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Arthritis is a medical condition that affects the joints in your body causing inflammation, pain, fatigue and difficulty with mobility. Arthritis can affect more than one area of your body and most commonly progresses with age. There are over 100 different types of Arthritis that affect the neck, shoulder, spine, hand, wrist, hip, knee, ankle and feet. The most common types of Arthritis are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It is a chronic condition that can be aggravated by increasing age, obesity, previous trauma, overuse, and genetics. Osteoarthritis is a condition that is growing, according to the CDC by 2030, approximately 67 million Americans will have osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis causes deterioration of the cartilage in between the joints. This deterioration, or break down of cartilage, causes the joints to begin to rub against each other.
The joints that are commonly affected include: hands, feet, spine, and weight bearing joints such as the hips and knees. Osteoarthritis can reduce your ability to perform activities of daily living whether it is walking, standing, running or as commonplace as dressing ourselves or grooming.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is another prevalent form of arthritis, affecting over 1 million people in the United States. Rheumatoid Arthritis is an inflammatory autoimmune disease, which can cause severe damage to the joints as it progresses. The main difference between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis, is that Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder, meaning your own body attacks the joints of your body.
Rheumatoid Arthritis pain and symptoms are often more debilitating than those of Osteoarthritis and most commonly affect the hands, wrists and hips.
At The Spine & Rehab Group, our Pain Management Specialists offer thorough testing to determine the cause of your pain. The diagnosis of arthritis can be evaluated by one of our physicians in New Jersey or New York with a comprehensive history and physical examination. Routinely, X-rays are performed to confirm the physician’s findings and to evaluate for other conditions.
Treatment for arthritis is dedicated to lifestyle modification, pain relief, and physical exercise. For education on what exercises are most appropriate, physical therapy may be prescribed.
