StemCell Therapy

Do your knees, hips and other joints snap, crackle and pop when you move?

Whether youre a senior, approaching middle age or a young athlete in your prime, you might have arthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease.

Once considered an age-related condition, its now known that arthritis can afflict anyone at any age. The condition can range from slight joint stiffness in the morning to a chronic, debilitating pain that can limit your mobility and reduce your quality of life.

More than 40 million Americans suffer from arthritis, and more than half of arthritis cases are osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that affects cartilage, the tissue that covers the ends of the bones in a joint.

The joints most often affected by osteoarthritis are those used for bending and swiveling movements: the knees, hips, shoulders and fingers. Healthy cartilage provides padding between bones that acts as a shock absorber for high-impact activities, and it helps bones glide smoothly together at the joints for bending and rotating motions.

In joints affected by osteoarthritis, the smooth, elastic cartilage that covers the ends of bones breaks down and wears away, leaving a rough surface where bones can rub together. Eventually, the joint can become misshapen; bits of bone and cartilage might break off and float in the joint space; or spiky growths called bone spurs can develop on the surface of the exposed bone, which can cause joint pain and decreased mobility.

Osteoarthritis risk and symptoms

Osteoarthritis can develop over time as age-related wear and tear, or as a result of a joint injury.

Those at risk of developing osteoarthritis include females, those who have a family history of osteoarthritis, those who are overweight or have had prior joint injuries, and those who put continuous, repetitive stress on their joints (i.e., a job that requires excessive lifting, bending or repetitive tasks, or high impact activities, such as running and aerobics).

Symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

>> Joint pain at rest or with activity.

>> Swelling or tenderness.

>> Stiffness, especially after getting out of bed or sitting for a long time.

>> Bony enlargement of the joint area.

>> A crunching noise or feeling when moving the joint.

Although there is no cure for osteoarthritis, early diagnosis and treatment might help slow the development and progression of the disease, further avoiding joint damage; help relieve pain and stiffness; and preserve maximum range of motion. According to the Arthritis Foundation (AF), symptoms of osteoarthritis begin to set in 10 years after a specific cause such as an injury or obesity, so early treatment is important.

Osteoarthritis is diagnosed through a combination of tests, including a medical history, physical exam, x-rays or MRIs and possibly blood tests or examinations of fluid drawn from the joint.

Treatment options include lifestyle modifications, medications, physical therapy or surgery. Your doctor might recommend switching from high-impact to low-impact sports activities. Topical or oral pain medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroid injections, administered by your doctor, can help control pain and swelling.

Other nonsurgical remedies might include weight loss. The AF estimates that every pound of excess weight lost reduces four pounds of pressure on the knees and six pounds of pressure on the hips. Additionally, physical therapy can help strengthen the muscles that surround and support the affected joint, and ice or heat also might help reduce swelling and pain. Regular exercise is also important to help the affected joint stay lubricated and strong.

If other treatment methods are not effective, surgery also can help relieve pain and restore mobility. Surgical interventions range from minimally invasive arthroscopy which removes bone spurs or smooths rough bone surfaces to total joint replacement, in which parts of the bones are removed and an artificial joint is implanted.

Dr. Supen Patel specializes in rheumatology. He is associated with Carolinas Rheumatology & Osteoporosis (carolinasrheumatology.com), an affiliate of Carolinas Medical Alliance, and is a member of the medical staff of Carolinas Hospital System. He is accepting new patients. Patients must have a referral to schedule an appointment. To refer a patient, call Patels office at 843-674-6440.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor but rather to increase awareness and help equip patients with information and facilitate conversations with your physician that will benefit your health.

Sources: The Arthritis Foundation, arthritis.com, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, aaos.org, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, niams.nih.gov

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Arthritis can strike at any age: Early treatment is important in regard to degenerative joint disease - SCNow

This entry was posted on June 5, 2017 at 6:41 am and is filed under Arthritis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |