What is arthritis?
Arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation in one or more of your joints. There are over 100 types of this joint disease, but the most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis
This is the most prevalent type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs due to wear-and-tear damage to the cartilage in your joints. Cartilage is the smooth, slippery tissue that cushions the ends of your bones where they meet at a joint. Damage to this tissue may cause your bones to grind together.
Rheumatoid arthritis
When you have rheumatoid arthritis, your body’s immune system attacks the tissue that lines your joint capsule, called the synovial membrane. Over time, this disease can destroy cartilage and bone in your joints as well.
What are symptoms of arthritis?
Joint pain and stiffness are the most common arthritis symptoms. You may also experience redness and swelling in the affected joint, as well as a decreased range of motion. Arthritis can make it painful, or even impossible, to perform daily activities like sitting upright or climbing stairs.
Who gets arthritis?
Arthritis affects both children and adults, but your risk of developing both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis increases with age. Other risk factors for arthritis include:
- Family history of arthritis
- Previous joint injury
- Obesity
The caring team at Advanced Spine Care and Pain Management treats osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in patients of all ages.
How do you diagnose and treat arthritis?
First, your expert provider at Advanced Spine Care and Pain Management performs a physical exam and reviews your medical history. During the exam, they check your joints for signs of arthritis such as redness and swelling.
They may also take blood tests or withdraw some fluid from the affected joint to determine the type of arthritis you have, or take an imaging test, such as an X-ray, to evaluate the inside of your joint.
Once they diagnose your arthritis, the team at Advanced Spine Care and Pain Management develops an individualized treatment plan to relieve pain and manage your symptoms. Depending on your needs, this may include:
- Physical therapy
- Pain-relieving medicines
- Anti-inflammatory medicines
- Various injections
If your condition is severe or doesn’t improve with conservative treatment, they may recommend surgery. To find relief from arthritis, call Advanced Spine Care and Pain Management or book an appointment online.
