What’s the best way to deal with your arthritis symptoms? Arthritis treatment options vary but know this: you can feel and function better with your condition. Keep reading to learn about the available arthritis treatment options to help you manage your arthritis and get back to doing the things you love.
Education Is Key to Arthritis Treatment
The first step in finding the right treatment for your arthritis is learning about the condition and its potential treatments. You need to understand the different types of arthritis, as well as their causes and symptoms. This will help you make informed decisions about your treatment plan and to communicate effectively with your healthcare team.
For example, did you know that there are more than 100 different kinds of arthritis? The most common are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Each type has its own unique characteristics and requires different treatment approaches.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. With OA, the protective cartilage which cushions bone ends deteriorates over time, causing pain and stiffness in joints. The knees, hips, spine and hands are the most common areas impacted by OA.
OA is also called wear and tear arthritis because it often develops in older adults and those who have had joint injuries in the past. While there is no cure for OA, there are several treatment options available to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
With rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the joints, leading to inflammation and damage. This chronic condition affects around 1.3 million people in the United States alone.
Symptoms of RA vary from person to person, but they commonly include joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and fatigue. If left untreated, it can cause permanent joint damage and disability. However, with early diagnosis and proper treatment, most people with RA can continue to lead active lives.
Psoriatic arthritis is a form of inflammatory arthritis primarily affecting people with psoriasis. Psoriasis is a skin condition characterized by red, scaly patches, or plaques, on the skin.
Similar to RA, psoriatic arthritis causes joint pain, stiffness and swelling. However, it may also cause seemingly unrelated symptoms such as changes in the nails, fatigue and eye inflammation.
Getting Treatment for Arthritis in Melbourne, FL
Most people who have arthritis desire to avoid intense treatments, such as surgery, if possible. Fortunately, interventional pain specialists offer many non-surgical treatment options. Along with his professional team, our interventional pain doctor will assess the location, frequency and intensity of your arthritis pain.
Also, he will review your medical history and discuss treatment options you may have tried already. With these findings, you can work together to develop a treatment plan which fits your lifestyle goals.
Your arthritis care plan may include some of the following:
- Occupational therapy to help you accomplish everyday tasks with less pain.
- Physical therapy to improve flexibility, strength, coordination and mobility.
- Medications to manage pain and inflammation.
- Injections to reduce inflammation and provide relief.
- Relaxation techniques to reduce stress.
Your doctor will discuss lifestyle changes that may help alleviate your symptoms, such as maintaining a healthy weight and incorporating exercise into your daily routine. He may recommend supplements, such as glucosamine and chondroitin, along with a joint-friendly diet.
Plus, our pain management approach offers some of today’s most effective and innovative arthritis treatment options which achieve the results patients desire without surgery and heavy pain medications. These include the following:
Viscosupplementation
This involves injecting hyaluronic acid into the affected joints to provide cushioning and reduction of pain and swelling. Viscosupplementation is most effective for treating knee osteoarthritis.
Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
A form of regenerative medicine, PRP therapy injects a patient’s own concentrated blood platelets to promote healing and repair damaged tissue. It has been shown to be effective in treating both joint pain and injuries.
Radiofrequency Ablation
This minimally invasive procedure targets and disables the nerves which transmit pain signals. It can provide significant pain reduction for arthritis and other conditions for up to a year or more.
Guided Injection Therapy
At our Melbourne, FL, pain clinic, our team uses fluoroscopy or ultrasound to guide certain pain-relieving injections, particularly in the spine. Sacroiliac, facet joint and epidural injections target discomfort and dysfunction related to arthritis in various locations in the spine.
Arthritis Treatments in Melbourne, FL
At Central Florida Spine & Pain, our caring team includes Dr. Nicholas Giordano, an experienced physician who is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation. He will work with you to determine which arthritis pain treatments work the best for you and your body.
Please contact our office team today to set up an informative consultation by calling (321) 802-5021. We are ready to help you have the fullest, most active life possible.
