What is arthritis?
Arthritis isn’t a single diagnosis, but a medical term that indicates inflammation in the joint. There are over 100 conditions and diseases that affect joint health and lead to arthritis. Though symptoms vary depending on the underlying cause of your arthritis, it often leads to joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Arthritis can affect any joint in your body, including your ankles, hips, shoulders, and knees. While your joint pain may vary, arthritis tends to worsen with time, no matter the cause. Starting treatment early may prevent joint damage that leads to chronic health problems and disability.
What are the common types of arthritis?
Though many conditions cause arthritis, some are more common than others. The most common types of arthritis include:
Osteoarthritis
Most people with arthritis have osteoarthritis. The joint inflammation develops due to the degeneration of the cartilage that separates the bones in your joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which your immune cells mistakenly attack the joint lining, leading to inflammation that may lead to joint damage and deformity.
Psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is also an autoimmune disorder that causes joint inflammation and pain when your immune cells attack the various tissues that make up your joint.
What happens during an arthritis evaluation?
Northern Virginia Orthopaedic Specialists takes a patient-centered approach to care, and what happens during your arthritis evaluation depends on your specific needs. However, your provider asks detailed questions to better understand your joint pain and determines the type of arthritis responsible for your discomfort, so you get the most effective treatment.
In addition to a close examination of the joint or joints responsible for your pain, your provider may also request diagnostic tests to confirm or rule out your arthritis type and assess the severity of joint damage. Testing may include blood tests and on-site X-rays.
How is arthritis treated?
Northern Virginia Orthopaedic Specialists focuses on keeping you as informed as possible about your diagnosis and treatment options so that you can make the best decisions about your care. The specifics of your arthritis treatment plan depend on the arthritis type, the severity of your symptoms, the joint affected, and the degree of joint damage.
Initially, your provider may recommend a conservative approach, which may include:
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Disease-specific medication
- Physical therapy
- Counterirritants (topical creams)
- Joint injections (e.g., viscosupplementation)
If conservative treatments fail to relieve your arthritis symptoms, your provider may recommend surgery. Northern Virginia Orthopaedic Specialists offers many surgical options, including joint replacement surgery for the knee, ankle, shoulder, and hips. Often, with minimally invasive and robotic-assisted techniques that provide a faster recovery.
Ignoring your arthritis won’t make it go away. For comprehensive care, contact Northern Virginia Orthopaedic Specialists by phone today.
