to discuss new options in the treatment of orthopedic disorders.
Orthopedic medicine addresses musculoskeletal ailments – including arthritis, trauma, and neuropathic pain– and the congress has been described as an important opportunity to improve the standard of treatment offered to patients in the region.
Among the experts addressing the summit will be Professor Tarek Abdel Shafy, Chairman of the Orthopedic Department, Cairo University, as well as leading US authorities, Professor Evan Eckmann of Colombia University and Professor Magued Hamza of Virginia University.
“This summit provides us with an important opportunity to look at the current treatment options available in the field of orthopedic medicine, and in particular to look at the innovations which can help to reduce the chronic pain and disabilities associated with these conditions,” said Professor Shafy.
The conference will examine current thinking around the treatment of both acute (immediate) and chronic (long-lasting) pain in patients – a critical issue for physicians.
Studies suggest that patients’ satisfaction is directly related to the physician’s ability to alleviate their pain. In addition, significant morbidity can occur if pain is under-treated.
“There is growing evidence supporting the notion that aggressive treatment for acute pain with prescription medication like Celebrex (Celecoxib) can decrease the incidence the development of chronic pain in patients,” added Dr. Eckmann.
“In a recent study on knee arthroscopy, the use of such treatments decreased the need for using opioids, improved pain relief, and decreased adverse events,” he added.
More than one in three people in the Middle East suffer from chronic joint pain, with the prevalence of the condition increasing from 30 percent in 45 year olds to 60 percent in 65 year olds, according to medical experts convening for the event.
Early diagnosis is critical to the successful treatment of joint pain. Relieving pain, improving mobility, and minimizing disability typically begins with the most appropriate pain management medication recommended from a doctor.
Prescription pain drugs are medicines designed to reduce pain and inflammation. In worldwide studies involving more than 13,000 osteoarthritis patients, Celebrex was effective in treating pain with fewer gastrointestinal side effects than over-the-counter pain killers.
In addition to chronic and acute pain, the summit will examine Neuropathic (nerve) pain and the variety of ways in which it occurs in patients. Neuropathic pain is often described in terms of abnormal sensations such as heat, cold, burning, or numbness.
One of the nerve pain treatments under the microscope at the event – Lyrica – works by attaching to nerve cells, reducing the pain signals that cause the shocking, burning, or numb sensations associated with nerve pain.
Lyrica can be taken along with other oral pain therapies such as Celebrex for the treatment of muscle pain.
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