Arthritis Specialist

What is arthritis?

Arthritis comes in many different forms - over 100 in fact - all of which cause pain, inflammation, and stiffness in some or all of your joints.

The pain is typically constant, worsening at times but never going away. Your joints feel hot and throb because of the inflamed tissues, and over time, they start to twist and distort. There is no cure for arthritis and, eventually, can lead to a severe loss of function and mobility.

The most common form of the disease is osteoarthritis, which is the type of arthritis that most frequently affects your joints as you grow older. Typically setting in when you’re about 45 to 50, osteoarthritis develops when the cartilage protecting the ends of your bones starts to deteriorate.

Deterioration of the cartilage is due to wear and tear – the effect of years of using your joints. Gradually the cartilage wears away, and the bones start to rub against each other, which is what causes the inflammation, pain, and stiffness.

Less common but still widespread is rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disorder. The protective covering on the bones breaks down as it does in osteoarthritis, but in rheumatoid arthritis, it’s your own body’s defense systems that attack the tissue rather than it being the result of wear and tear.

How is arthritis treated?

Learning to manage your symptoms is the key to living with arthritis and joint pain. Adopting healthy lifestyle choices such as eating a nutritious diet, getting regular exercise, and learning to deal with stress can all help reduce pain and inflammation.

In contrast, an unhealthy lifestyle makes arthritis symptoms worse. For instance, being overweight puts a strain on your joints, and a lack of exercise increases the stiffness.

When you first receive a diagnosis of arthritis, there are several treatment options that can ease the pain and help you manage your condition. These options include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Prescription painkillers
• Canes, crutches, and walkers
• Steroid injections
• Hyaluronic acid injections
• Stem cell therapy

These treatments are usually effective for quite long periods – many years in some cases. However, some patients who have arthritis find these conservative approaches begin to have less of an effect after a while, which is when surgery can be of benefit.

What surgeries are there for arthritis and joint pain?

There are several surgical options for treating arthritis and joint pain:

Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure where your surgeon at Throgs Neck Multi Care, P.C. uses an instrument called an arthroscope to carry out the surgery. 

The arthroscope, which is a slender, flexible tube, fits in a very small incision. It sends back images from the miniaturized camera on its end so your surgeon can see inside your joint. 

Using arthroscopic instruments they insert into a second small incision, your surgeon can smooth rough areas of bone, remove any bone fragments, and take out damaged cartilage or cysts in the joint.

Arthroplasty

Arthroplasty is a procedure where your surgeon at Throgs Neck Multi Care, P.C. removes your arthritic joint and replaces it with a synthetic substitute. 

They may take out just the rounded end or ball part of a ball and socket joint like your hip or shoulder and put an artificial cap in its place, which is known as joint resurfacing. 

Another option is to replace the whole joint with a metal or plastic prosthesis. Joint replacement surgery is typically highly effective, and the prosthetic joint can last as long as 20 years.

Find out more about treatment options that can help ease your arthritis pain by calling Throgs Neck Multi Care, P.C. today or book an appointment online.