Arthritis

What Is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a broad term covering a group of nearly 100 disorders that produce joint pain and swelling. It’s the leading cause of disability in the United States.

Arthritis can affect any joint in the body but commonly involves knee, hip, wrist, and finger joints. It’s most common in women, and the risk of developing this disorder increases with age.

Arthritis can be degenerative, inflammatory, or infectious. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative form of the disease and, although it’s the most common, it is quickly followed by inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis. Other types of arthritis include infectious and metabolic, but they are not as widespread.

What Causes Arthritis?

Osteoarthritis is caused by loss of the protective covering at the ends of the bone, which forces the bones to rub against each other, leading to pain and stiffness. Obesity, family history, age, and previous joint injury are some of the factors that increase your risk of getting the disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system attacks the joint tissue, bringing about inflammation and joint destruction. Other forms of arthritis, like Gout, are caused by a metabolic imbalance or an infection.

Arthritis presents a wide range of symptoms that include:

• Morning stiffness
• Loss of joint movements
• Recurring pain and tenderness
• Swelling in one or more joints
• Redness or warmth in the joint

How Can I Get Help With Arthritis Pain?

The team of Dr. Dold and Dr. Ghattas at Star Orthopedics and Sports Medicine offer personalized treatment plans to alleviate the joint pain and stiffness. As a result, this ends further progression of the disease and improves your quality of life.

During your first visit, the physician takes some X-rays of the joints and orders lab tests. This allows your doctor to see how far the disease has progressed, and which treatment options will be most effective.

The solution is usually a combination of exercise, lifestyle modification, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory and regenerative medication.

Physical therapy sessions are customized with gentle stretching and pilates movements that help strengthen and increase flexibility in your joints.

Ultrasound therapy, electrical stimulation, and low-level laser therapy all work to produce a massaging effect on your joints, which reduces swelling, pain, and stiffness.

The team also offers regenerative treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in the joints to reduce pain and stiffness while speeding up the healing process.

Call or click to schedule an appointment online today so you can get back to a pain-free life.