Arthritis Pain Management

We Care About You and Your Pain

At Desert Care Network, we know how hard it can be for people with arthritis to carry out day-to-day tasks such as walking up the stairs or doing moderate to high-intensity exercises. If you’re suffering from this condition, the good thing is, our orthopedic physicians in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley area are experienced in arthritis pain management, treatment and prevention. We are eager to help you get back the life you deserve.

What Is Arthritis?

Arthritis is an umbrella term for different types of joint-related conditions which can affect people of all ages. In fact, more than 54 million people in the United States have arthritis, and it is considered the leading cause of work disability in the country. Arthritis comes in many types, but two of the most common ones are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is also known as “wear and tear” arthritis or degenerative joint disease. As the most common type of arthritis, it usually affects the hips, knees and hands. The cartilage within the joint of people with OA breaks down. This causes the bone underneath to slowly change and get worse over time which may lead to reduced function or worse, disability.

Osteoarthritis does not “spread.” However, it may also affect other joints, especially if you change your gait or walking pattern to compensate for pain and lack of motion.

Signs and Symptoms of OA

The signs and symptoms of OA may come and go, and may also range from mild to severe. These may include the following:

Pain or aching
Limited range of motion or decreased flexibility
Stiffness
Swelling

Risk Factors for OA

The following factors may increase a person’s risk of having OA:

Family history of OA
Joint injury
Gender (women are more likely to have OA than men)
Obesity
Old age

What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune and inflammatory condition. This causes your immune system to incorrectly attack healthy cells in the body which may then lead to inflammation, pain and/or swelling in the affected body parts. RA usually affects the knee, hand and wrist joints. It may also affect other body tissues and cause complications in crucial organs such as the heart, eyes and lungs.

Signs and Symptoms of RA

Patients with RA may experience times of flare (when symptoms get worse) and times of remission (when symptoms get better). The common signs and symptoms of RA may include the following:

Fatigue
Fever
Pain or aching in more than one joint
Stiffness in more than one joint
Swelling and/or tenderness in more than one joint
Weakness
Weight loss

Risk Factors for RA

The following factors may increase a person’s risk of having OA:

Family history of RA
Gender (women are two to three times more likely to have RA than men do)
Obesity
Old age
Smoking
Women who have never given birth

How Is Arthritis Diagnosed?

If you experience arthritis symptoms, whether it’s OA or RA, please schedule an appointment with one of our orthopedic physicians in Palm Springs or the Coachella Valley area. Aside from reviewing your symptoms, your doctor may also conduct a physical exam and/or request an X-ray and some laboratory tests to understand the cause of your arthritis pain and to provide the best treatment options possible.

What Are the Treatment Options for Arthritis?

Unfortunately, there is still no cure for arthritis, but your doctor may offer treatment options and lifestyle changes that can help relieve your symptoms, keep them from getting worse and prevent further complications. Your doctor may also recommend strategies for arthritis pain management at home. These may include the following:

Losing weight
Medications (i.e., prescription drugs and over-the-counter pain relievers)
Physical therapy with muscle strengthening exercises
Slowly increasing joint-friendly physical activities
Surgery (i.e., hip or knee replacement)
Use of crutches or canes or a walker for support

How to Prevent Arthritis

Truth be told, some factors could make it hard for you to prevent arthritis. These may include your family medical history, age and gender (as mentioned, arthritis is more common in women). However, you can develop some habits that can help reduce your risk of developing arthritis pain and help manage your symptoms such as the following:

Consuming a healthy diet
Getting enough exercise
Maintaining a healthy weight
Practicing a healthy posture
Seeing your doctor regularly
Preventing joint injuries

Our Advanced Joint Replacement Program

Whether you’re experiencing mild, moderate or severe arthritis symptoms, our orthopedic physicians and staff at Desert Care Network are ready to provide the compassionate care and treatment you need to live a normal life. We usually recommend conservative treatment options first, such as pain medications, weight loss, physical therapy and exercises that can help keep your muscles strong and joints flexible.

If these are not enough, our physicians may recommend joint replacement which is designed to restore the function and eliminate the pain associated with arthritis of the , hip, knee or shoulder. This program offers minimally invasive surgical techniques and enhanced anesthesia approaches that lead to shorter hospital stays and faster recovery time.

