Courtesy Orthopedic Surgery Specialists
Your joints enable your body to flex and move about. You have your joints to thank for being able to wave to a neighbor or take a brisk walk, but you may not think much about joint health, until arthritis symptoms strike.
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that occurs when the cartilage that keeps your joints moving freely and functioning properly begins to break down or gets inflamed. With arthritis, your affected joints won’t work well and you may experience pain, swelling and stiffness.
The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis (OA). Osteoarthritis can result from advancing age, carrying excess weight, performing repetitive motions or injury to a joint. One thing is for certain, when arthritis strikes, your quality of life can be impacted. Treatment is most likely necessary to repair the affected joint and get you moving again.
Care for Hips and Knees
If you are experiencing pain or stiffness in your hip or knee, it’s important to discuss your symptoms with your doctor.
“A thorough review of your medical history, physical exam and a few simple X-rays of the joint are typically the first steps in providing a diagnosis of hip or knee osteoarthritis,” says orthopedic surgeon Jay S. Bender, M.D. “There is no known cure for OA, but its symptoms can be controlled. At Orthopedic Surgery Specialists, we use non-operative measures whenever possible to minimize pain and improve mobility.”
Non-operative treatments usually include anti-inflammatory agents or arthritis medication such as ibuprofen. For individuals with advanced hip or knee osteoarthritis, joint injections may be a better treatment option. Physical therapy is an important adjunct in the treatment of hip and knee OA. Therapeutic and aquatic exercises can maintain range of motion and strength in the affected area.
“An assistive device such as a cane may also help offset some of the weight-bearing load on these major joints,” adds Bender. “A minimally invasive or total hip or knee replacement procedure may be necessary if non-operative care doesn’t provide sufficient symptom relief.”
Keeping Your Hands and Fingers Moving
Pain, tenderness and limited mobility in your hand, wrist or fingers should prompt you to see an orthopedic specialist. Early diagnosis and treatment of a hand issue may resolve a problem before it can have a long-term effect on your hand function.
“As our population ages, I see more and more cases of wear-and-tear osteoarthritis of the hand, wrist or thumb base as cartilage breaks down over time,” says hand surgeon Timothy Larson, M.D. “Because we rely on our hands and digits for so many daily tasks, any discomfort or weakness can have a significant impact on daily living.”
Dr. Larson and the staff at Orthopedic Surgery Specialists take a similar conservative approach to treatment of hand and wrist OA as they do with hip and knee osteoarthritis. Activity modification, strengthening exercises and joint-protection techniques, such as splinting, may be implemented initially.
Surgery may be necessary as a last resort beyond therapies and medication. Orthopedic Surgery Specialists provide a range of surgical options. Surgical options such as joint replacement, complete or partial joint fusion, ligament reconstruction and a variety of other surgical procedures can be done as more definitive ways to handle painful arthritic conditions of the fingers, hand, and wrist.
Less Can Be More
When arthritis strikes in the shoulder, elbow, hip or knee, mobility becomes a real concern. Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure used to visualize, diagnose and treat problems inside such joints.
“Arthroscopic surgery is an extremely valuable tool for orthopedic patients who have not found pain relief with other treatment methods,” explains orthopedic surgeon Paul Whatley, M.D. “It’s generally easier on the patient than open surgery ― requiring less recovery time and surgical trauma. Many of the individuals I treat at Orthopedic Surgery Specialists are able to have their arthroscopic surgery on an outpatient basis and are home several hours after the surgery. With arthroscopy, less invasive can be more beneficial.”
In some individuals, arthritis progresses slowly and can be managed for years with non-operative care. In other individuals, arthritis can progress rapidly and cause severe pain. If you are suffering from arthritis, help is available. Talk to an orthopedic specialist about the best way to rediscover your go.
For more information about Orthopedic Surgery Specialists, a Texas Health Physicians Group practice, or to reach Jay Bender, M.D., Timothy Larson, M.D., or Paul Whatley, M.D., call 940-323-3400 or visit www.OrthoSurgeryDenton.com.
