Arthritis Specialists

What are the Different Types of Arthritis?

Arthritis isn’t a single health condition, but a term describing many conditions that share at least one similar symptom: joint inflammation. The two most common types of arthritis are:

• Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis by far, affects articular cartilage that cushions and protects the ends of bones in the joint. Due to wear and tear over the years, the cartilage breaks down and exposes the underlying bone. As bone rubs against bone, the joint becomes damaged, and bone spurs and inflammation develop. While it can develop in any joint, osteoarthritis most often affects the large, weight-bearing joints such as your hips and knees.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis: The second most common type, rheumatoid arthritis, is an autoimmune disorder. As your immune system attacks the synovial lining inside the joint, chronic inflammation develops that gradually causes bone deformities. 

What Symptoms Develop Due to Arthritis?

Arthritis causes:

• Painful joints
• Stiff joints
• Limited movement
• Inflammation
• Swelling

What Type of Treatment Can I Receive for Arthritis?

The goal of your treatment is to relieve your pain, maintain or improve joint movement, increase your strength, and reduce the effect of the disease.

Following a regular exercise program, and losing weight, if needed, are two of the most important and effective ways to meet these goals. Your MidJersey Orthopaedics physician may give you specific exercises to perform or recommend that you see a physical therapist.

While it’s essential to keep moving, you also need guidance about when you should rest, so you prevent disease flare-ups. Acupuncture can also help reduce the pain and inflammation of arthritis.

Your physician may also recommend medications to relieve your pain and reduce inflammation. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, one of the innovative disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can keep your disease in remission and prevent ongoing joint damage.

Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements may help relieve pain and improve joint flexibility. Injection therapy that’s delivered directly into the joint helps many patients. You may benefit from:

• Steroid injections to reduce inflammation
• Hyaluronic acid (viscosupplementation) injections to restore joint lubrication
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to promote healing

When you can’t get relief from your pain, and you struggle to keep moving, you may need to consider joint replacement surgery. The team at MidJersey Orthopaedics has extensive experience performing partial and complete joint replacements.

If you have painful, stiff joints from arthritis, call MidJersey Orthopaedics, or book an appointment online.