Arthritis

Arthritis, in all its many forms, causes long-term joint pain and stiffness that becomes increasingly disabling. If arthritis symptoms reduce your quality of life, visit the Spine & Pain Center of San Antonio in San Antonio and Live Oak, Texas. The pain management providers specialize in helping people manage incurable chronic pain conditions like arthritis. Call your nearest office today for compassionate, comprehensive arthritis care, or book online.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is a term for multiple conditions affecting the joints. The most common forms are:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis typically takes many years to develop because it results from joint wear and tear. The smooth articular cartilage covering the bones where they meet in the joints erodes over time. The raw bones rub together and slowly deteriorate, creating inflammation and pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis develops because of a flaw in your immune system. This flaw triggers an attack on the joint lining cells in the same way your immune system targets a virus or harmful bacteria. The joints become inflamed, swollen, and distorted as a result.

Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is also an autoimmune disorder. It affects the skin as well as the joints, creating flaky white crusts called plaques.

Gout

Gout typically develops in the big toe joint but can occur in the knees and elsewhere. It happens when uric acid (found in certain foods) forms crystals that lodge in the joints.

What symptoms does arthritis cause?

The chief arthritis symptom is pain. This is often aching and tender, making your joints feel hot and fragile. Gout pain differs because it causes sharp pain for a day or two every few months or so.

Flare-ups occur when the pain intensifies and may become unbearable. You might experience a flare-up after excessive physical activity, when the weather’s cold and wet, or when you’re under stress.

Other arthritis symptoms include:

• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Weakness
• Joint distortion
• Reduced function

Most people find arthritis symptoms worsen over time. You may eventually be unable to walk if you have hip arthritis or struggle to kneel or stand up if you have knee arthritis. Arthritis in the hands can severely limit your ability to perform daily tasks. Forms that affect multiple joints, like rheumatoid arthritis, can cause severe disability.

How is arthritis treated?

Currently, there’s no cure for arthritis. However, Spine & Pain Center of San Antonio offers comprehensive arthritis care that reduces symptom severity and flare-ups so you can live an active life for longer. Your personalized treatment plan might include:

• Physical therapy
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Numbing creams
• Weight management
• Steroid injections
• Lubricating hyaluronic acid injections
• Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
• Acupuncture
• Platelet-rich plasma or stem cell injections
• Ketamine for pain management

DMARDs can help with autoimmune arthritis, especially when started early on.

If these treatments stop working when arthritis progresses, you might benefit from radiofrequency ablation or peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS).

Call the Spine & Pain Center of San Antonio today or book an appointment online for expert arthritis management.