Arthritis Specialist

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is joint inflammation. It can occur in more than 100 different forms, with the two most common being:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis occurs when the thick cartilage that pads your bones breaks down. This commonly happens as you age, after decades of continual joint wear-and-tear. Osteoarthritis generally happens after the age of 50, and is especially common after age 65. 

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis happens when your immune system attacks the synovial tissue that lines your joints, so it's both an inflammatory and immune disease. Symptoms usually appear at around age 45 in women and 50 in men, but can also start earlier or later in life. 

All kinds of arthritis can severely damage your joints, leading to symptoms that disrupt your life.

What are the symptoms of arthritis?

Arthritis can cause a number of recognizable issues, including:

• Chronic pain
• Joint stiffness
• Difficulty moving
• Decreased range-of-motion
• Difficulty doing routine tasks
• Swelling
• Redness
• Warmth
• Joint deformity

These symptoms usually start gradually, but as time goes on you might have daily symptoms that completely interrupt your normal activities.

When might I need arthritis management?

Arthritis pain may initially respond to rest, icing and heating the joints, and over-the-counter medication at home. But as a progressive disease, arthritis almost always worsens over time, so those early measures may soon prove ineffective or inadequate.  

If your home care no longer works and your symptoms are worsening, you need arthritis management to tackle your symptoms in a more effective way. Arthritis management offers a set of customized solutions for long-term relief.

What does arthritis management involve?

Arthritis management at Premier Pain Solutions involves multidisciplinary care, with the pain management specialists working with physical medicine physicians, orthopedic surgeons, arthritis specialists, psychologists, and a number of other medical experts. 

Your treatment usually includes activity modification, physical medicine, weight loss where necessary, and other lifestyle management. 

The Premier Pain Solutions specialists can help with medication management, and they may also recommend interventional pain management procedures like joint injections, nerve blocks, ketamine infusion, radiofrequency ablation, spinal cord stimulation, or regenerative medicine treatments like stem cell therapy or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, among other options.

To learn how arthritis management can help you take control of your pain, call Premier Pain Solutions or click on the online booking tool now.