Arthritis

Arthritis affects many people, causing chronic, everyday pain and interfering with an active and independent lifestyle. Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Timothy Kavanaugh, MD, and the team at AZ Ortho in Scottsdale, Arizona, offer personalized treatment plans to ease arthritis pain and improve your flexibility and mobility. Call AZ Ortho or book an appointment online today.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis occurs when one or more of your joints become inflamed. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common types, although there are hundreds of different forms of arthritis. 

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the result of wear-and-tear damage to the cartilage in a joint. The cartilage protects your bones from grinding directly on each other, but as the cartilage becomes damaged from years of use or a joint injury, your bones can rub together. When this happens, you feel pain and reduced mobility in the joint. 

Rheumatoid arthritis 

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease of your body’s immune system. Your immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joint capsule — the synovial membrane. As a result, the synovial membranes around your joints become swollen and inflamed, causing pain and restricted movement. 

If left untreated, the condition can destroy the cartilage in your joints and eventually the bone. It’s not understood why some people’s immune systems attack the synovial membrane, but genetics increase your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. 

How can I reduce arthritis symptoms?

Maintaining a healthy weight and eating a diet rich in antioxidants, including fresh fruits and vegetables, may help reduce inflammation associated with arthritis. Limiting or eliminating fried foods, dairy, processed foods, and meat may also help reduce arthritis symptoms. 

Additionally, exercises and stretches to help relieve joint pain may keep your joints flexible. The team at AZ Ortho may also recommend regular chiropractic care and physical therapy to help you manage arthritis pain long-term, without the use of medications. 

How do you treat arthritis?

There are several treatments available for arthritis pain and joint stiffness. At AZ Ortho, the team provides platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for men and women who don’t get the pain relief they need from other treatments. 

PRP injections are cutting-edge treatments that can reduce joint inflammation and increase movement using components from your own blood. 

Other treatments may also be part of your complete arthritis treatment plan. Since the team takes an integrative approach to your pain and symptoms, they treat both your symptoms and the underlying causes using a variety of methods. 

You may benefit from other treatments such as: iovera°® cryoanalgesia, over-the-counter pain medications, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

To learn more about arthritis and how the team can help you reduce pain, call AZ Ortho or book an appointment online today.