Are You a Candidate for Joint Replacement?

Your doctor may recommend joint replacement surgery if you have any of the following symptoms:

Joint damage as shown in X-ray results
Severe pain when doing routine activities such as standing and walking
Pain that keeps you awake at night

Why Choose Desert Care Network?

Desert Care Network is a healthcare leader for arthritis pain management and total hip and knee replacements in Palm Springs and Coachella Valley. Desert Regional Medical has received specialty certification from the Joint Commission for its program in Hip Replacement and Knee Replacement. But more than being recognized for its commitment to compassionate care and excellence, we are proud of how we genuinely care about our patients.

You’re not meant to live in pain. We’re here for you. Call 888-572-0084 to start get started.

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5 Back Pain Emergencies

Lower back pain is one of the major causes of disability worldwide. In fact, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons says that 75-85% of Americans experience back pain in their lifetime. Back pain usually results from a problem in one or more parts of the lower back, including the muscles, nerves, ligaments and the spine.

Most cases of back pain are acute or short-term and may last for several days to a few weeks. Others develop chronic back pain which may continue for at least three months, sometimes even after treatment. Meanwhile, there are also back pain emergencies that require immediate care and at times, surgery. Here are some of their symptoms:

Common Symptoms of Back Pain Emergencies

Severe back pain

Weakness in limbs

Lack of bladder or bowel control

Sharp pain in arms or legs

Numbness or tingling in different parts of the body

Types of Back Pain Emergencies

If you experience any of the abovementioned symptoms, your condition may be related to any the following back pain emergencies.

1. Spinal Fracture

Spinal fractures are caused by accidents or high-energy trauma. One of its initial symptoms is severe back pain that gets worse with movement. If the nerves and/or the spinal cord are involved in the fracture, the person may also experience bladder or bowel dysfunction, tingling, weakness in the limbs and numbness.

2. Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES)

Cauda equina (the Latin word for hose’s tail) is the bundle of spinal nerves at the end of the spinal cord. CES occurs due to spinal nerve compression which also disturbs the sensory and motor function of the bladder and lower extremities. At its worst, CES may lead to permanent paralysis. Symptoms of CES include severe low back pain, motor weakness, pain in one or both legs, sensory loss, inability to feel anything in body parts that sit on a saddle, urinary or bowel incontinence, sensory abnormalities in the bladder or rectum and loss of reflexes in the extremities.

3. Severe Herniated Disc

Bones in the spine are cushioned by round discs that serve as shock absorbers. Sudden injury and/or excessive strain may cause the inner portion of the disc to stick out through the outer ring which is called a herniated (ruptured or slipped) disc. The severe case of a herniated disk is a medical emergency because of intolerable pain and discomfort. Some of its symptoms include lower back pain, sharp leg or arm pain, loss of bladder or bowel control and numbness, weakness or tingling sensation in the foot and/or leg.

4. Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression (MSCC)

Metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) is a complication of cancer that often requires emergency care. It happens when the cancer cells spread in or near the spine and press onto the spinal cord. One of its symptoms is severe back or neck pain that may worsen when you sneeze, lie down, cough, go to the toilet or lift. Other symptoms include arm and/or leg pain, difficulty in controlling your bowel or bladder, chest or abdomen pain and numbness or tingling in different parts of the body. When left untreated, MSCC may lead to paralysis.

5. Vertebral Osteomyelitis

Vertebral osteomyelitis is the most common kind of spinal infection which can be caused by spinal trauma and/or bacterial or fungal infection that spread from the blood. The inflammatory reaction may involve and destruct the cortex, bone marrow and other anatomical structures. Aside from severe back pain, the symptoms of this condition include fever, chills, weight loss, urination difficulties, muscle spasms, bowl and/or bladder incontinence and weakness and/or numbness of the legs or arms.

Final Thoughts

Back pain emergencies may be rare, but when they happen, be sure to call 911 immediately to get the treatment you need as soon as possible. Do not downplay your pain as our ER specialists and staff are ready to give excellent, compassionate emergency care 24/7.

On the other hand, if you need to consult an orthopedic doctor for a pre-existing chronic condition or for initial diagnosis, please click the button below to find a doctor and schedule an appointment.

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Sources:
World Health Organization
Healthline
National Library of Medicine
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
Emory University School of Medicine
University of Utah Health