Many people have arthritis. It’s estimated that about 25% of adults in the United States have a joint pain condition. Are you at risk?
Dr. Francisco del Valle and our team of pain specialists at Healthcare Pain Centers LLC understand how arthritis affects a person’s quality of life.
This month’s blog discusses arthritis, risk factors for the pain condition, and what you can do to reduce your risk and improve joint health.
Your joints form the connection between two or more bones. Ligaments and tendons help connect the bones, while cartilage provides cushion between them. Most joints in your body are mobile, giving you the ability to stand, walk, bend, lift, and write.
Many people think arthritis is one disease. But arthritis is the medical term for joint inflammation. There are more than 100 types of arthritis and conditions that cause arthritis.
When you have arthritis, your joint is red and swollen, causing pain and limiting mobility.
Anyone can develop arthritis at any age. However, certain factors put you at greater risk, such as:
Though there are many types of arthritis, some are more common than others, including:
Osteoarthritis, the most common arthritis, is a degenerative type that develops from the gradual wearing away of cartilage that separates the bones in a joint. OA is common in weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips.
RA is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joint, causing inflammation, swelling, and pain.
Ankylosing spondylitis is arthritis that affects the spine, causing chronic low back pain.
You don’t have control over all the risk factors that cause arthritis. However, you can still reduce your risk of developing arthritis or delaying it by changing the risk factors you can control.
Getting to and maintaining a healthy weight may lower your risk of arthritis by reducing stress on the joints that lead to OA. Regular exercise is also good for joint health. However, mix up your workout routine so you don’t overuse one joint.
If you smoke, quit. Smoking tobacco increases your risk of developing RA and may worsen the disease.
If you’re suffering from joint pain or suspect you have arthritis, don’t wait to get help. Early diagnosis and treatment may prevent or delay your arthritis from getting worse. We offer joint injections and medical cannabidiol (CBD) to help our patients get relief from their arthritis pain.
To get help with your arthritis, call or request an appointment online today for a consultation at one of our office locations in Old Bridge, Edison, or Freehold, New Jersey.
