What is arthritis?
Arthritis is a term for multiple disorders that are the most common causes of chronic joint pain. Examples include rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, septic arthritis, and gout. Of all the varieties of arthritis, osteoarthritis affects more people than any other.
Osteoarthritis typically develops from middle age onwards due to a lifetime of joint wear and tear. On the ends of the bones where they meet in your joints, there's a layer of articular cartilage that protects them and allows them to slide smoothly within the joint. Over many years, the cartilage wears away, and the bones lose their protection.
As a result, the bones catch on one another when you move, creating friction and inflammation. Your joints swell, get stiffer, and weaken as the disease progresses, and the pain worsens. Eventually, your joints could twist and distort, and you may lose a degree of function.
Rheumatoid arthritis affects fewer people than osteoarthritis but is still quite common. It's an autoimmune disorder in which your immune system malfunctions and starts destroying the linings of your joints. The effects are similar to osteoarthritis, but rheumatoid arthritis tends to start at a younger age and cause additional symptoms like fever.
What is it like to live with arthritis?
With all forms of arthritis, the primary symptom is joint pain. The pain is usually there all the time but may flare up in certain circumstances, for example, when you're under stress, overexert yourself, or the weather turns wet and cold.
Arthritis causes a deep aching and tenderness in the affected joints, but you could also develop sharp, needling pain during a flare. As the condition worsens, the pain, stiffness, and swelling increase, the joints get weaker, and, in time, you could become disabled.
What treatments can help with arthritis?
Rogozinski Orthopedic Clinic typically starts your arthritis treatment program with non-surgical options such as:
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Activity modification
- Physical therapy
- Walking aids
- Viscosupplementation (lubricating hyaluronic acid injections)
- Steroid joint injections
You might feel reluctant to exercise when you have joint pain, but immobilization makes the condition worse.
Your joints get weaker more quickly, reduced blood flow affects the tissue repair processes, and connective tissues in the joints get shorter. Therefore, physical therapy forms a vital part of treatment for arthritis.
What can I do if my arthritis is very bad?
Conservative treatments are generally very effective in slowing down the progression of arthritis and helping you manage your symptoms. However, they can't cure the disease, and eventually, even steroid injections might no longer work.
At this stage, your provider can discuss surgical options with you. The most common solution to severe joint pain and loss of function due to arthritis is partial or total joint replacement surgery.
If you're struggling with symptoms of arthritis in any form, visit Rogozinski Orthopedic Clinic for expert treatment and ongoing support. Call the office today or book an appointment online.
