Common Arthritis Types and Treatments

Osteoarthritis is often called “Wear and Tear” arthritis because it is the type of joint damage that occurs over time from extensive use of a joint. According to the CDC, approximately 32.5 million U.S. adults are affected by a condition known as osteoarthritis.

With osteoarthritis, the cartilage at the end of your joints breaks down, causing the bones within the joint to run together and lead to pain, swelling, stiffness, and reduced function. Although this condition can damage any joint, it most frequently affects joints in your hand, spine, hips, knees, and toes.

Osteoarthritis symptoms develop gradually and worsen over time and may include any of the following:

• Pain or aching in the affected joints during or after activity
• Joint stiffness first thing in the morning and after a period of inactivity
• Limited range of motion or loss of flexibility
• Grating sensation and a cracking or popping sound when you bend an affected joint
• Tenderness in the joint
• Extra bits of bone, which feel like hard lumps, that form around the joint
• Swelling
• Joint instability

If you experience any of these symptoms, a physician will first diagnose your condition with the use of X-rays, MRIs, blood tests, or joint fluid analysis. Then, one of the pain management doctors in Orlando, like Dr. Patel, can provide you with a variety of treatment options, depending on the severity of your symptoms and the location of the affected joint. The most common treatment method is a mixture of physical measures (exercise), drug therapy (joint injections), and sometimes, surgery.