Arthritis Pain

As we get older it’s common to take a little bit longer to get out of bed, to hear a few creaks in the bones, and to experience a bit of pain after a long walk or a tough workout. Arthritis symptoms can vary from person to person, and can even affect those who are younger or who have a particularly strenuous lifestyle. If you are experiencing arthritis pain and are ready for solutions, the Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists in the Reno, Sparks and Carson City areas are here to help. 

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation or swelling in one or more joints in the body. Additionally, it can affect more than 100 conditions that affect the joints, tissues around the joint, and other connective tissues. One in two people who are 65 years old or older have been diagnosed with arthritis. 

While there are numerous forms of arthritis, the most common are: 

• Osteoarthritis: the most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis is a “wear and tear” of the joints that involves deterioration of the tissues within the affected joint. This is why older adults are at a greater risk of experiencing arthritis because of years and years of use. 
• Rheumatoid arthritis: this form is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease where the body attacks its healthy cells, which leads to inflammation 
• Psoriatic arthritis: a form of arthritis with a skin rash that can lead to inflamed, swollen, and painful joints
• Facet joint arthritis: this type of arthritis occurs in the facet joints in the spine and are generally a result of wear and tear or a traumatic event

Additional forms of arthritis include juvenile arthritis (seen in kids and teens younger than 16 years old) and gout (inflammatory arthritis that causes pain and swelling in your joints). 

While arthritis can affect any joint in the body, it is most often seen in the following joints: 

• Knees
• Hips
• Hands and wrists
• Lower back
• Feet and ankles
• Shoulders

Regardless of the specific type of arthritis a person has, there are two main issues that arise, which include degeneration (the breakdown of natural joint tissue) or inflammation (swelling). Sometimes inflammation can even lead to degeneration. 

What Does Arthritis Feel Like?

Arthritis is a chronic condition that can lead a person to experience a variety of symptoms, which most often include: 

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Reduced range of motion
• Skin discoloration
• Bone spurs
• Feelings of heat or warmth near the joints

Some patients can experience arthritis pain as a “flare up” while others experience constant pain. 

Who is at Risk for Developing Arthritis?

While the greatest risk for developing arthritis is age, there are a few other risk factors that can increase a person’s chance of experiencing arthritis. These risk factors include:

• Obesity, which places greater stress on the body’s joints
• Traumatic injury to the affected joint
• Lifestyle hazards
• Infections
• Sports-related activities that require repetitive, stressful movements
• Family history of arthritis
• Tobacco use

What are the Best Treatments for Arthritis?

Unfortunately there is no cure (as of yet!) for arthritis. So the goal of all pain management specialists is to provide as much relief as possible, using the most conservative treatment options first. While there might not be a cure, there are a host of treatment options that can provide relief. These include: 

• Exercise: low impact exercise that is performed on a regular basis is the best way to keep joints flexible and functioning as best as possible. Exercise like yoga, swimming and walking have proven the most helpful. An added benefit is that exercise helps to promote weight loss, which helps to alleviate added stress on the body’s joints. 
• Physical therapy: partnering with a trained physical therapist who can tailor a workout regimen to suit your specific arthritic needs can lead to both reduced pain reduction now and reduced pain symptoms in the future
• Arthritic aids: braces and arthritis-based accommodations don’t specifically help to treat the cause of pain, but they can help a person more comfortably perform daily tasks
• At-home remedies: there are steps a person can take at home to reduce their pain symptoms, which most commonly include supplements, essential oils, heat therapy and enjoying an anti-inflammatory diet. 
• Acupuncture: this Chinese-based and centuries-old treatment option has proven helpful for proving pain relief for arthritis symptoms.

More Treatments 

• Over-the-counter pain medications: a great option for relieving short-term pain symptoms, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) help patients more comfortably utilize additional treatment options such as physical therapy and exercise
• Joint injections: an injection of a corticosteroid have proven helpful for providing patients with reduced inflammation as well as associated pain. Depending on the type and cause of arthritis, multiple injections could offer extended pain relief. 
• Medial branch blocks:  this treatment involves an injection placed outside the joint where the medial branch nerve is located, and usually results in increased mobility and function, immediate pain relief, as well as a reduced need for pain medication. 
• Joint surgery: after all conservative treatments have failed, a pain management specialist might suggest joint replacement surgery. While patients are able to finally experience relief when the damaged joint is replaced with a plastic or metal prosthesis, surgery creates additional chances of risks and complications. 

Patients who suffer from arthritis can expect to treat their symptoms for a long time. But, the goal of treatment is to reduce the strength of pain symptoms as well as the pain felt. The results of pain therapy vary from person to person so there is no guaranteed way to determine the length of pain relief. However, utilizing a comprehensive approach to pain relief, i.e. physical therapy and medial branch blocks, can help to lengthen the period of time that a person experiences no pain symptoms. 

The best way to treat pain associated with arthritis is to partner with an expert pain management specialist who can both accurately diagnose and effectively treat each specific arthritis cause and symptoms. If you are suffering from arthritis pain and are in need of relief, please schedule an appointment today with the Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists in the Reno, Sparks and Carson City areas. While arthritis can’t be cured, there are successful ways to treat the pain so that you may experience a reduction of symptoms and increased quality of life.