Arthritis and Joint Pain

Nearly 25% of Americans have arthritis, and for many it’s a debilitating condition causing daily pain. At Olympus Spine and Pain, we understand that joint pain is frustrating and stressful. Dr. Warner uses the most innovative pain management approaches to alleviate joint pain at its source so you can get back to living life on your terms. Call the Murray, Utah, office or click the online scheduling feature to make your appointment now.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is a chronic disease that develops in the joints, where bones come together. There are many varieties of arthritis, but the most common are:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage, the rubbery material that covers the ends of your bones, gradually thins.Your cartilage no longer works as a shock absorber, and the sensitive nerve endings within your bones can rub together. Osteoarthritis often affects the hips, knees, and hands. 

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis develops when your immune system attacks the lining of healthy joints. Rheumatoid arthritis often affects the hands, wrists, and knees. Inflammation in the joint lining causes significant changes in the joint. 

Arthritis can also affect other joints, such as the tiny facet joints that link your spinal vertebrae, or the sacroiliac (SI) joint, which connects the lower spine and pelvis.

What are the effects of arthritis? 

Arthritis often has serious physical effects. About 10% of people with arthritis have to limit their daily activities due to the disease, and 8 million Americans are partly or entirely disabled by it. Arthritis can cause symptoms including: 

• Joint pain
• Joint stiffness
• Joint swelling
• Crepitus: Grating joint movement
• Limited range of motion

Additionally, rheumatoid arthritis can cause misshapen joints, especially as the disease progresses. 

Arthritis can affect you mentally and emotionally too: Depression and anxiety are up to 10 times more common in arthritis sufferers. 

How is arthritis treated?

At Olympus Spine and Pain, Dr. Warner treats arthritis based on an individual evaluation of your disease and its symptoms. He discusses how the disease affects your life, your goals for treatment, and your personal preferences to design the plan that works for you. 

Many people with arthritis get the best results from lifestyle changes, like weight loss and frequent exercise, alongside pain management treatments like steroid injections or nerve blocks. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you also need disease-specific medication.

Severe arthritis pain may require a long-lasting pain management strategy, like spinal cord stimulation or an intrathecal drug pump. Dr. Warner also offers alternative therapies like ketamine infusions*. 

With the right combination of lifestyle and pain management techniques, you can get back to living life on your terms. Many patients are able to avoid joint replacement with this approach, but it’s most effective when you seek help early in the course of your disease.

For arthritis help, call Olympus Spine and Pain or click the online scheduler today.

*Ketamine infusions are FDA-approved as a sole anesthetic agent for diagnostic and surgical purposes, but are not yet approved for chronic pain treatment. Spravato®, an esketamine nasal spray, has FDA approval for addressing treatment-resistant depression.