Arthritis is a painful condition that affects the joints of the body. People can experience it in one or more joints, with the primary symptoms being stiffness and pain in the joint or surrounding area, which typically gets worse with age. Arthritis has two common types, with different causes but similar symptoms – osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. A confirmed arthritis diagnosis will need to come from a trained medical professional, such as your primary care physician or a pain management specialist. Many people may suspect they have arthritis due to chronic pain or stiffness in the joints, as well as redness and swelling in the joint.
 
To confirm an arthritis diagnosis, your doctor will perform a physical exam to check for visible signs of a problem, and will also test the movement of the affected or sore joints to see how they move and when the pain happens. Imaging tests can also be done to show exactly what is causing the pain, including x-rays, CT scans, MRI’s or ultrasounds on the affected joint. And finally, your doctor can perform laboratory tests, which will pinpoint what type of arthritis a person has.

Arthritis is a common condition that affects millions of Americans, and people around the world. The two different types of arthritis have completely different causes, but many of the same symptoms. Osteoarthritis is the result of a breakdown of the cartilage that protects the ends of the bones that meet together in a joint. As this tissue breaks down, the bones end up rubbing together directly, causing pain. This is a result of normal wear and tear on the joint as the result of getting older, although some people will be at a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis than others. It can also be the result of an injury or infection to the joint that has affected the condition of the cartilage.
 
Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by the body’s immune system attacking the joints, causing the joint lining to become swollen and inflamed. Over time, this attack can also cause the cartilage, and the bone, in the joint to break down. In some cases, measures can be taken to help slow down the progression of arthritis and reduce the risks of developing the disease, but it can’t be fully prevented.

There are many treatment options for arthritis, all focused on managing pain symptoms and improving mobility and flexibility in the joint so the sufferer can move as normally as possible. Arthritis can’t be cured, so pain symptoms have to be managed while trying to slow down the progression of the disease. Your primary care physician or a pain management specialist can put together a holistic treatment plan for you that can contain a variety of options for pain management.
 
These can include pain medication, physical therapy, exercise, counterirritants, and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Therapy can help to build strength in the muscles around the joint to provide additional support, as well as exercises to improve flexibility and mobility. In severe cases, surgery may be an option, with joint repair, joint replacement, and joint fusion being the main types of surgery used in arthritis patients.

People suffering from arthritis have all sorts of options for treatment, including their family doctor or a pain management specialist. At Burbank Urgent Care, we provide treatment for patients experiencing a variety of pain conditions, including arthritis. We offer non-surgical, drug-free pain treatments to our patients that are effective at treating pain and getting patients back to living a normal, or near-normal, life.
 
One of our specially trained doctors will book an initial appointment with you to understand your medical history, your pain history and perform a physical exam to pinpoint the source of the pain. Additional testing may be needed, if it hasn’t already been completed and is included in your medical records, to confirm the diagnosis and determine the extent of the issue. Visit Burbank Urgent Care to learn more. We serve patients from Burbank CA, Glendale CA, Pasadena CA, Beverly Hills CA, San Fernando CA, La Crescenta-Montrose CA, North Hollywood CA, Toluca Lake CA, Sunland CA and Kagel Canyon CA.