Arthritis
Treatment Options
In broad terms, arthritis is the inflammation of one or more
of the joints within the human body. Every day, thousands of people of all ages
experience pain and stiffness due to the degenerative effects of arthritis. In
general as a person ages, the pain associated with arthritis may increase due
to the simple wear and tear on the human body.
Beginning with an accurate diagnosis from a Fountain Valley
orthopedic expert, arthritis treatment options will vary with each patient.
Depending on the degree of degeneration, affordable and effective non-surgical
methods may be enough to combat the symptoms of the disease to allow a patient
resume normal daily activities.
In Fountain Valley, seeking the expert knowledge of an
orthopedic doctor will help find the best type of arthritis treatment options
for the best price. The orthopedic doctor will begin with a complete medical
history, physical examination, and testing to determine if the symptoms are
related to arthritis. After a precise diagnosis, the doctor will design an
effective program and explain the desired expectations for the various
non-surgical arthritis treatment options.
- Maintain a healthy weight; losing the extra pounds will
help reduce the stress on the joints. Working to stay in good physical
condition will be more helpful in the long term as the degenerative disease
slowly progresses.
- Strength training and low impact exercises will help in
reducing symptoms while increasing flexibility and range of motion. For
example, numerous arthritis sufferers opt to use swim exercise programs to help
get the most out of a workout with limited impact on the joints.
- Physical therapy may be ordered by the orthopedic
specialist to help restore range of movement. The sessions will use stretching
exercises to help with everyday activities, including walking, sitting,
climbing small sets of stairs and much more.
- Corticosteroid medication or injections to help reduce
inflammation which will reduce the pain of the joints.
- Over the counter or prescribed pain medications to reduce
inflammation, pain, and stiffness.
- The use of a brace or splint to give extra support when
symptoms are overwhelming.
- Walking with a cane for added support during daily
activities
- Hot or cold compresses to ease symptoms, including pain
and inflammation
After all the non-surgical arthritis treatment options have
been exhausted, surgery may be the next step in the treatment program. Surgery
may involve replacing the entire joint with a prosthetic one or alignment of
the existing joint for better range of movement. The types of surgical
arthritis treatment options usually fall into one of four categories.
- Arthroscopy is a medical procedure where small incisions
are made around the diseased joint. Inserting small instruments in the
incisions allow for removal of pieces of bone, cartilage or tissue away from
the joint to reduce symptoms.
- Arthroplasty is a total joint replacement.
- Joint fusion removes the joint completely to fuse the
bones together.
- Osteotomy is a surgery designed to preserve the joints by
cutting a section of the bone.
Arthritis
Treatment Options
With the various arthritis treatment options available, Dr.
Howard Marans will individually work with each patient to achieve an optimal
outcome. Dr. Marans accepts various insurances including PPO to provide the
highest level of care without creating a financial hardship for the patient.
Please click below to schedule your consultation or call us at 714.979.8981.
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