Arthritis

"Arthritis" literally means joint inflammation. Joints are places where two bones meet, such as your elbow or knee or hip. 

There are many different types of arthritis with different causes and treatments. In some types, other organs, such as your eyes, heart, or skin, can also be affected. 

However, by far the most common type of arthritis is “Osteoarthritis”.  

Common symptoms of this type of arthritis include pain, redness, heat, stiffness, aching  and swelling in your joints.   

For lower body arthritis, often, daily issues may occur with pain on walking, standing, climbing stairs, kneeling, squatting of any type.  Sitting for periods of time as well as upon awakening, the joints will be stiff and sore.  Upper body arthritis will manifest in tightness, inability to push, pull, grasp,  carry, dress, perform minor daily activities  or lift without discomfort or, at times, severe pain. 

What Causes Osteoarthritis Or Degenerative Joint Disease? 

Here is the background: Your joints are covered or surrounded by an air-tight capsule that looks somewhat like a hollowed out peeled orange or grapefruit.  Under normal circumstances, special cells line the capsule that produce a thick, oily like substance called “SYNOVIAL FLUID”.  This fluid allows for friction free motion, reduces the pressure put on the joint and neutralizes inflammatory chemicals created during typical daily use. 

HERE IS THE PROBLEM:  As we age, these cells that produce the Synovial Fluid began to age, under-function or actually die off and the level of the protective Synovial fluid will diminish over time.  As this occurs, friction increases leading to rubbing and grinding which eats away at and degenerates the protective “Teflon—like’ cartilage protecting the surface of the bones in your joints. 

Then… slowly over time, the space becomes more and more narrow as this grinding persists.   

This may go on for years slowly damaging the joint without you feeling any symptoms.  However, eventually you will begin, in most cases, to get stiffness, soreness, progressive pain and narrowing of the joint space.  Neglected long enough and the result may become the dreaded “BONE-ON-BONE”. 

Does Arthritis Heal Itself Or Get Worse Over Time?  

The bad news:  There is no total “cure” for arthritis.  But neglecting the issue may lead to accelerated decay often resulting in progressive pain and in the worst cases… need for surgical intervention. 

The Good News:  Medical Science and the doctors at NYC Pain MD now have many programs to not only help you feel and move better but to possibly contain the arthritis from progressing….  so you do NOT end up in surgery or with a joint replacement. 

So…If you have arthritis, it is important for your doctor to diagnose the type of arthritis you have and get the proper treatment.  

Fortunately, current treatments allow most people with arthritis to lead active and productive lives. 

Types of Arthritis 

There are several types of arthritis. Common ones include the following. 

• Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that causes inflammation in the joints and ligaments of the spine. 
• Gout is a type of arthritis that occurs as flares, typically in your big toe or a lower limb. 
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common type of chronic arthritis that affects children. 
• Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and is more common in older people. 
• Psoriatic arthritis can occur in people who have psoriasis (scaly red and white skin patches). It affects the skin, joints, and areas where tissues attach to bone. 
• Reactive arthritis is caused by an infection in your body. Symptoms often clear up on their own within a few weeks or months. 
• Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune form of arthritis where the immune system attacks the healthy joint tissues. 

How Common Is Arthritis? 

Very.  It is estimated that at least 25% or 1 of 4 adults in the United States has arthritis.  So this would bring that number to over 50 million people in the U.S. along suffering the damage and disabilities due to arthritis.  If you are unfortunately one of them, you may be wondering how to ease your pain and improve joint function — or if there’s any way to “cure” or at the very least “control” the condition altogether 

Arthritis pain and stiffness can range in severity from mild and annoying to unrelenting and disabling.  As the condition progresses… especially if a patient ignores the issue, arthritis will result in increased joint pain and stiffness limit both their mobility and daily activities.  It can become quite disabling in certain cases.  

 What You Can Do To Help Your Arthritis Pain . . . 

Here are  medical interventions to help manage arthritis   

Modern medicine and NYC Pain MD now have major advances and treatment in safely handling arthritis.   These may include; 

• Lifestyle or work-related changes 
• Weight control and nutrition 
• Intervention Pain Management treatments 
• Regenerative Medicine Treatments 
• Stem Cell and Platelet Procedures 
• FDA – approved medical re-lubrication programs or viscosupplementation (image guided gel injections) 
• Advanced and novel anti -inflammatory injectables/Zilretta/Kenalog/Methylprednisone 
• Nerve Blocks 
• Radio Frequency Pain Block 
• ***SOFT WAVE TISSUE REGENERATIVE TREATMENT 

….. and many others 

Call NYC Pain MD AT 877-245-9252 to find out more or schedule a NO COST ASSESSMENT.