Hope For People In South Wales Living With Osteoarthritis & Whose ‘Creaky Knees’ Are Feeling A Bit “Under Par”

The Chair of Tenby Golf Club speaks out about the innovative ‘hydrogel’ injection which means he can now enjoy a pain-free round of his beloved game without hitching a ride in buggy!

Semi-retired company CEO – and local golfing fanatic – Nick Gregg, from Tenby has joined up with leading orthopaedic experts as part a comprehensive, new report [Under Pressure: A Report on the State of the Nation’s Knees] which investigates the current challenges faced by patients across the UK who are seeking solutions to the chronic pain and immobility associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Nick (61) agreed to contribute to the insightful new, report saying; “When I first felt a ‘ping’ in my right knee while playing golf about 18 months ago, I really feared I might finally have to undergo total knee replacement surgery, which I’d been avoiding for more than a decade due to my fears about the slow recovery time. 

“In a bid to ease my discomfort, I used painkillers, ice packs and rest after it continued to worsen but by early 2023, I knew I’d have to seek professional help as my knee had ‘completely gone’”

But surprisingly, it was a local vet who had been treating one of his wife’s lame horses who told Nick about Arthrosamid® – an injectable hydrogel that is a simple one-step procedure, administered under local anaesthetic. It had been used in the equine world since 2009 and in 2021 was given European approval for use in human knees too – and has now treated over 10,000 patients (although many patients in Wales suffering with debilitating pain are still unaware of the pioneering treatment).

Nick’s research led him to Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr Andrew Miller who was treating patients with the hydrogel injection in both Cardiff and Newport.  Once established that he was a suitable candidate, he underwent the 15-minute procedure.

“I had a local anaesthetic into the knee joint and after that I didn’t feel a thing,” says Nick. “I watched on a monitor as it was inserted via a syringe. I stood up and the result was unbelievable. In fact, I assumed it must have been the effects of the anaesthetic but as it wore off over the next few hours, I remained pain free – and was back playing golf a week later.

“Not only had the pain totally disappeared, but I was also no longer feeling any stiffness in my knee joint – I hadn’t experienced as much movement and flexibility in 25 years. So, around six weeks later, Nick had my left knee injected with Arthrosamid® too!” 

The independently authored review highlights the huge waiting lists faced by many patients referred for physiotherapy or potential surgical intervention. However, the report (commissioned by Contura Orthopaedics Ltd.) aims to provide a more positive perspective to the current landscape by setting out the debate around the benefits of non-invasive treatments entering the market, such as Arthrosamid®.

Supported by the key findings of a national opinion poll* the report reflects the levels of anxiety surrounding joint problems and a worrying misconception of “inevitability”, with 80% of respondents fearing that joint pain is just an unavoidable part of getting older.

67% of people go on to say it was their “biggest concern” about ageing, above dental issues (37%) or hair loss (26%).

Almost a quarter of people (22%) questioned said that joint pain makes it harder for them to sleep or take part in pastimes such as gardening or golf – but when asked about effective ways of managing their pain, almost half (48%) said that they worry about the long-term effect of prescribed pain killers.

It is estimated that 10 million people live with osteoarthritis and from these figures, it can be extrapolated that about 5.4 million of those people are living with this degenerative disease in their knees. And, each year in the UK, an estimated 350,000 people will be diagnosed with osteoarthritis, with 55 being the average age when symptoms are noticed.

The report also highlights that whilst 90% of total knee replacements (TKR) are still working a decade later, in patients aged under 55, this drops to around 75% after 15 years.

In essence, the younger patients are, when undergoing TKR surgery, the more likely they will be to require a further operation to replace the then worn-out replacement joint – which can be challenging surgery, often with poorer outcomes than the initial knee operation.

There are now growing calls from patients and healthcare professionals for greater awareness and improved access to nonsurgical, treatment options. As the new report highlights, published research around the cutting-edge injectable hydrogel Arthrosamid® is hugely encouraging, delivering long-lasting respite from the pain and immobility of knee osteoarthritis (even 3 years post-treatment), without the need for surgery

Rakesh Tailor, CEO of Contura Orthopaedics comments; “The aim of this new report is to highlight the plight of the 1000s of patients struggling with access to treatment options in the UK – and we’re so grateful to Nick for sharing his story with us as part of our ongoing awareness campaign.”

Andrew Miller adds “I was absolutely delighted, but not surprised to hear that Mr Gregg had such a good response and was back playing golf so soon after his Arthrosamid injection. This is the first injectable treatment I have seen that not only improves pain but also seems to help with joint stiffness, making it ideal for patients like Nick who want to remain fit and active.

And, Nick Gregg concludes; “Of course, I’ve heard all the gags at the golf club about ‘being able to run the Grand National like a racehorse. In my opinion, the results are nothing short of a miracle. It’s no exaggeration to say that it can give you back your life particularly if a large part revolves around playing golf!”

For more information about Arthrosamid, recent research about where to find a clinic near you, please go to: www.arthrosamid.com

*An online survey was conducted by Atomik Research among 1,504 respondents from across the UK. The research fieldwork took place on 11th March – 12th March 2024. Atomik Research is an independent creative market research agency that employs MRS-certified researchers and abides to MRS code.