At the Center for Sports & Regenerative Orthopedics in Waldorf, MD, Osteoarthritis conditions can be addressed with an assortment of effective treatment options that have been successful with our patients. Contact us online or call (240) 754-7954 to schedule a consultation today with one of our Osteoarthritis doctors in Waldorf, Maryland.
When people use the term “arthritis,” they are usually referring to Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, which is the most common form of arthritis. It typically impacts your hands, fingers, lower back, neck, and knees.
Chronic joint pain and stiffness after periods of inactivity or rest characterize this progressive disease. Tissues in these joints tend to break down over time, and because time is a factor, Osteoarthritis generally worsens as people age.
In some cases, people experience only mild pain and no loss of function, but in other cases, Osteoarthritis leads to disability with excruciating pain and debilitating loss of function.
What Causes Osteoarthritis? That’s a question medical science has thus far been unable to answer. Researchers have not established exactly what causes the breakdown of joint tissue we see in Osteoarthritis. There are recognized risk factors and triggers, however, that have been identified.
Age and repetitive stress are probably the most pronounced risk factors, and Osteoarthritis most often occurs in people 40 and older, as a result joints wearing down slowly over time. This is joint degeneration that occurs naturally as you age and may be due to physical changes that come with aging, such as:
Other risk factors that increase the odds of developing Osteoarthritis include:
Triggers include this damage that occurs over time, but Osteoarthritis can also be triggered by a sudden injury or trauma that then leads to degenerative damage.
While pain is one of the most common and troublesome symptoms, degenerative damage can be painless at first, and you may not be aware of the joint destruction as it begins. However, as it progresses, all parts of the joint can be damaged. From cartilage and bone to tendons and ligaments – even the lining of the joint, or synovium – all are subject to deterioration.
As Osteoarthritis progresses, you may experience pain, swelling, and eventually loss of motion and function. Reduced activity levels result in muscle loss and weakness, which stresses the joint even more.
The most common signs and symptoms of Osteoarthritis may include:
Over time, the joint not only begins to lose its normal shape, but may also exhibit small bone growths, or bone spurs. The shape of the bone may also change. Pieces of cartilage and bone can break off and remain floating within the joint, which only causes further damage.
Even people with relatively mild cases of Osteoarthritis may experience excruciating flare-ups. The most common trigger for these flare-ups is trauma to the joint. Other triggers that bring on flare-ups may include:
It is common to use x-rays or imaging tests like MRIs or ultrasounds to assess joint damage. Generally, ultrasound is our preferred imaging test for diagnosing Osteoarthritis. We will also perform a physical exam and a medical history, including questions about any injuries or family history that may have led to your condition.
At the Center for Sports & Regenerative Orthopedics in Waldorf, MD, we usually begin with the ultrasound exam and typically offer physical therapy and exercises to improve body mechanics as our first-line approach.
We may also use Dry Needling which primarily functions to stimulate circulation in the targeted areas. Increasing blood flow to the joints can help reduce the inflammation that occurs with Osteoarthritis. In patients with injuries, ultrasound-guided Trigger Point Injections are safe and effective.
Focused ultrasound therapy is a rapidly evolving therapeutic technology with the potential to revolutionize noninvasive treatment of Osteoarthritis. Focusing beams of ultrasound energy precisely and accurately on targets in the body without damaging surrounding normal tissue stimulates healing. It is safe and repeatable.
Conventional treatment methods for Osteoarthritis usually include the following:
We want to help you avoid invasive treatment like surgery. For that reason, we may utilize Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) if our other treatment methods are not effective. Research has shown that PRP is highly effective for treating Osteoarthritis-impacted joints – and often makes joint replacement surgery unnecessary.
Our treatment methods have an excellent track record and have brought impressive results for our patients in the Waldorf, MD area. For more questions about our treatment options, speak with our Osteoarthritis team today to see which might be the best treatment option for you. Call (240) 754-7954.
At the Center for Sports and Regenerative Orthopedics in Waldorf, MD, our goal is to help you get back to the life you love. What would it be like to see increased function again and relieve debilitating pain, stiffness, and weakness?
Take the next step towards diagnosing and addressing Osteoarthritis. Call (240) 754-7954 or contact us online to set up a consultation with our Osteoarthritis specialists!
Center for Sports and Regenerative Orthopedics
601 Post Office Road, Suite 2A
Waldorf,
MD 20602
Phone: (240) 754-7954
Get Directions
