Arthritis actually describes more than 100 conditions that cause inflammation, swelling, pain, and stiffness in the joints. You may experience a decrease in your range of motion, and in many types of arthritis, the symptoms come on gradually and progress with time.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and occurs when the cartilage that cushions your bones wears away.

Rheumatoid arthritis results from a faulty immune system that attacks your joints and causes inflammation and pain. Some cases of arthritis may be triggered by an infection, and other types, specifically gout, happen when your metabolic system produces elevated levels of a substance known as uric acid that irritates the joints.

Regardless of the type of arthritis you have, early diagnosis is key to designing an effective treatment plan. If you suffer joint pain, contact Results Integrative Medical Centers.

Diagnosing Osteoarthritis

Some medical professional are likely to assume some kind of arthritic issue with anybody experiencing joint pains from their 40’s onwards. This is especially true when the person matches any of the profiles listed above and reports that the pain has been growing worse despite simple exercises being performed.

One of the key reasons why people approach a medical doctor or physical therapist is because they are experiencing very stiff joints in the morning that are taking a much longer while to loosen up. In this case, the doctor will then begin the process of ruling out other potential explanations and look to distinguish whether it is either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid. The latter form tends to exhibit far more general stiffness and can be confirmed using blood tests and X-rays.

Another common red flag for osteoarthritis tends to be unusual growths and enlargements in the fingers. These can be very small and may or may not be painful.

OA getting worse.

Should the osteoarthritis already be at a more advanced stage, most people are going to turn towards pain killing medication, we advise to see a medical professional before you take medicine. Painkilling drugs are not necessary because it’s better to participate in some physiotherapy treatments. Expect these to be highly structured and geared precisely to your individual requirements and understand that many of these will be demonstrated for you to perform yourself at home.

At any stage of your treatment, it is sensible to investigate how hot/cold packs can help keep your muscles flexible and reduce pain. A medical professional will demonstrate simple stretching techniques and provide guidance on how to learn and maintain a better posture. Both will help to lessen the severity and duration of the pain.