If you are someone living with arthritis and trying your best to manage that pain but are struggling with finding the right treatment for you, then you might need to seek medical advice for this issue. At Dines Orthopedic in Manhattan they specialize in treating all kinds of injuries, especially in sports-related injuries. They will also help you through managing the arthritis pain before surgery is needed since that is the last resort. Contact our Orthopedic doctor Manhattan today for help with arthritis.
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is very common but is not well understood. Arthritis is not a single disease; it is a way of referring to joint pain or joint disease. There are actually more than 100 different types of Arthritis and related conditions. People of all ages, sexes, and races can have arthritis, and it is the leading cause of disability in America. It is most common among women which doctors are still unsure of the reason why. Common arthritis symptoms include swelling, pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion. They may stay about the same for years but can progress or get worse over time. Severe arthritis can result in chronic pain, inability to do daily activities, and make it difficult to walk or climb stairs. Arthritis can cause permanent joint changes. Some types of arthritis also affect the heart, eyes, lungs, kidneys, and skin, as well as the joints.
What Are the Treatments For Arthritis?
The main focus of treating arthritis is obviously managing the pain that the patient is going through so they can live their lives pain-free. Also, improving their joint function is another main focus of managing their arthritis pain. Treatments of Arthritis are as follows:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Some examples of that are Advil, ibuprofen, and aleve. Be careful of what you are taking because some can cause stomach issues.
- Creams and ointments can reduce inflammation if they include menthol; capsaicin will help bring a soothing and numbing sensation to the affected area.
- Steroids are usually extremely helpful in reducing pain—corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone help in reducing inflammation and slow joint damage. Corticosteroids may be given as a pill or as an injection into the painful joint.
- Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs can help in aiding arthritic pain management. These drugs can slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis and save the joints and other tissues from permanent damage.
- Physical Therapy has been proven very effective in helping the patient move with more intention and better overall. It is also, bringing back strength in the affected area of the body.
- Surgery would be the last option for someone trying to treat their arthritis pain—joint repair, which can often be performed arthroscopically through small incisions over the joint. A joint replacement removes the damaged joint and replaces it with an artificial one. And lastly, a joint fusion is more often used for smaller joints. It removes the ends of the two bones in the joint and then locks those ends together until they heal into one rigid unit.
How To Manage Arthritis Pain?
There are so many options for managing your arthritis pain that does not have to become as severe as surgery. There are things you can do day today to help make better choices for yourself and your health. Some of the more important choices you can make are as follows:
- Learning new self-management skills means joining a self-management program to help you through this issue. You will be surrounded by other individuals who are experiencing the same health issue you are. It will help you feel more in control of your overall health, manage pain and other issues, carry out daily activities, reduce your stress, improve your mood and help you communicate better with your health providers.
- Staying physically active is an effective, non-drug way to relieve your arthritis pain. This can help reduce pain, improve function, mood, and quality of life for adults with arthritis.
- Talk to your doctor always! If you have pain or something that just does not feel right with you, you need to communicate with your doctors and let them know.
- Managing your weight is just as important. If you are overweight, you are adding extra stress to your joints, causing them to work harder than they would if your weight was where it should be for your age/height/activity level, etc.
- Protect your joints, meaning that if you already have pain, try to do low-impact activities that would not cause extra pain and stress to your joints.
Contact Our Orthopedic Doctor Manhattan
Living with pain is not something that anyone should have to deal with, especially if you think that it is nothing and it will go away on its own. At the offices of Dines Orthopedic, they will provide you with the best care they possibly can and take care of you like the person you are and not just another patient. They only want the best for their patients and for them to live a life that is pain-free. Contact our experienced Orthopedic Doctor Manhattan today!