You Shouldn't Have to Struggle With Arthritis Pain
May 31, 2018
Categories: Health Conditions, Joint Services
Arthritis is so widespread in the United States that you or someone you’re close to is probably dealing with arthritis pain. According to The Arthritis Foundation, it impacts more than 54 million Americans and is the leading cause of disability here.
Manage Your Arthritis Pain
Arthritis affects everyone differently, but the most common symptoms include pain, stiffness, swelling and decreased range of motion. Those symptoms may come and go, and they can be mild, moderate or severe.
Your doctor may prescribe medication, such as injectable steroid or cortisone medications, that treat various causes and levels of pain. Another option is one-on-one physical therapy sessions that strengthen muscles, stabilize joints and improve range of motion. Holy Cross Health also offers a variety of exercise and flexibility classes to treat your joints and improve mobility. Our Stay Active MOVE class is aimed specifically at helping with the inflammation, pain and stiffness caused by arthritis. Holy Cross Health's Yoga as Therapy and Gentle Yoga classes are also great choices to reduce arthritis inflammation. Exercise may seem like the last thing you want to do when you’re in pain, but it strengthens muscles that support your joints, preserves range of motion, improves quality of sleep and boosts your mood. Other things you can do: Eat a healthy diet, including foods that contain anti-inflammatory properties such as fatty fish and the spice turmeric; get a good night’s sleep; and keep track of your symptoms and pain levels. When chronic joint pain and stiffness are preventing you from living your life to the fullest, you should see a doctor. The joint specialists at Holy Cross Hospital and Holy Cross Germantown Hospital can provide a variety of care options that can alleviate your pain.
When Should You Have Surgery?
Douglas Murphy, M.D., is an orthopedic surgeon at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital who specializes in total joint replacement. Patients with arthritis should consider surgery when other things aren’t working, he says.
“Surgery is usually needed when people's activities of daily living are significantly impacted but also when the pain is simply not tolerable anymore,” Dr. Murphy says. “I tell people that when you start looking at a wheelchair and wondering if you should be in that chair, you should already be talking to an orthopedic surgeon about your options.” In the video above, Dr. Murphy discusses more about surgery to treat arthritis pain, including the major improvements to hip replacement surgery.
To learn more about managing your arthritis pain, download our Care for Your Joints brochure or visit the Joint Services section of our website.
Holy Cross Health presents the information in this blog as a resource for our community. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice or to endorse any particular entity or service. Personal health problems should be brought to the attention of the appropriate health professionals.