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Arthritis

Arthritis 101: What Is Arthritis?

As we grow older, our joints become more susceptible to wearing down and degeneration. This could lead to a variety of pain symptoms and problems that older people may experience. Perhaps one of the most common issues older people experience is arthritis.

Here are some of the things you should know about this condition.

What Is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a medical condition characterized by the inflammation of joints. It causes chronic pain and swelling, which can be debilitating to patients, preventing them from enjoying a full range of motion. While the primary symptom of arthritis is pain, patients also experience stiffness, a grinding sensation, redness in the area, and potential weakness.

There is a higher percentage of women who have arthritis than men. Although arthritis could affect people of any age, older adults are at higher risk. The condition may worsen with age and cause other joint and bone complications.

Types of Arthritis

Unbeknownst to some, arthritis is an umbrella term that encompasses various joint conditions, such as:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common kind of arthritis. It is a degenerative joint disease that is most likely to develop at an older age. It could affect all types of joints in the body, but it commonly affects the hands, hips, knees, shoulders, and spine.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory type of arthritis that could affect more than just joints. It is an autoimmune disease that makes the body’s immune system attack healthy tissues. It could also affect the skin, eyes, lungs, and other organs in the body.

Juvenile Arthritis

Arthritis is most common in the elderly, but juvenile arthritis affects children under the age of 16, impacting their joints and other nearby tissues. This condition also affects their growth and development. Juvenile arthritis causes sufferers to experience chronic pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Psoriatic Arthritis

This condition develops in people with psoriasis. It involves the formation of red, scaly patches all over the body. Currently, there is no known cure for this condition. The available interventions help alleviate and mitigate the pain and symptoms of patients.

Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease affecting the spine. Over time, this condition may cause the fusion of spinal bones. It causes back pain and may also bring intermittent hip pain and stiffness.

Gout

Gout is a painful condition caused by the excess build-up of uric acid in the body. Its symptoms typically include a painful burning sensation, accompanied by swelling and inflammation in the big toe.

Signs and Symptoms of Arthritis

Different patients experience a variety of symptoms. However, the most commonly reported ones are the following:

  • Joint pain
  • Swelling
  • Inflammation
  • Redness
  • Stiffness
  • Tenderness
  • Warmth in the area

Risk Factors

Risk for the development of arthritis varies from person to person, but the likelihood of developing arthritis can be affected by the following:

  • Age — the risk for developing arthritis increases with age
  • Lifestyle — smoking and lack of exercise increase risk
  • Sex — studies show that women are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis while men are more likely to have gout
  • Weight — excess weight puts unnecessary pressure and strain on joints, increasing the risk of developing arthritis and other joint problems
  • Family History — you are more likely to develop arthritis if your family has a history of it
  • Previous Injuries — patients who have injured their joints in the past are more likely to develop arthritis in that affected joint

Treatment Options for Arthritis

Healthcare providers will first exhaust all conservative treatment options before suggesting more aggressive treatments. The most common interventions are as follows:

  • Medications — various medications can help relieve pain and address symptoms
    • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): reduce pain and inflammation in affected joints
    • Counterirritants: commonly include ointments and creams that reduce the transmission of pain signals to the brain
    • Steroid injections: direct cortisone shots to the affected area help relieve the pain longer than over-the-counter medications
  • Physical Therapy — this rehabilitative treatment option helps patients regain flexibility and mobility
  • Surgery — this is commonly suggested for patients with severe arthritis who haven’t found relief from conservative treatments

Arthritis Specialists in Wellington, FL

Conditions like arthritis may cause a variety of complications in the future. The longer it goes unaddressed, the worse it will likely get. It’s therefore critical to get it checked as soon as possible.

If you are looking for quality bone and joint care, look no further than Advanced Medical Clinic. Dr. Ishan Gunawardene, a board-certified internist, together with Shariffa Gunawardene, a board-certified family nurse practitioner, can provide you with the best primary holistic care possible from diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation.

If you wish to know more about us and our services, you can check in online or call us at (561) 434-1935. You can also secure an appointment ahead of time by using our online appointment request form. We look forward to serving you!

