Between the bones and joints in your body, cartilage acts as a shock absorber. If you're feeling pain and tenderness in your joints coupled with limited movement, it may be because that cartilage has degraded. This condition is known as osteoarthritis, and it affects 27 million people in the United States, making it the most common type of arthritis. If you're suffering from the effects of osteoarthritis, the Crescent City Orthopedics team of surgeons in Metairie, Louisiana, offers innovative treatments that provide real relief.
Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis that occurs when the cartilage between joints and bones breaks down, reducing the amount of cushioning of the joints. As the cartilage breaks down, the joints no longer have proper cushioning, and they become damaged. Patients often experience loss of range of motion, pain, and stiffness when this happens.
Anyone can develop osteoarthritis, but specific risk factors that increase your likelihood of having this problem include:
If you're at high risk for this disease, you need to talk to a doctor about how to prevent osteoarthritis from developing or progressing.
Spotting symptoms can help you get treatment more quickly and increase your chances of successful treatment. If you're at risk for osteoarthritis, watch for:
It's important to remember that these symptoms can include many different things, so you'll need to talk to a doctor to determine the cause of your pain and discomfort.
When you visit Crescent City Orthopedics for help with osteoarthritis symptoms, the first goal of treatment is to decrease the inflammation and pain with medication or joint injections.
Exercise can keep joints flexible and strong while you're managing osteoarthritis symptoms. When these more conservative measures don't reduce pain, and your quality of life doesn't increase significantly, your surgeon may suggest surgery.
While treatment can't cure osteoarthritis once it's begun, it can slow the progression of the disease and ease your symptoms. Receiving treatment can give you back a high quality of life while also limiting the permanent bone damage that could occur because of your condition.
The surgeons at Crescent City Orthopedics use the industry's leading joint repair or replacement systems to give you relief from your pain and an improved quality of life. Schedule your appointment with Crescent City Orthopedics today.
