2. What is the recovery period like and how long is it?  What type of results should I expect and how soon?

 iO-Core™ is an outpatient procedure performed in a surgical center or hospital setting. From start to finish, the whole procedure takes about 45 minutes. 

Upon discharge, you may be given pain medications and instructions to rest. Within weeks after the iO-Core™ procedure, many patients report reduced pain and restoration in joint mobility at the treatment site.

3. Who is a candidate for iO-Core™?

 You may be a candidate for the iO-Core™ treatment if you have the following signs and symptoms associated with joint pain:

• Pain during or after movement 
• Stiffness that is more severe first thing in the morning and after long periods of inactivity
• Inability to bear full weight on the affected joint(s)
• Tenderness with application of light pressure on or around the affected joint(s)
• Loss of flexibility and full range of motion in the affected joint(s)
• A grating, popping or crackling sensation during movement of the affected joint(s)
• Swelling and tissue inflammation around the affected joint(s)

4. What are the problems with traditional treatment methods for advanced arthritis?

Patients who develop bone marrow lesions are associated with more severe arthritis* and more significant pain. These patients may experience less successful outcomes from traditional arthritis treatments like medications, cortisone shots*, rest and physical therapy.

Left untreated, bone marrow lesions may lead to permanent joint damage and collapse of the affected joint(s). Bone marrow lesions are historically undiagnosed and untreated in cases of arthritis, patients may end up with total joint replacement surgery as the final treatment option left to reduce pain and improve joint function.

Joint replacement surgery comes with multiple serious risks*, including:

• A mortality rate of 0.25-0.5% for patients below the age of 65 and a higher mortality rate for patients over the age of 65
• A morbidity rate of 4.5% and up to 9.5% for bilateral replacement
• An infection rate of 1%
• According to the journal of Bone and Joint, “approximately 1 in 5 patients still experience chronic pain” after knee replacement surgery. 

In addition to the above risks, patients must weigh the potential benefits of replacement surgery against the costs. The average cost of a knee replacement surgery is $49,500 for the procedure, plus $7,500 for the hospital bed. Afterward, additional costs are stacked on for other surgery fees, anesthesia, a bed in a rehabilitation center and physical therapy. 

A young and healthy person can expect to recover from surgery in 6 weeks, but older adults with co-existing medical conditions may need upwards of 6 to 12 months of recovery time. The average patient satisfaction rate is between 75-92% and the average duration of benefits from surgery can last up to 20 years.

Cortisone shots or oral corticosteroids temporarily reduce pain, inflammation and swelling around joints affected by OA. Potential side effects of steroid use increase with larger doses and repeated use. Side effects can include:

• Cartilage damage
• Death of nearby bone
• Joint infection
• Nerve damage
• Temporary facial flushing
• Temporary flare of pain and inflammation in the joint
• Temporary increase in blood sugar
• Tendon weakening or rupture
• Thinning of nearby bone (osteoporosis)
• Thinning of skin and soft tissue around the injection site
• Whitening or lightening of the skin around the injection site

Along with the risk of serious side effects, there are limits on the number of cortisone shots you can receive because the treatment becomes less effective with repeated injections.

According to a study funded in part by the NIH’s National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), corticosteroid injections may speed up cartilage degeneration in the affected joint(s). The study also found that among patients with knee osteoarthritis, repeated steroid injections over 2 years brought no long-term improvement in reducing pain.