5 Signs Of Arthritis You Shouldn’t Ignore

It is not unusual to experience joint pain occasionally, particularly if you lead an active lifestyle. Not warming up correctly prior to exercise or injuring muscles, ligaments, or tendons near a joint can lead to pain. Fortunately, this pain is often only temporary. However, if you start to experience chronic aching, pain, or stiffness around a joint, it could indicate a more serious condition, such as arthritis, and may require treatment.

What Is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a common disease that can cause pain, stiffness, immobility, and swelling in a joint. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and causes the protective cartilage that covers the ends of bones to gradually break down and wear away. Cartilage is a tough, shock absorbing material that provides a smooth surface to allow bones to easily and painlessly glide against each other during motion. Loss of the protective cartilage lining can cause painful bone on bone rubbing in the joint. Other symptoms can include immobility, swelling, and the formation of boney growths in the affected area.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that can lead to deformity and loss of function. It commonly affects the hands but can happen anywhere in the body. Healthy synovium (the protective membrane that covers joints) secretes a lubricant called synovial fluid, which acts as a cushion between joints and ligaments to reduce friction between the bones and prevents wear and tear.

Rheumatoid arthritis causes the synovium to become inflamed, which stops it from working properly. This causes cartilage, bones, and tissues to deteriorate. As swelling occurs, the tendons and ligaments stretch, leading to joint misalignment and deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most severe and disabling types of arthritis.

Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

If you start to notice the following symptoms on a regular basis, you should seek advice from your doctor. It could mean you have arthritis.

1. Swelling, Warmth, Or Redness Around A Joint If you notice swelling or redness around a joint, or if the area feels unusually warm or tender to the touch, it can indicate inflammation around the joint, which can be a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis. It could, however, also indicate an infection or other condition such as gout, so it is best to speak to your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis.

2. Joint Stiffness In The Morning Many people start to feel stiff in the morning when they first wake up, particularly older individuals. This joint stiffness should ease as you begin moving and shouldn’t last more than half an hour or so. If your joint stiffness doesn’t ease as you get moving or lasts for several hours a day or more, it could indicate that you have arthritis. 

3. Joint Pain At Night You may not notice joint pain as much during the day when you are moving around and carrying out normal activities. Arthritis pain, however, can become worse during the night. If you are finding a joint, such as your knee, hip, spine, or big toe, causing you pain at night, or your sleep is being severely disrupted as a result of joint pain, it may be time to see a doctor. 

4. Discomfort After Exercise It is natural to have some discomfort after strenuous exercise and could be caused by the overstretching of muscles, tendons, or ligaments. However, if you are suffering with pain, discomfort, or stiffness within a joint which has been triggered by being active and is becoming a more frequent problem, it could be a sign of arthritis. 

5. You Are Struggling With Day-To-Day Activities If you are finding you have an inability to carry out normal day-to-day activities without joint pain or stiffness, or you are finding yourself avoiding activities that you normally enjoy, you should see a doctor. Temporarily restricting or avoiding certain activities as a result of an injury is normal, but if your lifestyle is becoming increasingly affected by joint pain, this could indicate a chronic joint condition, such as arthritis.

Treatment For Arthritis

Arthritis can be very painful and disabling. Medications, physical therapy, other modalities, and lifestyle adjustments can help to alleviate symptoms. Sometimes, however, surgical treatment may be necessary. Your doctor will be able to help you explore different treatment options available to effectively reduce your joint pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.

Arthritis Care In Wellington And Royal Palm Beach, Florida

At Advanced Medical Clinic, we offer a high standard of primary and urgent care. Our comprehensive treatment options are designed to help you achieve a better quality of life through management of health conditions, including arthritis.

Dr. Ishan Gunawardene is an internal medicine specialist and offers continuity of care. For more information about our services, call us today at (561) 434-1935, or request an appointment online.

Common Treatments for Arthritis

Arthritis refers to inflammation or disease in one or more joints. The word comes from the Greek word “arthron,” meaning “joint,” and the suffix “-itis” which means “inflammation.” Symptoms of arthritis usually include joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and mobility/movement issues.

