3 Things No One Told You About Arthritis

One in four adults suffers from arthritis pain, and the prevalence of this condition only increases with age. You might experience arthritis due to a past injury, wear-and-tear, or an autoimmune disease. Every case is different, which is why it’s important to consult a specialist to form a treatment plan.

At CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation Center, with multiple locations in Maryland, our providers can accurately diagnose your arthritis type and recommend a course of treatment, including pain management.

3 things you need to know about arthritis

1. There are different kinds of arthritis

Generally speaking, arthritis refers to swelling and inflammation of the joints. This is a broad umbrella term that covers many different conditions, including:

Osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear arthritis)
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Spondylotic arthritis (spinal arthritis)
Crystalline arthropathy (gout)
Lupus or Lyme arthritis (OA)

However, when you hear people mention arthritis, they often mean rheumatoid or osteoarthritis. This can cause confusion, which is why it’s important to differentiate between them.

2. Arthritis affects more than your hands

When many people think of arthritis, they often think of an older person with stiff, claw-like hands. However, arthritis can affect more than your hands. For example, 40% of people with RA experience symptoms in other parts of the body, such as the blood vessels and nerves.

Furthermore, any joint can be affected by wear-and-tear issues, which makes osteoarthritis the most common cause of arthritis. The knees and hips are especially prone to OA, as these joints carry much of your weight, and years of walking, running, and sitting can lead to pain as you get older. Osteoarthritis is also more common among athletes, with different sports leading to different weaknesses.

When seeking treatment for arthritis, the first step is to determine what exactly is causing the inflammation. From there, you and your doctor can begin discussing your treatment options.

3. There are effective treatments for arthritis

An arthritis diagnosis is not the end of the line.

At CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation Center, we can perform a thorough physical exam, review your medical and familial histories, and order any required diagnostic tests, such as X-rays or bone scans to determine what type of arthritis you have and how it’s affecting your joints.

Then we can create a plan tailored just for you. Based on your specific type of arthritis and the severity of your symptoms, we can recommend a variety of therapies, such as the following:

Splinting or bracing for stability
Cold packs to numb pain and reduce inflammation
Paraffin wax dips for deep heat therapy
Injection therapy using steroids
Anti-inflammatories
Medicines that alter immune responses
Surgical procedures

While there’s no cure for arthritis, proper treatment can help you live well again. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation Center today.

Our Maryland offices are located in Hyattsville, Gaithersburg, Lanham, Dundalk, Oxon Hill, Rosedale, and Olney, and we have two offices in Baltimore.