Arthritis Specialist

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is a group of joint diseases with symptoms that worsen with time. While arthritis doesn’t have a cure, managing your symptoms with guidance and treatment from a pain management specialist can make a big difference in your outlook on living with the condition. 

The Peak Spine & Sports Medicine team specializes in managing symptoms of some of the most common forms of arthritis, including:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is more common than all other arthritis types. It develops when the cartilage coating on the bones in your joints wears down, which causes the bones to grate together instead of gliding by each other smoothly. Over time, bony overgrowths and bone spurs can grow inside the joint and cause additional pain and discomfort. 

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis starts in a completely different manner than osteoarthritis. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system breaks down the linings of your joints, called the synovial membrane. That causes inflammation, which can eventually spread to affect the bone and cartilage. 

What are the most common symptoms of arthritis?

All forms of arthritis share distinctive, unmistakable symptoms. While some specific forms of arthritis have their own additional signs and symptoms, and symptoms can vary between individuals, the most common signs of arthritis are:

• Persistent or recurrent pain in one or more joints
• Stiffness in one or more joints
• Joint swelling
• Warmth and redness coming from one or more joints

Rather than making a self-diagnosis, you should visit Peak Spine & Sports Medicine for a comprehensive arthritis evaluation. Joint pain, swelling, and stiffness can come from injuries and conditions other than arthritis that need different kinds of treatment. 

How can I manage my arthritis?

Your treatment for arthritis depends on factors like your age, general health outside of arthritis discomfort, and the severity of your symptoms. The multidisciplinary team at Peak Spine & Sports Medicine strives to decrease your pain, limit inflammation, and preserve your mobility with a personalized care plan. 

Typically, arthritis doesn’t require surgical care. A conservative treatment plan for arthritis may involve:

• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
• Nutritional counseling
• Steroid joint injections
• Hyaluronic acid joint injections
• Physical therapy
• Regenerative medicine

The team at Peak Spine & Sports Medicine wants you to live a full life, even with arthritis, and avoid surgery when possible. The team’s treatment plans have proven successful in doing just that for many patients.  

If you have persistent or recurrent joint pain or stiffness, book an arthritis treatment consultation over the phone or online at Peak Spine & Sports Medicine today.