Arthritis

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is a name for conditions that cause joint inflammation, stiffness, and loss of function. Your body has 360 joints, ranging from the largest — knees, hips, and shoulders — to multiple small joints in your feet and hands. Arthritis can occur in any of these joints.

The affected joints develop a deep, aching tenderness that can flare up into intense pain at certain times. Triggers for flare-ups include a change in routine where you’re more active than usual, stress and anxiety, and cold, damp weather conditions.

What type of arthritis might I get?

The form of arthritis that affects more people than any other is osteoarthritis, which is also known as degenerative joint disease. 

The reason why osteoarthritis is so common is that it results from accumulated wear-and-tear on the joints that happens throughout life, so most people develop at least some degree of osteoarthritis by the time they enter old age.

Over time, the bones in your joints lose their protective layer of smooth, tough articular cartilage, gradually exposing the bones so they rub together. The result is inflammation, pain, and stiffness that worsens with age.

Other widespread forms of arthritis include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Septic arthritis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Facet joint arthritis in the spine
• Gout

Arthritis has no cure as yet, and if left untreated, it can result in continued deterioration that leads to joint deformity, severe pain, and limited mobility. However, Dr. Zaky’s patients benefit from the latest treatment methods for arthritis.

How is arthritis treated?

Dr. Zaky offers patients various treatments for their arthritis, which could include:

• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Pain relief medications
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Heat treatments
• Therapeutic massage 
• Counseling and pain management
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
• IV therapy
• Steroid injections
• Viscosupplementation (hyaluronic acid injections)
• Nerve blocks
• Radiofrequency ablation

You might also need specific treatments for certain types of arthritis, for example, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for rheumatoid arthritis or colchicine for gout.

Staying active when you have arthritis is essential. Unless you keep your joints moving, the stiffness gets worse and the muscles weaken, hastening your decline. What’s important is to exercise gently, so you don’t overdo it and cause a flare-up.

With expert help from Delmarva Spine & Pain, you can enjoy a more active, less painful life despite arthritis. Call the office or book an appointment online today.