What is arthritis?
Often painful, arthritis causes soreness and stiffness. Your joints may be swollen and hard to move. The condition makes it difficult to do ordinary activities, like opening jars or holding a pen.
The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. Brought on by aging, osteoarthritis affects your knees, fingers, and hips. An old sports injury can later become the site of osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage wears away, so it’s no longer cushioning the bones in your joints. The bones rub against one another, causing pain.
How is arthritis pain diagnosed?
Most types of arthritis cause a great deal of pain. Pain is a signal from your body alerting you that something is wrong. It’s common to feel arthritis pain in your joints.
The team at Pain Medicine Consultants asks you detailed questions about your pain. They check for other symptoms, asking:
- Have you lost weight?
- Do you have a fever?
- Do you have trouble breathing?
- Do you have itching or a rash?
These symptoms may be a red flag, warning of other medical conditions. That’s why it’s important to see Pain Medicine Consultants as soon as possible.
At your appointment, your doctor examines you, and they may recommend blood tests or X-rays of your bones and joints to pinpoint the areas that are causing you pain.
How is arthritis pain treated?
Treatment is designed to help manage your pain — so you can get back to the hobbies and activities you enjoy. Your doctor may prescribe medicine to ease your pain, inflammation, and stiffness.
Common medications include:
- Analgesics — Prescription medications to help ease pain, such as tramadol, oxycodone or hydrocodone
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories — Drugs that reduce both pain and inflammation and that are available as creams and oral medications
- Corticosteroids — Medications, such as prednisone and cortisone, that reduce inflammation and that come in the form of a pill or shot
Physical therapy may also help to reduce your arthritis pain and symptoms. If medications and therapy don’t work for you over time, the team at Pain Medicine Consultants also may discuss options like surgery.
If you’re ready to explore the right treatment plan to manage arthritis pain, call today or use the online booking tool to schedule a consultation with the board-certified practitioners at Pain Medicine Consultants.
