Dr. Dean Edell: When osteoarthritis developed in Ron Clifton's knees, getting around became an uphill battle.
Ron Clifton: For couple of years I might only ate when I walked, but of course, you can't avoid walking.
Dr. Dean Edell: The disease was so severe, he needed total knee replacement surgery. But surgery is what John Grampa wants to avoid.
John Grampa: And what I'd like to do and what the doctors would like to do is delay it for as long as possible.
Dr. Dean Edell: To help, Rheumatologist Michele Hooper gives him lubricant injections using a substance called hyaluronic acid.
Michele Hooper: Hyaluronic acid is a molecule that the body produces and particularly in the knee joint.
Dr. Dean Edell: When osteoarthritis sets in, hyaluronic acid around the joint becomes thinner.
Dr. Elton Strauss: We think that you lose at least a third to two-thirds of your hyaluronic acid with osteoarthritis.
Dr. Dean Edell: By injecting it into the knee, hyaluronic acid acts like a lubricant, coating the joint and making the bones glide more smoothly.
Dr. Elton Strauss: So by giving you back, this lubricant, it kind of greases the joints just like we grease the joint on a car.
Dr. Dean Edell: The treatment gives John mobility and delayed surgery for now. I'm Dr. Dean Edell.
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