ARTHRITIS
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Arthritis Doctor in Plano, Texas
The Achilles tendon is the most powerful tendon in the human body. It connects the backs of your calf muscles to your heel bone and enables movement in the ankle.
Achilles tendinitis is an overuse injury of this tendon and is most common in runners who have suddenly increased the intensity or duration of their runs. It’s also common in middle-aged people who play sports regularly.
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis, simply put, means joint inflammation. Usually joint inflammation is a sign or a symptom rather than a specific diagnosis. The term arthritis refers to any disorder that affects the joints. Joints are where two bones meet, such as your wrists, knees or hips.
There are many types of arthritis. The two most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease and may occur with aging, or after sustaining trauma to a joint. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease common in young adults in which the body’s immune system attacks the joint lining. Other common forms of arthritis include psoriatic arthritis, gout and fibromyalgia. Nearly 1 in 5 adults have some form of arthritis. It’s more common with older age, but can happen to anyone.
What are the Symptoms of Arthritis?
Arthritis causes pain in and around your joints. These symptoms might be constant, or they could come and go. The pain and discomfort could range from mild to severe.
Pain from rheumatoid arthritis tends to be in the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, feet and ankles.
For people with gout, one of the first symptoms is usually pain and swelling in their big toes. It may also turn red and feel warm. Gout comes from uric acid buildup in the body which causes sharp crystal-like deposits to form in your joints. You may also find lumps underneath your skin called tophi.
What Causes Arthritis?
In many forms of arthritis, the cause is unknown. There are some factors that may increase your chances of getting it. This includes: age, genetics, work, cigarettes, gender, weight, injuries and infection
How is Arthritis Diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms, family history, and lifestyle. He or she will perform a physical exam on you. This will include feeling for swollen glands, checking your blood pressure, and looking in your eyes and down your throat. Your doctor will examine at the joints causing you pain to check for redness and swelling. If your pain is in your back, your doctor will look for abnormalities in the curvature of your spine. You might need to stand and walk so your doctor can see if pain affects your movement.
There are some tests that might be necessary for a more conclusive diagnosis. Tests could include x-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds, nerve tests, and blood tests, among others.
How is Arthritis Treated?
Treatment for arthritis centers around relieving symptoms and improving joint function and mobility. Most people need various forms of treatments. Treatments fall into four different categories: medication, lifestyle change, physical therapy, and surgery.
Medication
Nearly all pain medications come with side effects.
- Painkillers
- Over the counter painkillers such as Tylenol will help reduce pain. However, they do not reduce inflammation, the underlying cause of arthritic pain.
- Your doctor may prescribe opioids if you have severe pain. This is not an ideal option as long term opioid use might result in dependency.
- Anti-inflammatories
- Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce pain and inflammation. Some NSAIDs are available over the counter, while others require a doctor’s prescription. NSAIDs can cause stomach irritation and might increase the risk of stroke or heart attack. Some forms of NSAIDs are available as creams or gels which you apply topically.
- Counterirritants
- Capsaicin, a chemical found in hot peppers can be added to a cream or ointment that can alleviate joint pain.
- Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
- These are for rheumatoid arthritis to prevent your immune system from attacking your joints
- Biologic response modifiers
- This class of drugs includes genetically engineered to target specific immune response molecules.
- Corticosteroids
- This class of drugs can be taken orally or injected into painful joints.
Lifestyle
- Weight
- Permanent lifestyle changes that result in gradual weight loss are the most effective methods of weight loss.
- Smoking
- Cigarette and cigar smoking causes stress to connective tissue. This increases arthritis pain.
Physical Therapy and Exercise
A physical therapist can help develop a program for you to improve your strength without putting stress on your joints. Pay attention to the following:
- Your Everyday Routine
- Use good posture. Physical and occupational therapists can evaluate your posture. They make recommendations on the best ways to sit, stand, and walk.
- Exercise
- While it’s important to exercise regularly, it’s also important to choose the right types of exercises. You should avoid high-impact activities and repetitive motions. These could include running, jumping, tennis and high-impact aerobics.
- Heat and Cold
- Your physical therapist might recommend the use of heating pads or ice packs to relieve arthritis pain
- Assistive Devices
- Canes, shoe inserts, walkers, raised toilet seats, tub rails, jar openers and other assistive devices can help you perform everyday tasks without pain.
Surgery
If non-invasive measures don’t alleviate your pain, your doctor may recommend surgery. These surgeries could include:
- Repair
- Joint repair entails smoothing or realigning joint surfaces. This is the least invasive form of joint surgery
- Replacement
- Joint replacement removes a damaged joint and replaces it with an artificial one.
- Fusion
- Joint fusion is for smaller joints. It removes the ends of the bones in a joint and locks them together until they heal together into one unit.
