Arthritis Specialist

What are the most common types of arthritis?

Arthritis refers to many conditions that all cause joint inflammation. The two most common types of arthritis are:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis develops over the years, as everyday wear-and-tear breaks down cartilage on the ends of bones. Cartilage lets bones move smoothly within the joint. When it begins to wear away, bones rub against one another. As a result, you develop pain, stiffness, inflammation, and eventually, bone spurs.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy joints. This type of arthritis causes inflammation, swelling, joint pain, and stiffness. It also affects the same joints on both sides of your body.

Over time, inflammation due to rheumatoid arthritis erodes the bones, leading to bone deformities. The inflammation can also spread to other parts of your body, often affecting your eyes, nerves, skin, and organs.

What is post-traumatic arthritis?

About 12% of all cases of osteoarthritis are caused by a joint injury rather than gradual wear-and-tear. The injury causes cartilage degeneration that occurs at a more rapid pace than age-related osteoarthritis.

Even if you don’t develop post-traumatic arthritis, you’re at a higher risk for osteoarthritis if you suffer a joint injury.

What other types of arthritis might I develop?

There are more than 100 types of arthritis, including health conditions that are well known but you may not realize are classified as arthritis. For example, the team at South Lake Pain Institute frequently treats patients who have gout, fibromyalgia, and lupus.

How is arthritis treated?

The doctors at South Lake Pain Institute take a holistic approach to arthritis treatment, developing a plan that draws from a variety of therapies.

With a goal of reducing inflammation, relieving pain, and preserving joint mobility, your treatment may include one or more of the following:

• Structured exercise
• Corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections
• Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (to stop the progression of rheumatoid arthritis)
• Anti-inflammatory food
• Dietary modifications
• Medical cannabis
• Cannabidiol (CBD) oil

Medical cannabis, or marijuana, effectively relieves pain associated with arthritis. CBD oil also comes from the marijuana plant, but it reduces inflammation and pain without causing a psychoactive effect.

If you find it hard to stay active due to arthritis-caused pain, call South Lake Pain Institute or book an appointment online.