Arthritis

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which your immune system starts damaging your healthy joints. If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, you’re likely to have joint pain, swelling, and often even joint deformity as the disease progresses. This type of arthritis is most common in women but can occur in men as well.

The most common areas for rheumatoid arthritis are the hands, feet, and ankles. The pain can be severe, and often causes poor quality of life. Although there’s no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, there are effective treatments and lifestyle changes that can help dramatically reduce your symptoms.

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is the most commonly occurring type of arthritis. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage that helps cushion your bones wears away. This leaves your bone rubbing together, which often means severe pain.

Osteoarthritis usually affects the hips, spine, knees, and hands but may affect any joints within your body. As with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis can seriously reduce your quality of life. While there’s no cure for osteoarthritis, there are several effective pain relief options, which you can combine with lifestyle changes so you can enjoy an active and full life.  

How is arthritis treated?

Arthritis treatment at SamWell Institute for Pain Management often involves several different types of therapy. Some of the many possible treatment options include:

• Sacroiliac joint steroid injection
• Nerve blocks
• Physical therapy
• Acupuncture
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Disease-modifying drugs (for rheumatoid arthritis)

It’s critical to manage your condition as effectively as possible to preserve your health. Dr. Shah will work closely with you to help you enjoy a pain-free life.

How can I prevent the progression of arthritis?

When you have arthritis, staying healthy is crucial in preventing the disease from growing worse. While you might not feel like exercising, or even moving much, when your arthritis pain is at its worst, Dr. Shah will prescribe a treatment plan that will allow you to move comfortably again.

Maintaining a healthy weight is important because it puts less pressure on your joints. You may need to customize your exercises or learn a new exercise routine in physical therapy, to work out safely.

Ready to put arthritis pain in the past? Use the online scheduling tool or call SamWell Institute for Pain Management to make an appointment today.