Arthritis is a progressive painful disorder that can lower the quality of your life. It progresses gradually, and in some cases, you may not notice its existence until it is advanced. The Portland sports medicine physician at Sports Health Northwest recommends routine medical exams, which are vital in detecting such disorders early and preventing further damage.
What is arthritis?
Arthritis refers to a group of several degenerative disorders that cause inflammation to your joints resulting in pain and discomfort. This painful disorder can occur in one or several joints in your body. Symptoms of arthritis develop gradually, but they may also occur intermittently depending o the type of arthritis you have. This degenerative disorder often affects older adults, but it can also develop in young adults and teens. Athletes with a family history of arthritis have higher cancer of developing arthritis as they age. Treating arthritis in its early stages may delay or prevent its progression, but it can lead to disability if left untreated.
What are the most prevalent forms of arthritis?
Arthritis is a term for more than 100 disorders, but osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis are the most prevalent ones.
- Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis refers to a chronic joint disorder that occurs due to the wearing and tearing of the protective cartilage cushioning the ends of your bones. This form of arthritis can attack any joint in your body, but it often affects the joints in your spine, hands, hips, and knees. You can manage osteoarthritis, but any damage to the affected joints is irreversible. Early detection of osteoarthritis prevents further damage to your joints.
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid is a degenerative inflammatory disorder that can affect more than one joint. In addition to damaging your joints, it may damage your blood vessels, skin, lungs, and eyes. As an autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis develops when your immune system mistakenly attacks your healthy body tissues. Unlike osteoarthritis, which causes wear-and-tear, rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints (synovial lining), resulting in a painful swelling that eventually causes joint deformity.
- Psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is also an autoimmune disorder, but your immune system attacks the connective tissue making up your joint.
Are there noninvasive treatments for arthritis?
During your visit to Sports Health Northwest, Dr. Westerdahl conducts a comprehensive medical exam, review your health and family history, and discusses your symptoms to determine the root cause of your pain. To confirm his diagnosis, he may request diagnostic imaging tests and run lab work. Afterward, he may educate you about the available treatments and create a personalized treatment plan that addresses your unique needs. Your treatment plan may include:
- Hyaluronic acid joint injections
- Cooled radiofrequency ablation (CRFA)
- Alpha 2 macroglobulin (A2M) injection
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)injections
- Bone marrow aspirate (BMA)
Dr. Westerdahl may also recommend an at-home exercise program to strengthen your joints and prevent deterioration of the disorder. He may also advise you to take adequate rest, ice, elevation, and compression.
PRP and BMA are forms of regenerative medicine that use your growth factors and stem cells to accelerate the healing process.
For nonsurgical management of arthritis, call Dr. Westerdahl or schedule an appointment online.
