It is estimated that 1 in 4 US adults have arthritis, a leading cause of disability in America.1 Arthritis affects the joints causing pain, stiffness, and inflammation, making it challenging to stay active. Arthritis describes over 100 different conditions that affect joints and the surrounding tissue. They fall into two main categories: inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis (OA).
While the exact cause of arthritis is unknown, experts have identified certain risk factors that can lead to the development of arthritis. Genetics, unhealthy body weight, joint injury or overuse, and smoking are all factors that may put you at greater risk. Arthritis is a progressive disease that worsens over time. Getting treatment as soon as possible can prevent your joints from being permanently damaged.
Signs that are typical of arthritis include:
- Pain, swelling, and stiffness in one or multiple joints
- Morning stiffness in and around the affected joints lasting at least one hour
- Pain and stiffness that worsens with inactivity and improves with physical activity
- Reduced range of motion
- Grating, you might feel things rubbing together inside the joint
- Bone spurs are lumps of bone form around the joint
Patients have many options for arthritis treatment. A growing number of patients are turning to PRP injections to treat early arthritis symptoms. Platelet-rich plasma ( PRP) has been shown to reduce pain, improve joint function, and slow, halt, or even repair cartilage damage. The American Journal of Sports Medicine showed patients with osteoarthritis reporting a decrease in pain levels one week after their PRP injections.2 As with most things in medicine, each person will experience healing from treatment in their own way.
If arthritis is detected and treated in its early stages, the effects can be significantly diminished, and the condition may even remit completely.3 South Palm Orthopedics is a group practice located in Delray Beach, FL, offering specialized care for a wide range of orthopedic conditions, including the treatment of arthritis.
The physicians at South Palm Orthopedics are committed to providing the highest orthopedic care level to every patient each time. Our physicians' team provides an advanced level of care, integrating the newest cutting-edge surgical and nonsurgical techniques with proven traditional methods of treatments.