hero background image

Arthritis Treatments For Pain Relief

Is arthritis pain preventing you from performing your daily routine or taking part in your favorite activities? While arthritis is not curable, several therapies can help you manage your pain and get your active life back.

Below you’ll find more information to help you understand the condition and the suggested treatments that may help you manage your arthritis condition.

What Is Arthritis?

Arthritis is an ailment that causes joint inflammation and pain. There are various types of arthritis, including Ankylosing spondylitis, Gout, Osteoarthritisand Rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis cases are diagnosed based on the underlying cause. The most two common types are:

Osteoarthritis Arthritis: This is a degenerative condition that keeps getting worse with time. It results from wear and tear of cartilage, causing bones to rub together, eventually leading to inflammation and damage.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: This is a systemic autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to mistakenly attack the healthy joint tissue, triggering symptoms throughout the body.

Common Arthritis Symptoms

While symptoms mostly depend on the type of arthritis you have, the signs of arthritis differ from one person to another. The most common physical and functional symptoms of arthritis may include:

Physical Symptoms:

  • Joint pain and tenderness
  • Joint stiffness and swelling
  • Redness over the affected joint
  • Decreased range of motion
  • Inflammation in and around the joints
  • General weakness

As for Functional Symptoms, you might notice that your joint stiffness worsens after prolonged sitting or sleeping or find it difficult performing any of the below actions:

  • Turning faucets on and off
  • Bathing
  • Getting in and out of bed
  • Tying your shoelaces

Surgical & Non-Surgical Methods To Treat Arthritis

Arthritis has no known cure. However, you can relieve your pain with therapy suitable for your specific symptoms. Arthritis treatments may range from simple physical therapy to surgery or a combination of the below treatments:

Physical Therapy For A Proper Posture

A good exercise regimen can strengthen your muscles and give you relief. A physical therapist can help promote good posture by teaching you the correct way to stand, sit, and move. Stretch your joints to reach their full range of motion daily. However, make sure to balance between activity and rest.

Lifestyle Changes To Slow Down Arthritis Progress

Managing your weight and quitting smoking can be very helpful in some cases. Smoking is known to cause stress on connective tissues. Weight loss helps alleviate the pressure on the affected joints. Your podiatrist can help you with a weight loss plan to achieve your goals safely and effectively.

Custom-Made Orthotics Can Be Very Effective

These personalized foot inserts can help ease your pain and may also correct the issues causing pain. They reallocate the body weight across the feet, reducing stress on the lower part of your body. Some studies suggest that custom-made orthotics might slow the progression of arthritis.

Prescription Medications For Pain Relief

Based on your symptoms and the type of arthritis you have, your podiatrist can prescribe the right medication for your condition. Prescribed medication, vitamins, and supplements may help reduce pain, inflammation, and slow the progression of this painful disease.

Steroid Injections For Joint Pain

Steroids help relieve pain and inflammation in a specific area of the body. They are often injected into joints such as the elbow, ankle, hip, shoulder, knee, or spine. Their effect can be significant, especially when combined with other therapeutic steps mentioned in this list.

Joint Repair – A Great Option For Early Arthritis Cases

Joint repair is a surgical procedure designed to repair worn out or damaged joints. If you are in the early stages of arthritis and your joints have not become severely damaged, this can be a viable option for you.

This procedure is minimally invasive and uses arthroscopic techniques, which allow it to be done on an outpatient basis. It can repair shoulders, knees, and hip joints, providing improvement of movement and less pain.

Joint Replacement – Restore Your Normal Joint Movement

This surgery involves removing parts of an arthritic or damaged joint and replacing them with a ceramic, plastic, or metal device. The new device is called a prosthesis and can replicate the movement of your typical, healthy joint. Ankles, hips, and knees are among the most common joints to receive replacement surgeries.

Surgical Ankle Fusion For A Single Affected Ankle

If you are suffering from significant ankle arthritis, ankle fusion may be a good solution. Provided that one of your ankles has a full range of motion, this surgery will restrict the affected ankle’s movement to prevent it from moving side-to-side or up-and-down. This way, you will still maintain mobility while alleviating ankle pain.

Relief With Arthritis Treatment In Maryville

If you are looking to relieve your pain and hinder arthritis progress, our team at Foot Health Center is ready to help. We take a personalized approach to treating arthritis and only recommend the most conservative, necessary treatment methods. We proudly serve Maryville, Collinsville, Edwardsville, Granite City, and all surrounding communities. Call today and schedule your visit.

at
contact-img
Send Us A Message

We encourage you to contact us with any questions or comments you may have. Please call our office or use the quick contact form below.