Arthritis Specialist

Arthritis Q & A

What is arthritis?

Arthritis isn’t a single disease, but a medical term that indicates inflammation in one or more of your joints. There are more than 100 different arthritic conditions that cause joint inflammation, and it’s the leading cause of disability in adults in the United States. Any joint in your body can become arthritic.

In addition to inflammation, arthritis also causes pain and limits mobility, which tends to get progressively worse. Taking steps to manage your arthritis early with help from the experts at Orthopedic Specialists may prevent the worsening of your symptoms.

What are the common types of arthritis?

As previously noted, there are several conditions that cause arthritis, but some are more prevalent than others. Some of the common types of arthritis include:

Osteoarthritis

For the majority of people, osteoarthritis is responsible for their joint pain and inflammation. Also referred to as wear-and-tear arthritis, osteoarthritis develops when the cartilage between your joints wears down.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of joint inflammation that develops when your immune system attacks the lining of your joint capsule.

Gout

Gout is a metabolic form of arthritis that occurs when uric acid crystals from your blood settle in your joints, causing inflammation and pain.

Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis occurs when your immune system attacks the connective tissue in your joints, including your cartilage, ligaments, or tendons, leading to inflammation and pain.

While osteoarthritis can affect anyone, you may be at risk for some of the other types of arthritis if it runs in your family.

What are the treatments for arthritis?

The experienced team at Orthopedic Specialists develop individualized treatment plans for the management of your arthritis depending on the underlying cause of your joint inflammation and the severity of your symptoms. Treatment may include:

• Disease-specific medication
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Physical therapy
• Cortisone injections

Your doctor at Orthopedic Specialists may also recommend platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections or stem cell therapy for the management of your arthritis. These treatments accelerate healing and the regeneration of new, healthier tissue to replace your diseased, damaged tissue.

If conservative measures fail to relieve your symptoms, your doctor may recommend surgical joint repair or joint replacement. The surgeons at Orthopedic Specialists offer joint replacement for the knee, hip, shoulder, ankle, and wrist.

Arthritis is a common cause of chronic pain and disability. To get help for your arthritis pain, call Orthopedic Specialists or schedule a consultation online today.