Arthritis

Affecting roughly 23% of all adults in the United States, arthritis causes joint pain and increasing immobility. At Better Pain Management Strategies in Elkridge, Maryland, Dr. Mercy Amah, DNP, specializes in pain management for arthritis and rehabilitative services to maintain your mobility. She helps you enjoy a higher quality of life through lifestyle changes and evidence-based therapies. For more information about arthritis and what to expect from the treatment, call Better Pain Management Strategies or book an appointment online today.

What are the different types of arthritis?

Arthritis accounts for over 100 inflammatory diseases affecting one or more joints. While it’s most commonly diagnosed among older adults, you can also get certain types in adolescence or young adulthood. 

Better Pain Management Strategies specializes in treating many different arthritis types, including the two most common:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the number-one type of arthritis associated with age-related joint damage. It happens when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of bones wears down through age, joint injury, or obesity.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means it develops when your immune system attacks the cells inside a joint capsule.

Better Pain Management Strategies can identify your type of arthritis and provide the appropriate treatment. 

How can I tell if I have arthritis?

Arthritis has several telltale symptoms, but how quickly they arise can be unpredictable. They either take years to build up or appear from nowhere. Your arthritis symptoms might include the following:

• Pain in various joints
• Swelling around joints
• Stiffness
• Visible redness 
• Warmth radiating from joints

While treatment won’t cure your arthritis, it can greatly improve your symptoms. 

How is arthritis diagnosed?

At Better Pain Management Strategies, your provider starts with a physical exam to diagnose your arthritis. They ask about your symptoms and their progression. 

Because other conditions, like bone spurs, can produce arthritis-like symptoms, your provider may also refer you for an imaging test to examine your bones, tissues, and joints.

Blood tests check for inflammation levels and antibodies in your blood and joint fluids. Your provider reviews the results of these tests to determine the type of arthritis you have and plan treatment. 

How is arthritis treated?

Your arthritis management plan is personalized according to your condition’s progression and the type of arthritis you have. Your treatment focuses on managing symptoms and stopping them from worsening over time. Better Pain Management Strategies may treat your arthritis with:

• Oral medication
• Corticosteroid joint injections
• Hyaluronic acid joint injections
• Physical therapy
• Lifestyle changes
  

These treatments make arthritis easier to live with so you can engage in the activities you enjoy most. 

To schedule an evaluation and treatment consultation for arthritis, call Better Pain Management Strategies or book online today.