Arthritis Treatment Specialist | Osteoarthritis Specialty Clinic SD, USA

Arthritis (Osteoarthritis + Rheumatoid

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is an inflammation-causing degenerative disorder of the joints that causes pain and restricted motion. It is usually observed in aged adults of over 60 years, but even teenagers and youngsters can get affected by it. There are over 100 types of arthritis, the most common being osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The symptoms of arthritis develop steadily over a long period of time and affect the knees, fingers, buttocks, elbows, fingers, and other joints. It is also seen that women are more susceptible to arthritis than men.

What Causes Arthritis?

Arthritis is usually caused by wear and tear, overuse or injury of your joints. Arthritis impacts the cartilage layer which is a firm but flexible tissue lining that surrounds our joints. It prevents the bones from rubbing against each other. Arthritis causes this layer to degrade, making it thin, by breaking it down. Sometimes, excess uric acid in the body causes crystal formation which results in gout – a form of arthritis. Other types of arthritis can be caused by pre-existing ailments or infections like lupus or psoriasis.

Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis – The Difference

As mentioned, there are several types of arthritis – the most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. They might have similar symptoms but are very different from each other.

Osteoarthritis – It happens due to the cartilage lining of the joint breaking down due to wear & tear injuries, or overuse. This type of arthritis is localized and affects isolated joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis – This is more of autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system malfunctions and attacks the synovial membrane of the joints. Unlike osteoarthritis, this type can impact multiple joints in the body. Reasons for rheumatoid arthritis are not well-known and are mostly attributed to genetics.

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How to know if you have Arthritis?

Symptoms of arthritis may vary from type-to-type, but if you suffer from the below symptoms then it is time to consult a physician. The most common symptoms of Osteo/Rheumatoid arthritis include:

Joint Pain flares up as the day goes by, causing everyday activities like walking and doing household chores tough to execute.

Swelling and redness of joints.

Decreased range of motion and finding it difficult to grab things.

Stiffness in joints especially in the morning.

However, rheumatoid arthritis also includes symptoms like anemia, loss of appetite, fever, and fatigue too.

Looking for Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis treatment?

At Dunes Pain Clinic, we provide the best and most modern treatments for arthritis. There is no complete cure for arthritis, but our physicians and health experts might exercise several methods to reduce the inflammation/pain of your joints. Depending on your condition, we might perform physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the joint. If the situation demands, steroid, or non-steroid anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medication might be used to reduce pain and inflammation. In case surgery is needed to replace the affected joint with a prosthetic, our physicians will refer you to a surgeon.

At our clinic, we are well acquainted with all types of treatment methods to deal with the most complicated arthritis cases. Contact us for a pain-free life!