Over time, arthritis can wear down and damage the protective cartilage in the joints so that the movement of the joints is no longer smooth. Pain can develop that becomes chronic or debilitating, which then requires treatment.

Let’s talk about some of the noninvasive and minimally invasive treatments for arthritis and where you can find medical expertise to help you control the condition.

How Is Arthritis Treated?

Treatments for arthritis will begin with noninvasive modalities such as over-the-counter medication and therapeutic exercise, and the treatments will become more invasive if your arthritis becomes worse. These methods include the following:

Rest and Medication

In many cases, especially in the early stage, arthritis symptoms are relieved by rest, ice therapy, heat therapy, and anti-inflammatory medications. You may use assistive devices such as a splint or a cane to avoid stressing your joints and to provide extra support.

These conservative treatments usually provide much-needed relief from joint pain and stiffness. Your doctor may give you a prescription that will provide more extensive relief from the pain and other symptoms.

Exercise and Physical Therapy

No treatment plan for arthritis is complete without physical therapy. This includes strengthening and stretching exercises which will have a direct effect on the joints that are affected by arthritis.

The strengthening exercises help reinforce the muscles around the arthritic joint to give it extra stability and support, so there is less stress and pressure on the joint. Low-impact exercise such as walking, dancing, yoga, and pilates can greatly benefit arthritis sufferers.

Dietary Modifications

Being overweight puts added stress on your joints, which can therefore cause you to develop arthritis because of the weight-bearing pressure wearing down the cartilage in your joints. By switching to a healthy diet, you will eventually shed pounds which eases pressure on your joints.

Additionally, certain foods have anti-inflammatory properties, such as fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids and fruits and vegetables such as oranges, papayas, berries, grapes, tangerines, carrots, bell peppers, and pumpkin. It is also a good idea to stay away from foods with processed sugar.

Viscosupplementation

If you do not experience a reduction in arthritis symptoms after including the abovementioned factors in your lifestyle, then you will likely respond well to viscosupplementation. During this minimally invasive procedure, the doctor injects hyaluronic acid into the arthritic joint in order to reduce the symptoms of arthritis. This treatment helps to protect the bones in the joint from rubbing against each other by essentially fostering a cartilage-like supportive effect.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is traditional Chinese medicine and has been used in the Far East for thousands of years for pain relief. This treatment involves inserting thin, hair-like needles into pressure points in order to promote healing and reduce pain and inflammation. Acupuncture is rarely a standalone treatment and is usually part of a comprehensive treatment plan for best results.

Arthritis Treatment in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach

Do not let arthritis limit your life. Here at Advanced Medical Clinic, our compassionate primary care physicians offer you advanced and customized treatment options for your condition. We want to be your go-to family doctors.

To schedule a consultation, call us today at (561) 434-1935 or request an appointment now via our online form. We look forward to helping you enjoy a pain-free lifestyle of health and wellness.

 

Three Common Types of Arthritis and How to Treat Them

Arthritis may be used to describe body pain, but the different types of arthritis can vary significantly based on the way they affect the human body. Some forms of arthritis affect strictly your bones and joints; others, may start to attack your organs and affect your immune system. These are the three most common types of arthritis, how they are diagnosed and what treatment for them may look like.

Osteoarthritis

Also called “the wear and tear disease,” osteoarthritis (OA) presents as the human body ages. During this process, bones and their protective cartilage begin to break down. The deterioration of protective cartilage that serves as a cushion between the bones and joints may make movement painful and flexibility difficult.

While the effects of OA can’t be reversed, you can manage your symptoms and pain with lifestyle changes. Keeping up with your exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and diet and regular physical therapy can help keep your pain at bay. Should your symptoms worsen or you find you are no longer able to live with the pain, you should talk to your doctor about necessary anti-inflammatory or pain medication or possible surgery.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is different from osteoarthritis because it is classified as an autoimmune disease. RA occurs when the immune system starts to attack your body and healthy tissue, causing pain and inflammation within your joints. Over a long period of time, the damage can become irreparable.

