What are the symptoms of arthritis?
Arthritis sufferers often have one primary complaint: Joint pain. But you can experience all kinds of symptoms in joints all over your body when you have arthritis. The symptoms you have with arthritis can include:
- Joint stiffness
- Joint swelling
- Chronic fatigue
- Joint deformities
- Limited range-of-motion
You might even notice that you have redness over your joints, or that your affected joints are warm or tender to the touch.
Why do I have arthritis?
You have a protective layer of cartilage that lines each of your joints and absorbs shock. When this cartilage becomes damaged or wears down, you have arthritis. Some of the most common causes and types of arthritis include:
- Wear-and-tear (osteoarthritis)
- Infection (septic arthritis)
- Autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis)
- Injury or trauma (posttraumatic arthritis)
- Uric acid buildup or poor diet (gouty arthritis)
More than 100 different types of arthritis exist though, so if you’re experiencing joint pain, it’s important to schedule an evaluation at Regency Pain & Therapy Institute to get a diagnosis and start treatment as soon as possible.
Which joints are affected by arthritis?
Arthritis can target any of the joints in your body, depending on the cause. The pain specialists at Regency Pain & Therapy Institute regularly treat arthritis that develops in the:
- Spine
- Shoulder
- Hip
- Knee
- Elbow
- Ankle
- Hand
- Wrist
Even if you have arthritis in multiple joints, rest assured, the dedicated team at Regency Pain & Therapy Institute can help.
How is arthritis treated?
The focus of your arthritis treatment plan from Regency Pain & Therapy Institute is to relieve your acute pain, while simultaneously preventing further joint damage. Your arthritis management package can include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Topical menthol or capsaicin numbing creams
- Immunosuppressant medications
- Corticosteroid medications or injections
- Regenerative medicine
- Hyaluronic acid injections
- Physical therapy
In most cases, these conservative therapies tend to improve your arthritis flare-ups over time. As a last resort, your physician from Regency Pain & Therapy Institute could recommend surgery to remove damaged tissues, fuse bones together, or reconstruct your arthritic joint.
Before your arthritic joint pain worsens, schedule an exam at Regency Pain & Therapy Institute and start your personalized treatment plan. Book your appointment over the phone.
