Arthritis

What is arthritis?

Arthritis comes in numerous forms — in excess of 100 altogether. All types of arthritis are similar in that they cause joint pain along with varying degrees of stiffness and swelling in your joints.

There are two categories of arthritis:

Inflammatory arthritis

Inflammatory arthritis develops when chronic inflammation occurs in the tissues lining your joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most well-known type of inflammatory arthritis.

Noninflammatory arthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of noninflammatory arthritis. In fact, it's by far the most common type of arthritis overall. The name noninflammatory arthritis is slightly misleading because there's still inflammation in your joints — it just has a different cause.

What causes arthritis?

Arthritis can develop for numerous reasons. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder in which your body's defenses against infection mistake cells in your joint linings for harmful organisms. Your immune system attacks the cells, which destroys the protective surfaces in your joints and causes widespread inflammation.

Psoriatic arthritis can affect you when you have an autoimmune skin condition called psoriasis, while infection can lead to septic arthritis. Gout, which tends to affect the feet, is due to a buildup of uric acid crystals in the toe joints.

Osteoarthritis is most common because it's due to wear-and-tear and the effects of age. Over the years, the smooth articular cartilage covering your bones where they meet in your joints wears down, so the raw bones catch and rub.

The reason why some people get arthritis and others don't isn't completely clear, but genetic and environmental factors could be at work.

What treatments are available for arthritis?

Arthritis & Osteoporosis Center emphasizes nonsurgical treatments. 

The methods the team uses depend on the type of arthritis you have and its severity, so it's important to get the right diagnosis. For example, some medications that are effective in treating inflammatory arthritis aren't much help for noninflammatory arthritis.

Your age and other health issues also influence the design of your personalized program. Potential treatments for arthritis include:

• Physical therapy
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (oral or topical NSAIDs)
• Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
• Biologics and small molecules. Oral, injections and infusion medications, 
• Euflexxa® hyaluronic acid injections for lubrication
• steroidal injections (tendons, joints, and soft tissue)

Making lifestyle changes such as losing weight, eating a healthier diet, and getting regular exercise are also crucial to optimize your treatment.

To get relief from your arthritis pain, call Arthritis & Osteoporosis Center today to book an appointment.