What is arthritis?
Arthritis encompasses more than 100 conditions affecting joints or the tissues around a joint. The most common types of arthritis include:
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis affects more than 30 million adults, making it the most prevalent type of arthritis. Also called degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis involves wear-and-tear damage to the cartilage in a joint. This damage worsens over time and may result in bone grinding against bone.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that occurs when your body attacks the tissue that lines a joint. This type of arthritis may spread beyond the joint to other tissues and different parts of your body.
Who is at risk for arthritis?
Arthritis affects people of all ages and activity levels. There are even types of arthritis that affect children. Osteoarthritis is most common in older adults because of age-related changes to the cartilage that cushions your joints.
Previous joint injuries or infections may increase your risk of developing arthritis in the affected joint. Other risk factors for arthritis include being overweight and using repetitive movements, such as bending and squatting.
What are the symptoms of arthritis?
Arthritis can affect any joint in your body, but it’s most common in large, weight-bearing joints like your knees and hips. Common signs and symptoms of arthritis include:
- Joint pain
- Swelling and redness
- Reduced range of motion
Depending on the type of arthritis and the joint affected, you may have difficulty performing normal tasks like walking up and down the stairs.
How is arthritis diagnosed and treated?
To diagnose arthritis, your City Orthopedics provider begins with a medical history review and physical exam. The team may also take diagnostics, such as X-rays or blood tests.
Then, they develop an individualized treatment plan to relieve your joint pain and improve function. Depending on your needs, arthritis treatment may include:
- Pain-relieving medications
- Physical therapy
- Oral or injected corticosteroids
- Orthobiologics, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
Arthritis is a long-term (chronic) condition that has no cure. If your joint pain continues after several months of nonsurgical treatment, the City Orthopedics team may recommend surgery.
If you think you have arthritis, call City Orthopedics or book an appointment online today.
