Why do I have arthritis?
Arthritis is a broad term for several conditions that lead to chronic joint pain and inflammation. Though it’s true that your risk of arthritis increases with age due to wear-and-tear, as with osteoarthritis, anyone of any age can develop this condition. You might have arthritis because of:
- Autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis)
- Injury or trauma (post-traumatic arthritis)
- Bacterial infection (septic arthritis)
- Poor diet or obesity (gouty arthritis)
Your risk of arthritis also increases if you have chronic inflammatory conditions, such as psoriasis. Because arthritis is only going to progress and continue causing discomfort, understanding the warning signs and getting early treatment is important.
What are the symptoms of arthritis?
Usually, joint pain is the initial complaint among arthritis sufferers, but the signs and symptoms of arthritis don’t develop overnight. It’s important to see Dr. Rubinshteyn if you’re experiencing any of the following issues in or around your joints:
- Inflammation or swelling
- Tenderness or stiffness
- Limited range of motion
- Deformities or bumps
Although no cure exists for arthritis, the condition is certainly manageable — as are your symptoms. Dr. Rubinshteyn offers plenty of effective solutions to help improve your quality of life.
How is arthritis treated?
Depending on which type of arthritis you have and the severity of your symptoms, Dr. Rubinshteyn might try more than one type of arthritis therapy. You may benefit from:
- Pain or anti-inflammatory medications
- Physical therapy sessions
- Pain-relieving injections
- Weight-reduction planning (if needed)
Dr. Rubinshteyn also offers platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments. This regenerative type of therapy involves extracting and processing your blood, then re-injecting a concentration of growth factors directly into your injured joints. Over time, these growth factors trigger healing to further minimize pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.*
Many arthritis sufferers even benefit from hyaluronic acid injections. This type of conservative arthritis treatment provides instant joint lubrication for almost immediate pain reduction.
As an alternative, you may benefit from corticosteroid or anesthetic injections. Corticosteroid injections gradually minimize inflammation, while anesthetic injections help numb the area and relieve pain almost instantly. Sometimes Dr. Rubinshteyn pairs hyaluronic acid, corticosteroid, or anesthetic injections with PRP for optimal arthritis relief.
Do I need surgery for arthritis?
Possibly. If arthritis has caused severe limitations, it might be time to consider surgery. Arthritis surgery, which can be performed arthroscopically, allows Dr. Rubinshteyn to remove damaged tissue, realign your joints, or fuse bones together. He can even perform a total joint replacement if you have severe bone and tissue damage from arthritis.
Get relief from arthritis pain by starting treatment with Igor Rubinshteyn, MD. Schedule your arthritis appointment online, or call the office nearest you directly.
* Individual results may vary.
