Early Arthritis Treatments
Types of Arthritis
Osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis is the most common type of this condition. As the cartilage between the joints erodes, the bones rub against one another and cause stiffness, pain and swelling. If left untreated, the condition can become chronic and the pain can become permanent.
Mild or moderate osteoarthritis can be treated at home with over-the-counter medications, various assistive devices and heating or ice pads. The patient also needs regular exercise to maintain or improve their mobility and keep a healthy weight. However, in severe cases, the patient may require surgery to replace the damaged joints.
Inflammatory arthritis occurs as a result of an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the joints. Psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are two of the more common types of inflammatory arthritis.
Inflammatory arthritis is aggressive. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are critical. For example, in rheumatoid arthritis most of the joint damage develops within the first two years of the disease. Aggressive early arthritis treatments can prevent the condition from becoming more sever and may even reverse it. Inflammatory arthritis can affect young patients. Most people with rheumatoid arthritis develop the condition when they are between 30 and 50 years old.
Gout or metabolic arthritis occurs as a result of abnormally high levels of uric acid. Some people either produce too much uric acid and/or their body can’t process it quickly enough. Either way, the uric acid accumulates and creates needle-shaped crystals between the joints. Those crystals cause gout attacks or acute episodes of severe pain. Not properly treating gout can eventually result in chronic and cause continuous disability and pain. Therefore, early arthritis treatments with AOCBV are necessary for this condition.
Diagnosis of Arthritis
If you suspect you have arthritis, contact AOCBV for diagnosis and proper treatment. Our doctors will start by taking a very detailed medical history. In addition to asking about your symptoms, we will ask about your health history because previous illnesses and injuries can sometimes increase the chances of developing arthritis. We will want know about all aspects of your life, such as your job or whether you play sports, as these can increase the risk of developing a given type of arthritis. This will help ups develop a better treatment plan for you.
We will look for swelling or deformity in the joints by moving them back and forth to evaluate their malformed, distressed joints. If you have or believe you may have inflammatory arthritis, visit the Arthritis & Osteoporosis Clinic of Brazos Valley to receive appropriate treatment. Contact us with the link below for more information!
