Millions of people worldwide suffer from osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis. Although it can occur in any joint in the body, it’s more prevalent within large, weight-bearing joints like your hips or knees.
What Causes Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is most often the result of the degeneration of cartilage. Cartilage is the protective tissue that acts as a cushion between bones, which come together to form a joint. Cartilage acts as a shock absorber so that bone-on-bone rubbing doesn’t occur, which would result in pain. As you age, cartilage begins to deteriorate from normal day-to-day wear and tear, especially if you’re frequently using your joints. As cartilage within our joints deteriorates, ligaments and tendons begin to stretch, which often results in inflammation and pain. Cartilage can also develop cracks, become hard, or rough.
In severe cases of osteoarthritis, bones can change shape, rub against one another, or become damaged. Although the main cause of osteoarthritis is cartilage degeneration, it can also be the result of an injury. If you suspect you’re experiencing pain from osteoarthritis, reach out to the team at Jenkins NeuroSpine to begin your journey to pain relief.
What are the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis symptoms generally occur over a period of time, not suddenly. There are a number of symptoms linked to osteoarthritis pain with the most common being joint pain. Other symptoms you may experience are:
- Aching
- Bone spurs
- Grating Sensation
- Joint clicking during movement
- Joint instability
- Loss of flexibility
- Range of motion limitability
- Soreness
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Tenderness
Symptoms may be intermittent, and can increase after long periods of inactivity or after movement in an affected joint. Symptoms will vary depending on the joint that is affected. For example, if you’re experiencing pain in the hips, the pain can occur in the buttocks, groin or thigh. Another example is if you experience symptoms in your fingers, bony growths can lead to swollen, tender joints.
If you think the source of your pain is osteoarthritis joint pain, it’s time to determine if this is the root cause of your pain. Click below to find your condition with our online condition tool. The first step to pain relief is an accurate diagnosis.
Unfortunately, once the cartilage in your joints breaks down and deteriorates, it won’t grow back on its own. If you believe you’re suffering from osteoarthritis, it’s important to get a diagnosis in order to set up the proper treatment plan to get you on the road to pain relief. In order to receive an accurate diagnosis for osteoarthritis, a physical exam as well as MRI’s or x-rays are ordered. Once this has been completed, the team at Jenkins NeuroSpine will set up a treatment plan specific to your specific needs.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
At Jenkins NeuroSpine, our team exhausts non-surgical treatment options prior to implementing surgical options. Our specialists are expertly trained in providing conservative treatment options that help restore your quality of life.
There are non-surgical treatment options that can alleviate osteoarthritis joint pain, and allow you to have pain relief. These treatments include:
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Joint aspiration
- Mobility exercises
- Physical therapy
- Steroid injections
If non-surgical treatment options do not work for you, surgery may be the next step.
Surgical Treatment Options
Once conservative options have been exhausted, your physician will review your surgical options with you. At Jenkins NeuroSpine, we specialize in minimally invasive surgery. Surgery can alleviate the pain you’ve been experiencing as well as drastically improve your mobility. Your physician will take into account your medical history, symptoms, and imaging results to determine the surgery that will give you optimal results.
If you’ve been living with osteoarthritis pain, let our team help restore your quality of life. The first step is to find the right treatment for your condition. Fill out the treatment finder tool below to get started.