Arthritis Pain Treatment

What Is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a general medical term that defines any condition that inflames the joints and aggravates the surrounding tissues. There are about 100 specific types of arthritis. In the US alone, about 54 million people suffer from some form of arthritis. Knee arthritis causes knee pain of course, but the condition may also be responsible for lower back pain.

Degenerative arthritis, on the other hand, can show up in almost any joint in your body, causing:

• Upper back pain
• Middle back pain
• Neck pain
• Shoulder pain
• Hip pain

You have to find out which type of arthritis you have before you can get arthritis pain treatment in NJ for lasting relief. The Spine & Rehab Group has specialized doctors who understand the symptoms associated with the different types of arthritis. Dr. Amr Hosny and his team are expert pain specialists at locations like the East Brunswick in NJ or Financial District in NYC.

If you’re looking for “arthritis dr near me”, stop your search and book an appointment with a leading physician Dr. Amr Hosny now. Our pain management center experts are dedicated to providing proven and effective arthritis treatments for our patients and always take into account their needs.

Our Board certified doctors Amr Hosny, MD, MBA, FASA Book Now David Chu, MD, FAAPMR Book Now Vivek Mehta, MD, FAAPMR Book Now Deepali Gupta, MD, DABA, DABPM Book Now

What Are the Types of Arthritis?

Among all the forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis is most frequently occurring, especially in women above the age of 45. It can show up as hip arthritis, which can be a root cause of hip injuries or conditions like hip tendonitis. When arthritis affects the spine, it’s known as spondylosis. Spondylosis can cause degenerative disc disease in your neck, in your upper back, or in your lower back. In addition to osteoarthritis, there are other forms of the disease that require arthritis remedies.

Of the 100 different types of arthritis, the most common include:

• Gout. This condition, in which uric acid crystalizes painfully in your joints, typically affects the joint in your big toe, causing swelling, pain, redness, and tenderness. Men develop the condition more often than women, usually around 30 to 50 years of age.
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis. This affects children younger than 16. It causes joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. It can also lead to serious complications like growth problems, joint damage, and eye inflammation.
• Polymyalgia rheumatic. This is a chronic autoimmune disease that damages the lining of the joints and surrounding tissues. In rare cases, it even affects your arteries.
• Psoriatic arthritis. This type of arthritis appears in people suffering from psoriasis, a skin condition. There’s no cure, so pain management practices are the only way to get arthritis relief.
• Reactive arthritis. This condition starts as an infection in your intestines, genitals, or urinary tract. Both men and women can get this form of arthritis between the ages of 20 and 40.
• Rheumatoid arthritis. This form of arthritis is a disorder that causes your body’s own immune system to attack the joints. It usually starts at around age 40 to 50. Women are three times more likely to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis than men. Starting rheumatoid arthritis treatment early may prevent damage to other vital tissues and organs.
• Secondary arthritis. In this case, a specific trigger causes the cartilage around the joint to break down. The most common reason is due to an injury that causes problems like an ACL tear, meniscus tear, labral tear, neck injury, or shoulder injury.
• Septic arthritis. This dangerous disease can be caused by a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection that’s traveled through the bloodstream from another part of your body. It may also be caused by an animal bite or trauma that delivers germs directly into a joint. Your arthritis doctor must drain the joint immediately to prevent permanent damage.
• Thumb arthritis. Women older than 40 are most vulnerable to this condition. The cartilage in the thumb joint wears away, leading to joint pain and swelling. It causes you to lose the ability to do simple tasks, such as turning doorknobs or opening jars.

What Are the Risk Factors for Arthritis?

Several factors can make someone more likely to develop arthritis:

• Age – The risk increases as joints naturally wear down over time.
• Family history – Some types of arthritis run in families.
• Gender – Certain forms, like rheumatoid arthritis, are more common in women.
• Joint injuries or overuse – Past injuries or repetitive movements can make a joint more prone to arthritis later in life.
• Excess weight – Extra body weight adds stress to weight-bearing joints like the hips, knees, and spine.
• Lifestyle habits – Smoking and physically demanding work can also play a role in raising risk.

How to Diagnose Arthritis?

Finding out if joint pain is due to arthritis usually starts with a conversation. Your doctor will ask about the pain, how long it has lasted, and whether stiffness or swelling occurs. A physical exam checks movement and looks for visible joint changes.

Depending on the findings, a few tests may be used:

• X-rays – Show bone changes, such as joint space narrowing or bone growth.
• MRI or CT scans – Provide detailed views of cartilage, ligaments, and soft tissues.
• Ultrasound – Detects swelling or fluid around the joint.
• Blood tests – Ordered if an autoimmune type of arthritis is suspected.

Since arthritis has many forms, diagnosis combines your symptoms, exam results, and test findings to confirm the type and guide treatment.

How to Treat Arthritis?

The first plan of action is to determine if your pain is from arthritis and if so, which form of arthritis you have. Rheumatoid arthritis, for example, may have a different recommended treatment than secondary arthritis. Once your doctor has reached a definitive diagnosis, the next step is to relieve the pain and swelling. Over-the-counter pain medication relieves your pain temporarily, while icing the area brings the swelling down. Your physician may also suggest physical therapy to improve your joint health and minimize damage.

Other effective arthritis treatments include:

• Cervical epidural steroid injections
• Thoracic epidural steroid injections
• Lumbar epidural steroid injections if you have arthritis in your lower back that is causing sciatica.
• Trigger point injections
• Facet joint injections
• Caudal epidural steroid injections
• Radiofrequency rhizotomy or radiofrequency neurotomy sessions

If you’re suffering from painful arthritis, book an appointment with an experienced arthritis pain doctor in NJ at The Spine & Rehab Group. With eight locations from Greenwich Village in Manhattan to Paramus in New York and New Jersey, there’s one near you. Contact the office today.

The Spine & Rehab Group
140 NJ-17,
Paramus, NJ 07652
(212) 242-8160