Osteoarthritis Specialist

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis, or wear-and-tear arthritis, is a chronic rheumatic illness that causes your cartilage to break down. Cartilage is a soft, cushion-like substance that pads and supports your joints. Without cartilage, your bones rub against one another, causing swelling, stiffness, and mobility problems.

Osteoarthritis can affect any of the joints in your body, but it’s particularly common in the hands, knees, hips, and spine. Although we can only control the pain for osteoarthritis, healthy lifestyle changes and regular doctor’s appointments can significantly improve your quality of life. 

What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?

The symptoms of osteoarthritis usually develop slowly over an extended period. Common indications of osteoarthritis include:

• Joint pain

• Stiffness

• Tenderness 

• Popping or cracking sensations

• Bone spurs 

• Swelling

As osteoarthritis gets worse, you might also notice problems with flexibility, mobility, and range of motion.

Who is at risk of osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis affects people of all ages, races, and genders. Several factors can increase your risk, including being overweight or obese, suffering a previous joint injury, and having a family history of osteoarthritis. 

You’re also more likely to develop osteoarthritis if you have a metabolic disease like diabetes or hemochromatosis.

How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?

To diagnose osteoarthritis, your Advanced Arthritis and Rheumatology Center provider reviews your medical history and conducts a physical exam. During your exam, they gently press on your affected joint and look for signs of tenderness, swelling, or redness.

Next, your provider orders a musculoskeletal ultrasound to get a closer look at your affected joint. If necessary, they might also recommend laboratory tests, like a joint fluid analysis or complete blood count, to rule out other potential problems. Next provider orders x-rays/musculoskeletal ultrasounds.

The team can also test for bone density using the on-site heel DEXA machine for evaluation of osteoporosis. 

How is osteoarthritis treated?

Treatment for osteoarthritis depends on the severity of your symptoms and the joints affected. Usually, the team at Advanced Arthritis and Rheumatology Center recommends integrative treatments like losing weight, exercising regularly, and eating a balanced diet.

If your pain doesn’t improve with lifestyle changes alone, you might benefit from musculoskeletal injections, heat therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy, or physical therapy. The team also recommends medications, corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid injections and in severe cases, surgery.

To schedule your osteoarthritis appointment at Advanced Arthritis and Rheumatology Center, call the office or book online today.