More than 18% of adults in the United States have arthritis. While pain level varies, it’s never too soon to talk to your doctor about pain management for arthritis. Taking steps to manage the discomfort from your arthritis before it worsens may delay or prevent more serious joint problems.
At Orthopedic & Wellness in Frederick, Waldorf, and Germantown, Maryland, Dr. Ojedapo Ojeyemi and Dr. Matthew Roh specialize in pain management for many conditions, including arthritis. Though we may prescribe medications to help with the discomfort, there’s more to arthritis pain management than drugs.
May is Arthritis Awareness Month, which makes this a good time to talk about the common condition and when to seek treatment for your pain.
Arthritis isn’t a medical diagnosis, but a term we use to describe joints that are inflamed, swollen, and painful. Many diseases and conditions fall under the arthritis umbrella, but the most common include:
Most people with arthritis have osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition that causes joint swelling and pain from the gradual wearing away of the cartilage that separates the bones in your joints.
Osteoarthritis may affect any joint, but it often affects the joints you use the most. It’s a common cause of knee pain, shoulder pain, and hip pain.
RA is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints, causing inflammation, pain, and damage. This type of arthritis usually affects small joints like those in your hand, wrist, or feet.
Psoriatic arthritis is also an autoimmune condition that affects the skin and joints. Anyone can develop this type of arthritis, but it’s more common in people with psoriasis, a skin condition that triggers overproduction of skin cells.
The cause of your arthritis is important because it helps determine best treatment for managing pain.
You may not worry too much about joint pain when it’s mild and only occurs when you overuse the joint. However, if you have joint pain periodically, talk to your doctor so they can evaluate the joint and provide recommendations on how to manage the occasional pain.
Telling your doctor also puts it on their radar so they can follow up with you and provide additional treatment recommendations when necessary.
However, it’s time to consider pain management for your arthritis if your symptoms are getting steadily worse, are severe, or affect mobility. Any pain that disrupts your daily routine needs medical intervention.
Taking care of your arthritis pain sooner may prevent or delay permanent joint damage. This is especially important for RA, which can lead to joint deformity when left untreated.
How we manage arthritis pain at Orthopedic & Wellness depends on the cause, the severity of your symptoms, and the affected joints. Initial treatment may include ice, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and changes in activity.
While we may recommend modifying activity, that doesn’t mean not using the arthritic joint at all. Moving the joint reduces pain and inflammation and may prevent it from stiffening. We may send you to physical therapy for a personalized exercise program for your arthritis to help with pain and to promote joint health.
If conservative care isn’t effective at relieving your arthritis pain, we may recommend joint injections, such as hyaluronic acid for lubrication or corticosteroids to reduce inflammation.
Patients with debilitating arthritis pain and joint damage may benefit from joint replacement surgery. But pain management efforts may delay or prevent the need for surgery.
If your arthritis is bothering you, it’s time to consider pain management. Our team can create a plan that reduces the discomfort and improves your quality of life. Call Orthopedic & Wellness today or book an appointment online to schedule a pain management consultation.
