Arthritis Pain Treatment

Arthritis is a common condition that affects more than 50 million adults in the United States, and it can lead to chronic pain that affects your ability to work or enjoy everyday activities. Metro Denver Pain Management (MD Pain), with an office in Denver, Colorado, specializes in the treatment of chronic pain related to arthritis and provides the latest treatments to reduce your pain and improve your quality of life. To gain control over your arthritis pain, call the office or use the online booking button to schedule an appointment.

What You Should Know About Arthritis

Contrary to popular belief, there are many forms of arthritis, not just one. Further, even though arthritis is commonly associated with older adults, this condition can affect anyone, even children.

The term “arthritis” has its origins in the Greek language, and it literally means “joint inflammation.” By definition, arthritis can occur in any part of the body where joints are present, including:

Feet
Fingers and hands
Knees
Hips
Back

Depending on the type of arthritis you have, other parts of your body may also be affected by the disease. For example, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition affecting both joints and organs, like the lungs, skin, eyes, and nervous system. This arthritis is characterized by an increase in inflammation as a result of the body attacking healthy tissue, causing it to become damaged.

Common Causes of Arthritis

With more than 100 forms of arthritis, the potential causes of this disease are numerous. Often, the underlying cause of inflammation leading to arthritis can be identified as follows:

Family history (genetics)
Sports or job-related injuries
Autoimmune disease and other medical conditions
Infections

Further, certain lifestyle factors can also increase the risk of developing arthritis. While age plays a role, smoking, lack of exercise, and being overweight are all associated with arthritis. Further, women are more likely to develop arthritis than men.

How to Identify the Type of Arthritis You Have

By far, the best way to determine what type of arthritis you have is to get a professional diagnosis, preferably from Pain MD. However, if you are curious about arthritis, you are likely doing some preliminary research.

Despite the dozens of forms of arthritis, the majority of cases fall within one of two categories: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. While both are characterized by joint inflammation and reduced mobility, there are significant differences in symptoms.

Specifically, osteoarthritis is generally caused by wear and tear on your joints, which is a result of age, lifestyle, and other factors. If you notice that your body creaks when you get up, and you feel stiff or uncomfortable with movement, this could be a sign of osteoarthritis.

By contrast, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that leads to swelling and inflammation in multiple parts of the body, not just your joints. While painful, we have effective solutions that address and eliminate that pain.

How MD Pain Helps Arthritis Sufferers

If you are living with the symptoms of arthritis, you are not alone. According to Cleveland Clinic, 50 million adults and 300,000 children in the U.S. are dealing with arthritis.

At MD Pain, we help patients suffering from arthritis by identifying the form of arthritis they have and developing a treatment plan that reduces or eliminates pain while preserving joint function.

Depending on your situation, our doctors and pain specialists will identify the best path for your healthcare and quality of life, including:

Oral or topical pain medication
Physical therapy
injections
Surgery
Lifestyle recommendations

Our goal at MD Pain is to provide arthritis solutions that are minimally invasive. Surgery is typically a last resort reserved for severe cases or those who haven’t responded to more conservative treatment pathways.

Diagnosing Arthritis

Our diagnostic tests are state-of-the-art, which allows us to quickly and accurately identify the type of arthritis you have and a course of action to treat it effectively.

We will conduct a thorough physical exam where will assess:

Joint function and mobility (both overall and in specific areas of your body)
Parts of your body experiencing tenderness and swelling
A thorough health check to identify any other underlying causes

The equipment and technology we have invested in at MD Pain also enable us to obtain a more accurate diagnosis. For example, we utilize imaging equipment, such as X-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds to detect bone fractures, deteriorating cartilage, injuries, and tissue inflammation. In some cases, we may also administer a blood test to detect gout or rheumatoid arthritis.

Contact MD Pain for Arthritis Pain Relief

Arthritis doesn’t have to stop you in your tracks. At MD Pain, we have a team of skilled board-certified physicians and physical therapists with vast experience and a successful track record of developing effective treatment plans to provide pain relief.

Don’t wait to get help. Call our arthritis specialists at 303-750-8100 to schedule a new patient appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis isn’t a single disease but a medical term that refers to a group of conditions that cause joint pain or joint disease. There are more than 100 types of arthritis.

Arthritis can affect any joint in your body and may cause:

Swelling
Pain
Redness
Limited range of motion

The severity of your symptoms may vary, but they generally worsen with time. Arthritis can lead to chronic pain and make performing simple daily tasks, such as opening a jar or climbing the stairs, very difficult.

What Are Common Types of Arthritis?

While there are many types of arthritis, some are more common than others.

Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and develops as cartilage between your joints wears away. You may be more likely to develop osteoarthritis if there’s a family history of the condition, if you carry excess weight, or if you’ve previously injured the joint.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition that triggers your body to attack the lining of your joints, known as the synovial membrane, leading to inflammation, swelling, and pain.
Gout: Gout is a metabolic form of arthritis caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the blood. This build-up eventually settles in the joints, leading to swelling, inflammation, and pain.

What Treatments are Available to Reduce My Arthritis Pain?

Your pain management specialist at Metro Denver Pain Management (MD Pain) takes a multidisciplinary approach to help reduce your arthritis pain, developing a personalized treatment plan based on your type of arthritis, the progression of the disease, pain level, and health.

Medications: The type of medication recommended to lessen your arthritis pain depends on the type of arthritis you have. Analgesics, anti-inflammatories, or corticosteroids may be suggested to reduce pain or inflammation. Your pain management specialist may also recommend special pain-relieving creams that you rub directly on your joints for targeted relief. If your arthritis pain is caused by rheumatoid arthritis, your pain management specialist may prescribe disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD), which stop or slow down your immune system from attacking your joints.
Physical Therapy: Your pain management specialist at Metro Denver Pain Management (MD Pain) may recommend physical therapy to improve joint range of motion and strengthen the muscles surrounding the joint to relieve your pain.
Surgery: If medications and physical therapy fail to tame your pain, the next step might be surgery to repair or replace your joint and improve your quality of life.