Osteoarthritis - When to See an Orthopedic Specialist

According to the Arthritis Foundation, over 50 million adults suffer from arthritis, of which there are dozens of different types. One common type of arthritis is known as osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of hip pain, hand pain, knee pain, and back pain, and a common reason people visit an orthopedic surgeon.

Osteoarthritis Causes

The connective tissue that gives a smooth, lubricated surface for movement is called the articular cartilage. Over time - or due to a varitey of other factors - the articular cartilage can wear down. As your articular wears away you may begin to feel joint pain in the form of osteoarthritis. 

There are many potential reasons you could develop osteoarthritis. Some of these include:

• Aging
• Genetics
• Obesity
• Gender (higher tendency in women)

Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Typically, symptoms begin to appear around the age of 40, or after a traumatic injury. Once exposed to osteoarthritis, you may develop the following symptoms:

• Knee, hip, hand, or other joint swelling
• Joint pain
• Joint stiffness
• Reduced range of motion

In more severe cases, osteoarthritis can deteriorate your everyday lifestyle. If left untreated, your risk of developing additional symptoms increases.

Ostheoarthritis Risk Factors

Anyone can develop ostheoarthritis, but the following factors may increase your risk of developing this condition:

• Previous injury - previous injury to the knee, hip, shoulder, and more can increase the risk of developing ostheoarthritis 
• Weight - being overweight adds stress to the joints 
• Age - the older you are, the more at risk you are of developing ostheoarthritis
• Sex - women develop ostheoarthritis more often

Osteoarthritis Treatment

While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, an orthopedic specialist - like the ones at Elite Sports Medicine – can develop a treatment plan for you. Some orthopedic doctors prescribe anti-inflammatories, viscosupplementation injections, and cortisone injections to treat the condition.

A physical therapy program can also help strengthen and maintain the muscles around your joint. In some cases, surgery may be recommended for young adults that are suffering from articular cartilage damage

Seek Help From an Ostheoarthritis Specialist Near You 

If you are suffering from joint pain, seek help from an orthopedist specializing in arthritis. The surgeons at Elite are some of the best orthopedic surgeons in Nashville, Franklin, and Brentwood, TN.

References

“What Is Arthritis?” Arthritis Foundation, The Arthritis Foundation, www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/about-arthritis/understanding-arthritis/what-is-arthritis.

Author

Nick Flory Nick is the Marketing Manager for Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics. He has been writing and reviewing medical content since 2018. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasflory/