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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Common Knee Injuries

While sports and recreational activities can cause a number of knee problems, some injuries result from basic wear and tear or from simply getting up from a chair. Knee problems are so common that it affects people of all ages, disrupting lives and sending thousands of people to the doctor's office every year. Knee injuries can often be treated with physical therapy or weight loss but some are serious enough to need surgical procedures.

Minimize your risks by knowing some of the most common knee injuries and what causes them.

1. Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries

The ACL is a tough, flexible band of tissues that runs through the middle of the knee joint. An ACL injury occurs when the anterior cruciate ligament is torn or overstretched. Women are about two to eight times more prone to ACL injuries than men. There are increased cases of ACL injuries among teenagers involved in organized sports and recreational activities. The number one indication of an ACL injury is a popping noise combined with pain and swelling. Symptoms also include grinding sensations of your bones and kneecap and not being able to put weight on your affected leg. Partial tears can be treated at home or with over-the-counter medicine. Other options include bracing and physical therapy but reconstruction surgery may be the best option for some complete ACL tears.

2. Baker’s Cyst

Having arthritis and a cartilage tear can cause your knee to develop too much fluid leading to a Baker’s cyst. The fluid-filled cyst causes a bulge and a feeling of tightness behind your knee causing swelling, knee pain, stiffness and inability to fully flex the knee. These symptoms may worsen after you’ve been standing for a long time. In some cases, a Baker’s cyst causes no pain at all. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen may be taken to reduce swelling and pain while a combination of rest, elevation, and prescription painkillers is often the recommended treatment for ruptured cysts. Draining and surgically removing a Baker's cyst can be challenging because they do not have a lining and are made of jelly.

3. Meniscus Injury

People with meniscus injury experience pain particularly when the knee is straightened. This is because the meniscus is a piece of cartilage that acts like a pad between your femur or thigh bone and tibia or shin bone. It can easily be injured when the knee is twisted while bearing weight. Other symptoms include swelling, clicking sound in the knee, locking of the knee joint, and weakness around the knee area. Arthroscopic surgery may be required if your knee does not respond well to physical therapy and medication.

4. Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury

Signs and symptoms of a PCL injury include pain in the knee that causes a slight limp or difficulty walking, swelling of the knees within hours of the injury and a general feeling of your knees feeling loose. PCL injuries are most common during motor vehicle accidents and contact sports. Initial treatment for PCL injuries require rest, elevation and medication. Further treatment may be needed depending on the severity of the injury including intense rehabilitation program or reconstructive surgery using either a piece of your own tissue or a piece of donor tissue.

5. Osteochondritis Dissecans

This condition results when the part of the bone under a joint surface does not have enough blood supply. This causes the bone and cartilage to loosen and break off at times. Symptoms include a sharp pain if the cartilage breaks off, weakness and locking knee joints. A person suffering from Osteochondritis Dissecans may develop osteoarthritis. Treatment includes rest, avoiding any movement that causes pain and other intense activities and physical therapy. Surgical intervention may be needed if there are no signs of improvement, if a piece of the bone breaks away completely, or if there is an underlying condition that causes osteochondritis dissecans such as bow legs or knock knees.

Sources:
Medline
National Institutes of Health
KidsHealth
Healthline