A series of tests and exams – to include complete blood count (CBC), radiographs of certain joints, and antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing – will help your doctor determine if in fact your symptoms are those of RA.

Your doctor will likely recommend you take over-the-counter medication before deciding whether you need to address the pain with steroids or more aggressive pain management medication. They will also likely prescribe disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, or DMARDs, to stop the progression of the disease in an attempt to halt further damage. Many doctors are also turning to regenerative medicine, such as non-embryonic stem cell treatments and platelet rich plasma therapies, to treat RA.

Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis creates stiffness and pain in multiple joints, and symptoms can flare up, fade away, and even change location in your body. Doctors will look for swelling close to the tips of the toes and fingers, leading to brittle or cracked nails; it can also find its way to the lower back, wrist, knees, ankles, and tendons.

Because symptoms often mimic other arthritic and inflammatory diseases, psoriatic arthritis can be hard to diagnose. Your doctor will perform a series of blood tests and other diagnostics to rule our RA, gout or other conditions before determining you do in fact have psoriatic arthritis.

If so, your doctor will likely prescribe anti-inflammatory medication or recommend NSAIDs for psoriatic arthritis, but also focus on taming your immune system. Should the damage to your joints become severe, your doctor may also recommend joint replacement surgery.

While there are a number of clues that can help you determine which sort of arthritis you might have, the only way to know for sure is to get checked out by a medical professional.

The friendly staff at Advanced Medical is well versed in the diagnostics and treatment of arthritis and looks forward to serving you. If you have any questions about our primary care services, please call our office at (561) 434-1935. To schedule an appointment, you can call us or use our secure online appointment request form.

Dealing with Arthritis Pain at Home

There are many different types of arthritis, but osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form. Also known as degenerative joint disease (DJD), it is caused by “wear and tear” of the joints and can result in considerable chronic pain, which can then lead to disability. Some of the risk factors for developing OA include obesity, muscle weakness around the joint, repetitive activity, and previous joint injury. The pain associated with OA is caused by an erosion of cartilage, narrowing of the joint space, and deformity of the bone within the joint; and the most common sites of the body to develop OA include hands and fingers, the big toe, hips, knees and spine. If you experience pain in your joints, it is important to discuss this with your doctor. Once diagnosed, the goal of treatment is to minimize pain and to help you maintain independence in performing your everyday activities. The following are some things that you can do at home to deal with arthritis pain, and to improve your quality of life.

Weight Control 

Being overweight is a contributing factor to developing OA, and it will continue to worsen the condition over time. Any extra weight you might be carrying increases the load and stress on your joints, leading to further degeneration. Your overall good health is greatly affected by your intake of foods with high nutritional value. Your joints are no exception to this rule. Studies show that even a small amount of weight loss can improve your joint health, so increase the fruits and vegetables, whole wheat grains, and low-fat proteins in your diet, while decreasing the amount of simple sugars, starches and high fat foods; and watch your portion sizes. Remember that regardless of your food choices, if you take in more than you put out, you will gain weight. Ideally, you body mass index (BMI) should be between 18.5 and 24.9.

Exercise Balanced with Rest

Regular, gentle exercise is important to maintain joint function and will help with pain management. While physical therapy can be very beneficial, there are a lot of exercises that you can do at home. Water exercise is an exceptional way to increase joint movement, while minimizing stress on the joint. Bicycling is another excellent choice. Isometric exercises, which improve muscle strength and support joint function, involve contraction of muscles without joint movement. For instance, holding a plank position allows the contraction of multiple muscle groups, while avoiding undue stress on any one joint. Another important way to protect your joints is to strengthen the muscles around them by performing weight-bearing exercise. To start out, it is best that you perform exercises that use your own body weight, such as squats, calf raises, lunges or push-ups. It has been found that moderate to vigorous exercise, at least three times per week, can lead to marked improvement in joint pain. But remember, before starting any exercise program, you should discuss it with your doctor.