Arthritis vs Rheumatoid Arthritis
Arthritis Symptoms
- Joints that are stiff or swollen
- Tenderness
- Decreased range of motion and trouble moving
- Problems performing everyday activities
- Joints that feel warm to the touch
Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Lung inflammation
- Bumps under the skin, called nodules
What Determines Arthritis?
- Age-Your joints tend to get worn down with age
- Genetics-Your genes could make you more susceptible to environmental factors that trigger arthritis if it runs in your family.
- Work-If your work requires you to move a lot and put stress on your joints, you might be more likely to develop osteoarthritis.
- Smoking-Cigarette and cigar smoking increases your risk of rheumatoid arthritis and can make your symptoms worse. Smoking also causes other medical problems and can make it more difficult to be physically active. Physical activity is important for managing arthritis.
- Gender-Women tend to develop arthritis more often than men. The exception is gout: Men are four times more likely than women to develop gout.
- Weight-Being overweight puts extra stress on your joints and can wear them out.
- Injuries-An injury may spark joint damage that can bring on other symptoms of arthritis
- Infection-Many microbial agents, like viruses, fungi or bacteria can infect joints. This might trigger inflammation.
Arthritis Treatments
Nearly all pain medications come with side effects.
Painkillers
Over the counter painkillers such as Tylenol will help reduce pain. However, they do not reduce inflammation, the underlying cause of arthritic pain. Your doctor may prescribe opioids if you have severe pain. This is not an ideal option as long term opioid use might result in dependency.
Anti-Inflammatories
Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce pain and inflammation. Some NSAIDs are available over the counter, while others require a doctor’s prescription. NSAIDs can cause stomach irritation and might increase the risk of stroke or heart attack. Some forms of NSAIDs are available as creams or gels which you apply topically.
Counterirritants
Capsaicin, a chemical found in hot peppers can be added to a cream or ointment that can alleviate joint pain.
Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)
These are for rheumatoid arthritis to prevent your immune system from attacking your joints.
Biologic Response Modifiers
This class of drugs includes genetically engineered to target specific immune response molecules.
Corticosteroids
This class of drugs can be taken orally or injected into painful joints.
Weight
Permanent lifestyle changes that result in gradual weight loss are the most effective methods of weight loss.
Smoking
Cigarette and cigar smoking causes stress to connective tissue. This increases arthritis pain.
Physical Therapy and Exercise
A physical therapist can help develop a program for you to improve your strength without putting stress on your joints. Pay attention to the following:
Your Everyday Routine
Use good posture. Physical and occupational therapists can evaluate your posture. They make recommendations on the best ways to sit, stand, and walk.
Exercise
While it’s important to exercise regularly, it’s also important to choose the right types of exercises. You should avoid high-impact activities and repetitive motions. These could include running, jumping, tennis and high-impact aerobics.
Heat and Cold
Your physical therapist might recommend the use of heating pads or ice packs to relieve arthritis pain.
Assistive Devices
Canes, shoe inserts, walkers, raised toilet seats, tub rails, jar openers and other assistive devices can help you perform everyday tasks without pain.
If non-invasive measures don’t alleviate your pain, your doctor may recommend surgery. These surgeries could include:
Repair
Joint repair entails smoothing or realigning joint surfaces. This is the least invasive form of joint surgery.
Replacement
Joint replacement removes a damaged joint and replaces it with an artificial one.
Fusion
Joint fusion is for smaller joints. It removes the ends of the bones in a joint and locks them together until they heal together into one unit.
Contact us today if you have any questions about Arthritis. The experts at the Pain Relief Center are here to help!
More Conditions
- Achilles Tendinitis
- Allergies
- Arthritis
- Back Pain & Low Back Pain
- Bulging Disc
- Car Accident Injuries
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Cervicogenic Headache
- Chronic Pain
- Cluster Headache
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Fibromyalgia
- Foot Pain
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Joint Pain
- Knee Pain
- Low Estrogen
- Neck Pain
- Occipital Neuralgia
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rotator Cuff Tear
- Sacroiliitis Pain
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Shingles
- Shoulder Pain
- Spinal Pain
- Spinal Stenosis
- Tension Headache
- Thoracic Pain
- TMJ
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
TAKE ACTION
The most critical step on the path to recovery is finding a pain management doctor who can address your pain management needs successfully. The Pain Relief Center and its five specialized institutes are dedicated to meeting any and all of a patient’s needs. Located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Dr. Rodriguez and his friendly staff will help you along the path to recovery.
Our new center in Dallas is part of a nationwide development by Pain Relief Centers, geared to providing individualized and comprehensive healing and pain management services with unprecedented levels of compassion, care, and comfort for each patient.