At least 27 million people in the United States have osteoarthritis, but you can find relief at Advanced Pain Management Specialists. Jerome Carter, MD, is an experienced pain management specialist offering the latest treatments available for osteoarthritis pain in Baytown, Texas. To learn more about how to manage your arthritis symptoms, call Advanced Pain Management Specialists or schedule an appointment online today.
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis, or degenerative arthritis, is a degenerative joint condition that develops when the cartilage cushioning your joints breaks down.
Your joints form where at least two bones come together. A unique tissue called cartilage covers these bones and enables them to move smoothly against each other. When you have osteoarthritis, this cartilage begins breaking down. As cartilage decreases, bones rub against each other, creating friction in your joint.
You can have osteoarthritis anywhere in your body, but it’s usually in the hips, knees, spine, and hands.
What causes osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is often due to the wear and tear your joint sustains over time. Anyone can develop this condition, but it’s most common in people over 65 years of age. Other issues that can increase your chances of osteoarthritis include:
- Having relatives with the disease
- Being overweight or obese
- Experiencing a joint injury
- Living with repetitive stress on your body, especially through employment
- Having other conditions, like metabolic disorders or rheumatoid arthritis
Your risk of having osteoarthritis is also higher if you’re a woman.
What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis can cause several symptoms, including tenderness, stiffness, or pain in the affected joint. It’s also common for osteoarthritis to reduce your range of motion and produce a grating sensation during movement.
When you have osteoarthritis, your symptoms often grow worse with time, and you can develop additional complications, like excess growths of bone (bone spurs) around the joint.
How do you treat osteoarthritis?
Dr. Carter offers the most advanced osteoarthritis treatments available at Advanced Pain Management Specialists. After performing a comprehensive exam to diagnose your condition, they work closely with you to create a therapeutic approach to manage your symptoms based on your affected joints.
Common osteoarthritis treatments include:
- Medications, like pain reducers and anti-inflammatory drugs
- Topical treatments
- Cortisone injections
- Lubrication injections
If your osteoarthritis symptoms don’t respond to conservative therapies, Dr. Carter might recommend surgical procedures, like joint replacement, to remove damage and replace them with synthetic options.
For more information on osteoarthritis treatments, call Advanced Pain Management Specialists or schedule an appointment online today.