Treatment of Arthritis Pain in Detroit and Southeastern Michigan
Arthritis is a disease that affects the joints and can make it painful to not only participate in athletic activities, but even go about day-to-day activities. The orthopedics and sports medicine specialists at DMC Medical Group can help you manage arthritis pain in Detroit and southeastern Michigan so that you can continue to have an active lifestyle!
Arthritis occurs when the cartilage between joints changes, causing it to break down. When this happens, the bones rub together, causing damage and pain. While arthritis is common in older individuals, it can affect anyone. There is no cure for this disease, but treatments can help with the management of pain and make it easier to move about, as well as preventing damage from getting worse.
Symptoms of arthritis include:
- Pain that is an ache, burning, or sharp
- Stiffness, especially when first getting up in the morning
- Muscle weakness around the joint
- Deformed joints, especially as the condition worsens
- Reduced range of motion and loss of joint use
- Cracking and creaking sounds in the joints
Treatment for arthritis will vary depending on the individual, and your physicians will work with you to develop the course of treatment that is best for you. This may include use of oral pain medicine, injected pain medicine, heat or ice on the painful joint, losing weight to take stress off of the joints, or exercising to strengthen the muscles. If these treatment options do not help to relieve pain, a surgical procedure may be recommended to replace the joint.
Injection therapies that may be used to help with arthritis pain management include:
- Cortisone injections: Corticosteroid injections can help to relieve pain in the joint. During this procedure, the area around the joint is numbed, and a needle is placed in the space within the joint to inject the medication. This medication
can worsen joint damage over time, so the number of injections that a patient can receive each year is limited.
- Lubrication injections: Hyaluronic acid injections may offer pain relief by helping to provide cushioning within the joints. Hyaluronic acid is similar to a substance that naturally occurs in the joints and acts as a lubricant and shock absorber,
helping them to function properly.
- Platelet-rich plasma injections: This injection therapy is performed by drawing the patient’s blood and separating their blood platelets. The platelets are then injected into the joint to help supplement the fluid there. These platelets act as growth factors that help to decrease inflammation, as well as helping to lubricate and cushion the joint.
While no cure exists for arthritis in southeastern Michigan, the orthopedics and sports medicine specialists at DMC Medical Group can provide you with treatments to manage symptoms and prevent the condition from worsening. Call us today at (888) 542-7028 to schedule a consultation with our team to create a treatment plan for your arthritis and get back to your favorite activities.