Treatment for Arthritis Patients

As we age, our bodies begin to change drastically. For many, one of the first serious aches and pains of getting older comes in the form of arthritis. What many people don’t realize, however, is that although it is more common in the elderly, arthritis can occur at any age. In fact, according to the Arthritis Foundation, nearly 300,000 children suffer from juvenile arthritis of some kind.

Arthritis is a general term that describes any condition or disease of the joints that causes pain and/or difficulty in motion and dexterity. For some sufferers, the symptoms are mild and may come and go over time. Unfortunately for others, the pain, swelling and/or stiffness are severely debilitating, and may be chronic. Still others may find that their condition worsens progressively until they are essentially immobilized by their ailments.

The proper prevention, treatment and ongoing care for arthritis depend upon a multitude of factors, most predominantly the type of arthritis being addressed.

Types of arthritis

Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis): the most common type of arthritis, with pain and stiffness caused by the wearing of joint cartilage.
Inflammatory arthritis: an auto-immune type of arthritis in which the body’s immune system attacks the joint tissue as though it were foreign, causing painful and restrictive swelling. Both rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis fall into this category.
Infectious arthritis: a condition in which arthritic swelling is caused by the presence of an infectious agent in the joint (e.g. bacteria, fungus, or a virus).
Metabolic arthritis: joint pain and disability caused by the collection of sharp uric acid crystals in the joints. This type of arthritis can occur if a person naturally produces too much uric acid or if their metabolism cannot break it down quickly enough.

Treatments may include physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, pain relievers and exercise. If the case is severe enough, surgery may be considered.

Arthritis can be an upsetting, debilitating condition, and may keep you from enjoying your life to the fullest. If you are or think you may be suffering from chronic or vacillating arthritis pain, get in contact with our clinic and let Dr. Neece and his staff help you find your way back to proper joint health.