Arthritis

What is arthritis?

Arthritis isn’t a single disease, but a broad term that includes more than 100 conditions responsible for joint pain and incapacity.

The two most common forms of arthritis are:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the wear-and-tear type of arthritis that many people develop as they get older. It’s a consequence of degeneration of the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones in your joints. 

Cartilage forms a strong protective layer that enables bones to slide over one another as you move. Over time it can wear away and expose the bones, which rub together and cause joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis tends to develop in younger people. Rather than being due to wear and tear, it’s brought on by an autoimmune response. That means your body’s immune system starts attacking the joint linings as though they were a threat to your health.

What are the symptoms of arthritis?

Arthritis symptoms can vary to some extent depending on what type of arthritis you have. For example, if you have psoriatic arthritis, your skin is likely to be severely affected as well as your joints. What all forms of arthritis have in common is the pain, which is typically constant and causes an aching, hot, throbbing discomfort that radiates from the affected joints.

Pain may ease a little in warmer, drier weather and worsen when it’s wet and cold, or other factors such as stress, ill health, depression, or other problems in your life can make your symptoms worse. Over time, joints often start to twist and contort, especially with rheumatoid arthritis, and it can become increasingly difficult to carry out simple tasks because of the pain and lack of strength in your joints.

What treatments are available for arthritis?

There’s no cure for arthritis, but adopting a healthy lifestyle can make a significant difference to the degree of pain and debility you experience. The team at Pain Specialty Group can help you make the right dietary choices and change bad habits like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Stress management is also important, and regular exercise is essential, or your joints could well start to seize up.

The team also provides a range of treatments that can ease the symptoms of arthritis and improve function. Pain-killing and anti-inflammatory medications can be a useful part of your treatment plan, but they’re only one approach to pain relief. Other effective options include:

• Physical therapy
• Peripheral nerve block injections
• Steroid injections
• Regenerative medicine

If you’re experiencing joint pain, Pain Specialty Group offers genuine long-term relief and always keeps the practice up to date with new treatment methods. Call today to arrange a consultation, or book an appointment online.