Joints are intersections where two bones meet. These intersections are crucial components for the seamless mobility of bones across different ranges. Patients with joint concerns like arthritis, a condition that causes joint swelling and tenderness, thus inhibiting movement, require the assistance of Matt Pabis, the East Village family medicine physician who provides individualized treatment plans to restore joint structure and function.
Although lifestyle adjustments could improve arthritic symptoms, it would be best to seek advice from your primary care provider to improve treatment predictability by ensuring the achievement of desired outcomes.
What are the main types of arthritis?
There are two main types of arthritis:
- Osteoarthritis: This type of arthritis occurs due to cartilage breakdown. Cartilage is the slippery tissue covering bone ends, preventing direct bone contact during movement.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: This autoimmune disease develops when a patient’s immune system does not recognize joint lining, thus causing pain and inflammation upon bone movement.
Physicians insist that patients seek emergency care for their arthritic symptoms to determine the type of condition they have. An accurate arthritis diagnosis will determine the treatment and care protocol necessary to ensure wellness.
What are the symptoms of arthritis?
Patients with arthritis experience symptoms in the joints. The most common symptoms of arthritis are:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Redness
- Decreased range of motion
What causes arthritis?
The underlying cause of arthritic symptoms will depend on the type of condition a patient has. For this reason, seeking medical intervention will help your doctor analyze your symptoms to determine the root cause of your concerns and thus recommend an ideal treatment plan to restore wellness:
- Osteoarthritis: Cartilage cushions bone ends to improve and ensure smooth gliding during motion. Over time, cartilage undergoes wear and tear, which results in direct bone-on-bone grinding, a process that can be debilitating to a patient.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: The synovial membrane lines the joint capsule. An immune attack in this lining results in inflammation and pain.
What are the risk factors for arthritis?
Certain factors may increase your chances of developing arthritic symptoms. It is essential to schedule regular wellness checkups to help your doctor detect any risk factors of arthritis and thus advise you on preventative treatments that will help you preserve joint health. The following are the risk factors for arthritis:
- Family history: There are specific genes associated with arthritis. Therefore, a positive diagnosis in a close family member puts you at risk of developing the degenerative disease.
- Age: Arthritis mainly develops in older patients due to excessive joint use that causes cartilage loss.
- Gender: Women are the primary patients of rheumatoid arthritis. Gout is common in men.
- Previous trauma: A traumatic event to a joint interferes with its structure and function. Patients should seek emergency medical intervention for any trauma to the joint to ensure thorough healing to minimize the risk of arthritis.
- Obesity: This chronic condition stresses the joints, making them vulnerable to developing arthritis.
It would be best for patients with arthritis risk factors to collaborate with their care providers to manage their condition and maintain their wellbeing. Call the office of Matt Pabis, MD, if you have joint concerns to receive an accurate diagnosis and begin treatment to restore joint structure and function for improved performance.
