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Arthritis

Regain Your Quality of Life Once Again

Arthritis is a debilitating condition that can happen to anybody. Depending on your medical history and lifestyle, you may experience one of the many different kinds of arthritis. Immediate treatment can help you regain your movement and live life on your terms.

At Source Healthcare, we are a premier Santa Monica spine, sports, and interventional pain specialist. Our experienced team and state-of-the-art facility are fully equipped to diagnose your condition, develop a personalized treatment, and help you regain your quality of life.

Contact us to schedule a consultation.

What is Osteoarthritis?

Sometimes referred to as wear-and-tear arthritis, osteoarthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis and causes joint pain and inflammation. It develops due to the wearing away of the protective cartilage in between your joints.

While osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body, it’s most likely to develop in your knee pain, hips, hands, and spine. It’s a degenerative condition that tends to worsen over time, but the team at Source Healthcare offers innovative treatments that may reduce your symptoms and slow down the progression of your disease.

Osteoarthritis of the Hand

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It develops over time, often because of the wear and tear of daily activities.

What Exactly Are the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis?

Your osteoarthritis symptoms tend to develop slowly. While your joint pain may not cause too much trouble at first, as the cartilage thins, your symptoms may be less and less tolerable.

Common osteoarthritis symptoms include:

  • Joint pain and tenderness
  • Swelling
  • Decreased range of motion
  • Grating sensation
  • Bone spurs

As the cartilage wears away, the other components of your joint may also be affected, including your tendons and ligaments. This can, in turn, affect joint stability in the affected area.

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How Vulnerable Am I to Getting Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is very common in people above the age of 65 when a lifetime of movement will have made your joints weak. It is also very common in women, who experience sudden and dramatic weight gain during pregnancy and menopause, adding strain on their knees. People who are overweight will also be more vulnerable to osteoarthritis. Finally, athletes and individuals with a very active lifestyle will also experience immense wear and tear of their bones and joints, leading to osteoarthritis.

How Vulnerable Am I to
Getting Osteoarthritis?

The team at Source Healthcare offers many treatment options to help improve your osteoarthritis pain. Your treatment plan may depend on the joint affected by the disease, as well as your symptoms and overall health.

Initially, the team may take a conservative approach to the management of osteoarthritis and recommend:

  • Anti-inflammatory medication – These medications work by blocking the cyclooxygenase enzyme, which is responsible for inflammation in arthritic patients. By preventing the inflammation of the joints, these nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs prevent pain, stiffness, and discomfort.
  • Physical therapy– Here, our experts prescribe a specific exercise and movement routine that can help you regain the range of motion you have lost due to osteoarthritis. Depending on the severity of your condition, we can even fit braces that can support your weakened joints.
  • Weight loss if you’re overweight or obese – Excess weight can put a lot of strain on your joints and bones, causing them to weaken; so much that 10 pounds of excess weight can lead to 10 to 15 pounds of added pressure on your limbs. This is why we prescribe exercises to help you reduce weight.

If you fail to get relief from your osteoarthritis pain or your condition worsens, the team may suggest other treatments such as hyaluronic acid injections to improve lubrication between your joints.

The team at Source Healthcare also specializes in stem cell therapy. Stem cells can transform themselves into any type of cell that your body needs.

When used for the treatment of osteoarthritis, stem cells may be able to assist in the formation of new cartilage cells to slow down the progression of your osteoarthritis, reduce your symptoms, and improve joint health and function.

To learn more about your treatment options for osteoarthritis, call Source Healthcare, or schedule an appointment online today.

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What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when your immune system malfunctions and starts to attack your body, mistaking it for intruders. It is different from osteoarthritis which occurs due to excessive wear and tear of your bones and joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in people who have certain genetic markers which makes them more vulnerable to immune system failure and chronic inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive disease that starts in the smaller joints (like those in the toes and fingers) and progresses to other areas of the body.

Sometimes, multiple joints in the body simultaneously begin to experience symptoms of arthritis, such as:

  • Tenderness and swelling in the joints
  • Joint stiffness and limited movement
  • Loss of appetite and constant fatigue
  • Anemia
  • Fever

Another auto-immune arthritic condition is juvenile idiopathic arthritis, which is a rare type of arthritis seen in children. In most cases, there is no lasting damage and your child can lead a normal and healthy life. However, the condition can be very painful, and timely treatment can help alleviate your child’s discomfort.

If untreated, both rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis can reduce the patient’s quality of life. Please visit Source Healthcare for immediate diagnosis and treatment. Our interventional specialists will be able to create a personalized treatment plan for you or your loved one.

Is Surgery Necessary to Treat Arthritis?

Surgery can be a great treatment option, especially when other treatments fail to yield results. At Source Healthcare, our surgeons have years of experience helping arthritic patients experience relief from chronic inflammation, pain, and stiffness. Contact us for more information.

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