Osteoarthritis
Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center
Orthopedic Surgery located in Henderson, NV & Las Vegas, NV
Osteoarthritis affects some 32.5 million adults in the United States. This form of arthritis occurs over time, as your joints start to wear down with use. The cartilage that forms a cushion between the bones grows thin and frays. The experienced orthopedic team at Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center in Henderson and Las Vegas, Nevada, has extensive treatments for osteoarthritis pain to help you maintain comfort and function even as osteoarthritis sets in. Call today for an appointment, or use the online tool to book your visit.
Osteoarthritis Q & A
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis. It develops gradually as normal wear and tear of your joints causes degeneration in the connective tissue, or cartilage, that cushions the spaces between your bones.
Eventually, you experience bone-on-bone contact, which can be quite painful and cause stiffness and limited mobility.
Who is at risk of developing osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis often develops as a natural part of the aging process. People who are obese or who have a family history of osteoarthritis are also more vulnerable. If you experienced injury to a joint, it too is more likely to develop osteoarthritis.
What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?
Pain is one of the most notable and common symptoms of osteoarthritis. This pain is due to bone moving against bone. You may notice the pain to be its most severe first thing in the morning, before movement.
You may also experience swelling at affected joints, hear a cracking or clicking noise, and experience limited mobility.
What treatments are available for osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis cannot be cured, but the team at Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center can help you make the symptoms less bothersome.
Nonsurgical therapies
Nonsurgical interventions include avoiding high-impact activities and maintaining a healthy weight to relieve the stress on your joints. You should still stay physically active, but choose swimming or cycling over running, for example. Physical activity actually helps keep symptoms at bay.
Over-the-counter and prescription medications can help with pain, swelling, and inflammation. Physical therapy improves your mobility and helps you preserve existing cartilage to avoid rapid deterioration.
Surgical solutions
If nonsurgical treatments aren’t successful in relieving your pain and in improving your mobility, you may need to consider surgery. Surgery may involve joint fusion, arthroscopy, osteotomy, or joint replacement.
The procedure that is right for you depends on the joint affected, your overall health, and your age. The team at Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center carefully considers your case when recommending surgery.
If you have osteoarthritis, seek care from the experienced team at Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center. Call one of the offices today or use this website to schedule your appointment.
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