Arthritis Specialist

What might be causing my arthritis?

Arthritis is a group of diseases that cause pain, swelling, stiffness and/or destruction of the joints. Most cases of arthritis are osteoarthritis, the result of degenerative changes that occur as we age. But this type of arthritis may occur at a younger age in some people as a result of genetics or lifestyle, including smoking, obesity, and possibly dietary habits, and it may occur sooner in joints that have been injured, particularly when a fracture extends into a joint. Other types of arthritis result from inflammation caused by autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, or from metabolic disorders such as gout. And rarely, arthritis is caused by an infection, such as Lyme disease.

The conditions the team sees most often at Pain Management Specialists include:

• Spinal arthritis
• Facet joint arthritis
• Hip arthritis
• Knee arthritis
• Sacroiliac arthritis
• Shoulder arthritis

The Pain Management Specialists team has decades of experience in diagnosing and treating arthritis.

What treatment might I need for arthritis?

There are many and varying treatments available for arthritis. Some of the most effective are the least invasive — physical therapy, for example, forms the basis of most rehabilitation programs. Exercise, weight loss and local measures, like using heat or ice, can provide tremendous relief as well.

Pain Management Specialists works closely with selected physical therapists and chiropractors who use exercise-based approaches to relieve arthritis pain and restore physical function. In cases of suspected inflammatory arthritis, Pain Management Specialists works with rheumatologists to finalize the diagnosis and optimize treatment. 

Medication, particularly anti-inflammatory pain relievers, can sometimes be helpful for arthritis pain. The team keeps the use of drugs like opioids to a minimum, in line with CDC guidelines and medical evidence showing lack of benefit from long term opioid use.

One of the treatments the team performs most commonly for arthritis pain is cortisone injections. Cortisone (steroid) on its own or in combination with a local anesthetic can relieve many cases of arthritis pain for weeks or even months. In the case of osteoarthritis of the knee, injections of lubricating agents like Synvisc or Hymovis can provide relief of pain and inflammation for months. The facet joints in the cervical and lumbar spine can be treated with radiofrequency ablation, providing up to 12 months of relief of arthritis pain.

Injections take just a few minutes, with accuracy assured by the use of fluoroscopy (moving X-ray) or ultrasound technology.

What can I do if my arthritis pain won't go away?

If you've been following a conservative treatment program but are still experiencing significant arthritis pain, there are several advanced options available at Pain Management Specialists:

Radiofrequency ablation

This minimally invasive procedure uses radio wave energy to interrupt the nerves in your spine that are carrying pain messages from the facet joints to your brain. A similar procedure can be done to treat arthritis pain arising from the sacroiliac and knee joints. The effects of radiofrequency ablation last for 6-12 months.

Cortisone injections

Cortisone (steroid) injections can be given under xray or ultrasound guidance into almost any joint. Cortisone relieves pain by reducing inflammation. 

Viscosupplement injections

Injection of viscosupplements into arthritic knees aims to restore the normal lubricating function of joint fluid, and in turn reduces stiffness and inflammation. This treatment has not been found to be effective for other joints.

Pain Management Specialists excels in using the latest technology to treat arthritis pain, but they believe that when treating arthritis pain, simple, low-tech treatments and lifestyle changes should be exhausted before turning to costlier, high-tech treatments. Unlike many others in the field, their philosophy is that treatment should serve the needs and goals of the patient, not their bottom line.

For effective relief of your arthritis pain, call Pain Management Specialists today or book an appointment online.