Arthritis, also called joint inflammation, is a very common medical condition. It affects roughly 58.5 million American adults every year. One of the most common types of arthritis is osteoarthritis, a very common condition affecting almost 16% of American adults. If you think your joints are inflamed, keep reading to find out everything you need to know about arthritis and osteoarthritis.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS FOR ARTHRITIS AND OSTEOARTHRITIS?
The most common arthritis and osteoarthritis symptoms are:
- Aches
- Pains that worsen as the day wears on
- Swelling
- Reduced flexibility
Note, if your aches and pains get better as you are more active, you may have rheumatoid arthritis.
WHAT CAUSES ARTHRITIS AND OSTEOARTHRITIS?
Osteoarthritis occurs when the articular cartilage that is supposed to keep your bones from rubbing together when they move breaks down. Eventually, there isn't enough cushioning between the bones and pain occurs due to an excessive amount of friction between the bones. Other types of arthritis may be caused by:
- Sports injuries
- Vehicle accident injuries
- Genes
- Autoimmune conditions
- Obesity-related metabolic factors
WHO IS AT HIGH RISK FOR ARTHRITIS AND OSTEOARTHRITIS?
Among the most significant risk factors for developing arthritis and osteoarthritis are:
- Being over 50
- Being a woman
- Being obese
- Overusing a joint (like tennis players overusing their elbow or baseball pitchers overusing their shoulder)
- Having a family history of OA
- Having hand OA (puts you at greater risk of developing knee OA)
- Being in a motor vehicle accident
HOW ARE ARTHRITIS AND OSTEOARTHRITIS DIAGNOSED BY AN ORTHOPEDIST?
An orthopedist will diagnose arthritis or osteoarthritis by discussing your symptoms, checking the affected area for swelling and tenderness, and ordering an X-ray or MRI. In some cases, a blood test is necessary to rule out rheumatoid arthritis.
WHAT MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT ARE RECOMMENDED FOR ARTHRITIS AND OSTEOARTHRITIS?
Depending on where your osteoarthritis is, you could benefit significantly from wearing a brace, taking a significant amount of pressure off of the damaged joint. Also, your symptoms could be eased with such treatments as corticosteroid injections or hyaluronan injections.
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU NEED SURGERY FOR ARTHRITIS AND OSTEOARTHRITIS?
If non-invasive therapies, like a brace or corticosteroid injections aren't helping, you may need a partial or total joint replacement to treat your osteoarthritis.
WHY CHOOSE DR. MIERS JOHNSON FOR THIS PROCEDURE?
If you need a partial or total joint replacement to treat arthritis or osteoarthritis, you should turn to Dr. Miers Johnson because he believes surgery is a last resort. Before recommending surgery, he will prescribe non-invasive treatment plans to help you improve your quality of life.
If physical therapy, over-the-counter drugs, and occupational therapy are ineffective, you can rest assured that surgery isn't just your best option. It's your only chance to restore your quality of life.
Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation if you think you have arthritis and are ready to improve your range of motion and restore your quality of life.