Arthritis Q & A

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is an umbrella term for many different conditions that all cause joint damage and pain in the joints. The two types of arthritis that affect people more than any others are:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a wear-and-tear form of arthritis that usually develops as a consequence of the aging process but can affect younger people, too, especially if they’re involved in intensive physical training and sporting activities.

Osteoarthritis develops when the cartilage that covers the ends of your bones starts to wear away. If the bones lose their protective coating of cartilage, they begin to rub against one another inside your joints, causing inflammation and pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis isn’t caused by wear and tear like osteoarthritis, but a dysfunction of the immune system, so it often occurs in younger people and sometimes children. In people who have rheumatoid arthritis, their immune system mistakenly attacks the tissues lining the joints, causing the degeneration.

What are the symptoms of arthritis?

Your symptoms may differ according to the type of arthritis you have, but the common theme in all forms of arthritis is joint pain. The pain is usually constant, but may improve or get worse depending on the weather conditions or other trigger factors.

Joints are typically swollen, hot, and throbbing. Any joints can develop arthritis, but hands and knees are two of the most frequently affected areas. In time, joints can start to look lumpy, bent, or twisted, and you’re likely to have difficulty performing certain routine tasks, such as unscrewing bottle tops.

What treatments are there for arthritis?

As yet, there’s no cure for arthritis, and because the degeneration process continues over time, symptoms can worsen if left untreated.

Making changes to your lifestyle can help ease your symptoms. Eating a healthy diet and finding ways to relax and destress can make a valuable contribution to your ability to manage your arthritis. Exercise is also crucial even if you find it difficult because if you don’t keep active, it hastens the deterioration in your joints

Pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory medications are cornerstones of arthritis treatment and can provide valuable relief as part of a carefully designed rehabilitation plan under medical supervision. There are additional treatments that can help significantly with the symptoms, including:

• Physical therapy
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
• Steroid injections
• Radiofrequency ablation

If arthritis in the spine is particularly severe and not relieved by other treatments, our surgeons can perform either spinal fusion surgery or a laminectomy procedure.

If lower back pain is affecting your life, call Camelback Spine Care today to schedule a consultation, or book an appointment online.