What is arthritis?
Arthritis is an often debilitating condition in which your joints swell and feel painful. Osteoarthritis is a common type of arthritis that often occurs with aging. Rheumatoid arthritis causes your immune system to attack the joint lining, and gout is a type of arthritis that causes uric acid buildup in your blood. Many other types of arthritis exist and usually contribute to joint pain.
What are the common symptoms of arthritis?
Common arthritis symptoms include:
- Stiffness
- Joint pain
- Swelling
- Decreased joint range of motion
- Limited mobility
- Redness
- Joint tenderness
If left untreated, arthritis can make it difficult to complete everyday tasks like walking comfortably. Your joints might become deformed or twisted.
What are the risk factors for arthritis?
Anyone can develop arthritis, but some things increase your risk of having it. Examples include:
- Family history of arthritis
- Older age
- Obesity
- Previous joint injuries
Men are more likely to develop gout, while women have a higher chance of getting rheumatoid arthritis.
How does my doctor diagnose arthritis?
To find out if you have arthritis, your COSMO specialist reviews your symptoms and medical history. They complete a physical exam to assess your joint health and look for signs of disease.
Your specialist may recommend you undergo blood tests, urine tests, and joint fluid tests, as well as X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, or other imaging procedures to determine the type and severity of your joint damage.
How does my provider treat arthritis?
Common arthritis treatments available at COSMO include:
Home remedies
Home remedies that help reduce arthritis pain include exercise, heat and cold packs, weight loss, and shoe inserts.
Medications
Taking medications can reduce pain, inflammation, and your risk of arthritis disease progression.
Joint injections
Injections into your joints can relieve pain and inflammation or better lubricate affected joints. Regenerative medicine injections that enhance new cell generation and harness natural healing include platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cells.
Physical therapy
Physical therapists at COSMO offer injury-specific exercises and stretches to strengthen arthritic joints and reduce pain.
Surgery
If you have severe joint damage due to arthritis, your specialist may recommend surgery to repair, fuse, or replace diseased joints.
Don’t let arthritis pain prevent you from enjoying life to its fullest. Call the Colorado Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics office to schedule an appointment or book one online today.
