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Arthritis is a general term for conditions that affect the joints and surrounding tissues. Joints are places in the body where bones come together, such as the knees, wrists, fingers, toes, and hips.

The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful, degenerative joint disease that often involves the hips, knees, neck, lower back, or small joints of the hands.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that usually involves various joints in the fingers, thumbs, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, feet, and ankles.

Cause & Symptoms

Osteoarthritis (OA) usually develops in joints that are injured by a repeated activity from a favorite sport or constant physical action. Eventually this injury or repeated impact thins and wears away the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones in the joint. As a result, the bones rub together, causing a grating sensation. Joint flexibility is then reduced, bone spurs develop, and the joints swell. Usually the first symptom of OA is pain that immediately follows physical activity or after periods of immobility.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that affects various joins. Autoimmune conditions prompt the body to release enzymes that attack it’s own healthy tissue. In RA, these enzymes destroy the linings of joints. This causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and even malformation.

People with RA may have symptoms presenting as fatigue, fever, weight loss, eye inflammation, anemia, subcutaneous nodules (bumps under the skin), or pleurisy (a lung inflammation).

Diagnosis

Our physicians are board certified, and are dedicated to giving you a comprehensive exam that will aid in diagnosing the cause of your symptoms. Using advanced diagnostic techniques, our doctors will find out the reason for your pain, and then get you on the road to better health right away. Here are a few steps our physicians use when completing their comprehensive exams:

Once we have an accurate diagnosis, we will work together with you to create a treatment plan that will effectively address your pain.

Treatments