Arthritis

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis isn’t a single disease but a medical term that refers to a group of conditions that cause joint pain or joint disease. There are more than 100 types of arthritis.

Arthritis can affect any joint in your body and may cause:

• Swelling
• Pain
• Redness
• Limited range of motion

The severity of your symptoms may vary, but they generally worsen with time. Arthritis can lead to chronic pain and make performing simple daily tasks, such as opening a jar or climbing the stairs, very difficult.

What Are Common Types of Arthritis?

While there are many types of arthritis, some are more common than others.

• Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and develops as cartilage between your joints wears away. You may be more likely to develop osteoarthritis if there’s a family history of the condition, if you carry excess weight, or if you’ve previously injured the joint.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition that triggers your body to attack the lining of your joints, known as the synovial membrane, leading to inflammation, swelling, and pain.
• Gout: Gout is a metabolic form of arthritis caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the blood. This build-up eventually settles in the joints, leading to swelling, inflammation, and pain.

What Treatments are Available to Reduce My Arthritis Pain?

Your pain management specialist at Metro Denver Pain Management takes a multidisciplinary approach to help reduce your arthritis pain, developing a personalized treatment plan based on your type of arthritis, the progression of the disease, pain level, and health.

• Medications: The type of medication recommended to lessen your arthritis pain depends on the type of arthritis you have. Analgesics, anti-inflammatories, or corticosteroids may be suggested to reduce pain or inflammation. Your pain management specialist may also recommend special pain-relieving creams that you rub directly on your joints for targeted relief. If your arthritis pain is caused by rheumatoid arthritis, your pain management specialist may prescribe disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD), which stop or slow down your immune system from attacking your joints.
• Physical Therapy: Your pain management specialist at Metro Denver Pain Management may recommend physical therapy to improve joint range of motion and strengthen the muscles surrounding the joint to relieve your pain.
• Surgery: If medications and physical therapy fail to tame your pain, the next step might be surgery to repair or replace your joint and improve your quality of life.

For comprehensive pain management for your arthritis pain, call Metro Denver Pain Management, or book an appointment using the online booking feature.