What is arthritis?
Arthritis comes in a variety of forms. They can have different causes and symptoms vary, but what all types of arthritis have in common is their effect on your joints.
Pain, stiffness, and weakness are all likely when you have arthritis. You might hear or feel your joints grating. Many types of arthritis cause your joints to twist into abnormal positions.
There's no cure for arthritis, but expert treatment from our providers at Pinnacle Pain and Spine can make a significant difference to your discomfort.
What are the types of arthritis?
The type of arthritis that's most likely to affect you is osteoarthritis. This is a condition that develops when the protective articular cartilage on your bones wears down. The exposed bones rub together inside your joints, which gives rise to inflammation and pain.
Osteoarthritis is a condition that tends to affect older people, as it's wear-and-tear over the years that causes the cartilage to disappear. You're also more at risk of osteoarthritis if there's a family history of the disease, you're overweight or obese, or you've had joint injuries in the past.
Other types of arthritis our providers regularly treat include:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Gout
Diagnosing arthritis might only require a physical examination and discussion of your symptoms. Sometimes, our providers need to see inside your joints to help plan your treatment. In this case, you might need an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI.
What treatments can help with arthritis?
The persistent, aching joint pain arthritis causes often responds to over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen.
Severe cases might require stronger medication, but our providers also offer a range of other treatments that can make a significant difference to your discomfort.
Injections of cortisone into your joints can effectively reduce inflammation. Alternatively, viscosupplementation injections containing a natural substance called hyaluronic acid can help reduce pain and stiffness by lubricating your joints.
When these treatments are no longer effective in treating knee arthritis, you might have to undergo a procedure called an osteotomy, or bone reshaping and realignment.
Find the right combination of therapies to manage your arthritis effectively by calling Pinnacle Pain and Spine or booking an appointment online today.
