Why is Osteoarthritis Painful?
The most common type of arthritis, Osteoarthritis, occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears down over time. Osteoarthritis pain is most often experienced in the hands, knees, hips, and spine — but the pain of osteoarthritis may occur in any joint in the body.
Osteoarthritis is painful because the cartilage is no longer providing cushioning in your joints or eliminating friction. Think of a moving part in your car that has a film of oil that helps reduce friction and keeps it from contacting metal. This is similar to the role cartilage plays. When the oil is removed, you have friction and eventually damage.
What is Cartilage?
Cartilage is a firm, slippery tissue that sits between the ends of your bones (in joints) It enables cushioned and nearly frictionless motion in your joints. Osteoarthritis pain is caused by friction between bones that no longer have sufficient cartilage to cushion and lubricate the joint. Arthritis pain specialists have a number of different treatment options they can offer to combat osteoarthritic pain.
What Are the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis?
Pain is only one of several symptoms of osteoarthritis. Being able to recognize the other signs may help you or a loved one recognize that the condition is present so you can seek appropriate arthritis pain management. If you or someone you love has osteoarthritis, don’t despair!
The treatment options for the pain of arthritis have grown over the years and vast amounts of osteoarthritis research are being done every year to develop new therapies and care methods. Seeing an arthritis pain specialist like Dr. Koppel can make a world of difference in the quality of life of anyone living with osteoarthritis.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
- Arthritis pain: Affected joints hurt during or after movement.
- Stiffness: Joint stiffness is often noticeable upon awakening or after being inactive.
- Tenderness: The joint might feel tender when you apply light pressure to or near it.
- Loss of flexibility: You may not be able to move your joint through its full range of motion.
- Grinding sensation: You might feel a grinding or grating sensation when using the joint.
- Popping or cracking sounds: You might hear popping or crackling sounds from the joint when you move.
- Bone spurs Extra bits of bone that can form around the affected joint and feel like hard lumps.
- Inflammation/Swelling: Soft tissue inflammation around the joint can cause swelling.
How Do Arthritis Pain Specialists Treat Osteoarthritis Pain?
As mentioned above, treatment for osteoarthritis and arthritis pain has grown by leaps and bounds in just the last two decades. Forget what you think you know about arthritis pain treatment. Chances are that you are unaware of many of the cutting-edge therapies now available to relieve arthritis pain.
Some of the modern, evidence-based arthritis treatments offered include:
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP): Introducing platelet-rich samples of your own blood into the affected area to reduce inflammation and even regenerate tissue.
- Stem Cell Therapy: Mesenchymal stem cells are injected into the affected joint to repair and regenerate damaged tissues, reduce inflammation, and improve joint function
- Traumeel and Zeel Homeopathic Injection: These are homeopathic prescription drugs used to treat inflammatory and degenerative conditions, including osteoarthritis.
- Genicular Nerve Block: Provides temporary arthritis pain relief by injecting medication close to specific nerves.
- Genicular Nerve Ablation: Offers longer-lasting arthritis pain relief (about 18 months) by denervating the genicular nerves.
- Peripheral Spinal Cord Stimulation: PNS uses a surgically implanted wire near your spinal cord. This wire delivers gentle electrical currents that block pain signals before they reach your brain.
Arthritis Pain Relief and Treatment in Clifton, NJ
The pain of osteoarthritis or any other arthritis condition does not have to undermine your quality of life the way it does today. Major advances in managing arthritis pain have been made in recent years. We even have some therapies that can mitigate or potentially repair some of the damage done by arthritis.
Don’t settle for over-the-counter pain medications and home remedies alone if they aren’t giving you the arthritis relief you deserve. Reach out to Garden State Pain Management for expert arthritis care and pain relief today. — call us or text APPT to 1-973-473-5752. You can also conveniently book your appointment online.