Arthritis

According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis is the leading cause of adult disability in the United States, especially among women. There are over 100 forms of arthritis, each affecting your joints differently. At Orthopaedic Specialists of Dallas, the team of 25 orthopaedic surgeons helps their patients cope with arthritis at one of their Rockwall, Forney, Wylie, and Terrell, Texas offices. The team carefully evaluates each patient and provides customized care and treatments for long-term relief. Call the team today or request a consultation on the website for arthritis treatment.

What are the different types of arthritis?

Arthritis is a term doctors use to describe the many conditions that affect the joints in the body. There are over 100 forms of arthritis, each affecting the joints somehow.

Osteoarthritis is one of the main types of degenerative arthritis. Someone living with osteoarthritis is slowly losing the protective cartilage that covers the ends of the bones.

It takes a long time for osteoarthritis to develop, but it can occur quickly after a significant joint injury. It often leads to pain and disability in severe cases.

Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the forms of inflammatory arthritis that happens when the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective lining in the joint.

RA is an autoimmune disease, and it can affect just about any joint in the body, although it affects smaller joints first.

There are various other forms of arthritis, including psoriatic arthritis, gout, and juvenile arthritis.

What are the symptoms of arthritis?

Someone living with arthritis experiences different symptoms, depending on how long they’ve had the condition and what joint it’s affecting. Pain in the joints is one of the significant signs of arthritis, along with other symptoms that include:

• Stiffness
• Redness
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Warmth

In the early stages of arthritis, someone may not have any symptoms or be stiff in the morning. However, as the disease progresses, the symptoms often worsen and stick around for extended periods.

Can I get rid of arthritis?

Unfortunately, no magic treatment eliminates arthritis for good. However, the team at Orthopaedic Specialists of Dallas provides each patient who walks through the door with cutting-edge options for long-term relief.

People who seek treatment early on are more likely to get pain relief from conservative treatments. Some of the conventional options the team offers include the following:

• Medications
• Physical therapy
• Joint injections
• Manual manipulation
• Activity modification
• Prescription pain medications

However, if conservative measures don’t work or you have severe arthritis that has badly damaged your joints, you may require surgery.

The team evaluates each patient’s joint health to determine the best treatment type. In severe cases of arthritis, a joint replacement may be necessary for the shoulders, knees, hips, or ankles.

To make an appointment for arthritis, call one of the conveniently located offices in Texas today or request a consultation on the website.