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Arthritis Pain Relief

Arthritis is one of the most common causes of chronic pain among adults in The United States. In fact, 23% of all adults or over 54 Million people are currently suffering from the condition. And of those 54 million American adults, 1 in 4 reporting having severe joint pain that limits their daily function. Arthritis pain relief is possible, but it’s important to understand how. 

What is Arthritis?

Arthritic pain is pain caused by inflammation in the joints. The pain can be isolated to one particular joint or can be present in many. Most arthritic pain sufferers are diagnosed over the age of 65, however more patients are presenting with symptoms at a younger age (including hundreds of children). 

The pain associated with most types of arthritis tends to get worse over time, but with some types the pain suddenly starts. Arthritis tends to affect women more and those who are overweight are also at higher risk for developing this disorder. Common signs of arthritis are joint pain, stiffness, decreased range of motion, and the area around the joint may be red. 

While the pain from arthritis is not curable it can be greatly reduced when you have a proper pain management plan. At the North Texas Pain Institute we are dedicated to providing the most up to date and effective pain relief treatments.

What are The Types of Arthritis?

There are over one hundred types of arthritis. Some types of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), are caused by underlying medical conditions such as autoimmune disorders. In RA the autoimmune disorder causes the body to attack the joint tissues. With treatment, the pain and slowing of the degeneration of tissues can be slowed.  

The other common cause of arthritis is wear and tear of the joints. Everyday activities that we do can cause the cartilage that connects our tissues to wear down. Things like typing, repeated exercise, texting, and general overuse of our joints. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a type of arthritis that is caused by overuse of the joints.  

What are The Treatment Options for Arthritis?

When starting your arthritis pain treatment, it is important to know the type of arthritis that you have. You may need something as simple as a physical exam. Sometimes, more diagnostics such as blood work, x-ray, MRI, or CT scan are necessary to see the full extent of your arthritis.

Most often, the treatment for arthritis is pain medication. However, at North Texas Pain Institute, we understand that patients would like to avoid the dependency of long term medications. We have a variety of safe, non-addictive pain treatment options available such as joint injections. The joint injections give immediate pain relief for arthritis and can last anywhere from weeks to years. Epidurals are another safe alternative to pain medications. The Epidural is a steroid that can also be given that can relieve arthritis pain. Orthrovisc/viscosupplemtation is a treatment that we use for arthritis in the knee and other joints after other treatments have been unsuccessful, it involves a gel being inserted into the joint to reduce inflammation.  

What are the Other Alternative Treatments?

Making some simple changes in your everyday life can also make big impacts in your arthritis pain levels. If you are overweight, taking some steps to lose weight can reduce the stress on your joints. You can also try implementing some inflammation fighting foods such as nuts, turmeric, fresh fruits, and green leafy vegetables. Practicing a low joint-stress exercise like swimming is another way in which you can keep your body active, but your pain under control. Always be sure to speak with your pain management doctor before making any major lifestyle changes. 

If you are suffering from arthritis pain it is time to get your arthritis pain under control and start living a life you enjoy. Give the North Texas Pain Institute a call today to start a treatment plan that works for you: 972-366-4133.

 

For more information about Arthritis see HERE.