When most people think of arthritis, they think of a disease that develops at a later stage of life. That isn’t necessarily true. Arthritis is a term used to group joint diseases or joint pain. There are over 100 different types of arthritis, which have varying causes and treatments. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis affecting more than 30 million men and women, and we are specialists in treating it here at Progressive Pain & Interventional Psychiatry This joint disease is a chronic condition in which the protective tissues on the ends of the bones (cartilage) begin to break down causing the joints to rub together. Osteoarthritis symptoms may include; joint tenderness, pain, stiffness, swelling, and inflammation. As we age we do become more prone to developing OA, however anyone can develop the disease.
Osteoarthritis Pain and Treatment
Joint damage is one of the main causes of Osteoarthritis and we naturally damage our joints over time, which is why we are more likely to develop OA as we get older. Osteoarthritis is most common in the knee, ankle, shoulder and hips. This is due to these joints being used most often. While joint damage is one cause of OA, you can also be at a higher risk if you are overweight or have a genetic predisposition to the disease.
Do you happen to feel stiffness or pain when you get out of bed in the morning? Are your joints swollen after you exercise? These are common symptoms of osteoarthritis. If you feel like you may be suffering from Osteoarthritis the first steps in our office would be to have a complete physical examination with medical history, X-rays, and MRI. This will help us determine if OA is causing your pain. Our treatment plans usually include weight management (if necessary), pain management treatments, adjusting physical activity, and joint replacement in the most extreme cases.
Although Osteoarthritis does not have a cure, we can develop a treatment plan and lifestyle changes that can dramatically decrease the pain you are experiencing and get you back to a better way of life. If you are suffering from joint pain, give Progressive Pain & Interventional Psychiatry a call today at (214) 441-7369 and schedule an appointment.