As helpful as exercise is to joint health, it is important to not overdo it. Listen to your body. If something is painful, stop. Also, if you find your joint pain increases throughout the day as a result of normal activities, stop and take a break. Rest will often result in a decrease or resolution of pain. And, make sure you are getting adequate amounts of sleep at night.

Heat/Ice

The application of heat will often relieve the pain of arthritis. Try a hot shower or bath when your joints are aching. Gel pads that can be warmed in the microwave are available over the counter, but follow the directions carefully on the package and check the temperature with your wrist before applying it to your painful joints. However, electric heating pads should be avoided because of the risk of burns and fires. You might also try applying an over the counter liniment or preparation with camphor, eucalyptus, or capsaicin, which many people find does a good job in relieving arthritis pain.

Ice is another way to treat joint pain, although often not as effective as heat. In particular, if you are experiencing inflammation or swelling from overuse or injury, ice may be beneficial. When you use ice, make sure to not put the ice pack directly on your skin. Instead, place a small cloth or towel between the pack and your skin to protect your skin from injury. If you don’t have an ice pack, try a frozen bag of corn or peas.

Medication

The most important thing to remember is to discuss any medication you are taking with your doctor. There are many products that you can obtain over the counter that may not be good to take over an extended period of time. For instance, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or naproxen may be good for an acute injury, but taken on a regular basis, these drugs can cause kidney problems, heart problems, and stomach problems. They also increase your risk of bleeding. The number one drug of choice to control arthritis pain is acetaminophen. It is safe and effective for most people if taken as directed on the packaging. However, everyone is different so please discuss all over the counter medications with your doctor before taking them.

To learn more about arthritis, its treatment, and what you can do to control pain and improve your joint function, call Advanced Medical PA at (561) 434-1935 to request an appointment, or request one online.

Why Are Women More Likely to Get Arthritis?

You might be sitting down and working in front of a computer at your 9 to 5 desk job, typing away for hours at a time; or maybe you stock shelves as a retail associate, moving heavy objects all day long; or perhaps you work in daycare, bending down to pick up toys, comforting homesick children, and cleaning up messes.

Repetitive daily activities and lifelong wear and tear on the joints slowly eats away at the soft cartilage between your bones, regardless of your career path. When there is no more cartilage between your bones, painful bone-on-bone friction occurs that can cause inflammation and swelling, gradually leading to immobility. This form of arthritis is called osteoarthritis, the most common form, which alone affects around 21 million Americans.

Another form of arthritis called rheumatoid arthritis occurs less frequently, but is up to three times more likely to occur in women than men, specifically those over the age of 30. It is an autoimmune disease that causes synovial fluid that lubricates the joints to become inflamed and painful. Symptoms include long lasting pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joint area – even during rest.

So why are women more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis?  According to recent studies, the answer may lie within our genes. Studies show that X-chromosome-specific genes account for 14 of the 46 specific genes linked to rheumatoid arthritis.

This is a significant finding, since women have two X chromosomes while men have only one X chromosome. While the presences of X-chromosome-specific genes increases one’s risk for rheumatoid arthritis, this may also be due to high levels of the hormone estrogen in women.

Estrogen helps to protect the bones. However, after menopause less estrogen is produced. This can cause changes in the joints, including weakened bones. Sustained lower estrogen levels can make women more susceptible to fractures and other conditions, including arthritis.

While there is currently no cure for arthritis, if action is taken early on, the severity of symptoms can be reduced. If you feel pain, stiffness, or swelling in the area of your joint for more than two weeks, schedule an appointment with Dr. Ishan Gunawardene to discuss the probability of arthritis.

The sooner you know the specific type of arthritis you may be suffering from, the sooner Dr. Gunawardene can prescribe an effective treatment. Over-the-counter or prescription medications often relieve pain and swelling, but cortisone injections can be given if something stronger is needed. Additionally, acupuncture, physical therapy, and regular engagement in a low impact exercise regime have proven effective in treating and managing symptoms.

If you are suffering from joint pain or need help managing your arthritic symptoms, call (561) 434-1935, or request an appointment online with Dr. Gunawardene today.