Arthritis Specialist In Michiana, Northern Indiana, and Southwest Michigan Area

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a common chronic inflammation condition that affects millions of people. Arthritis can cause joint pain, swelling, decreased range of motion, and stiffness and could lead to joint damage over time. No two arthritis patients experience symptoms the same way. At OSMC, we work closely with our patients to determine the best treatment for their arthritis symptoms and causes, focusing on restoring mobility and improving quality of life.

The two most common types of arthritis are:

• Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is caused when tissues in the joint begin to break down or weaken in structure, causing pain and inflammation. Certain factors like obesity, a history of joint damage or surgery on a particular joint, a physically demanding job, age, and overuse can contribute to developing osteoarthritis. The most commonly affected joints for osteoarthritis sufferers are the knees, hips, neck, lower back, and hands, especially at the first knuckle joint or the base of the thumb. Depending on lifestyle factors, people with osteoarthritis develop osteoarthritis in multiple joints, and others may only have osteoarthritis in one joint.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis or RA is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks healthy cells, causing painful swelling, limited mobility, and possible joint damage. Rheumatoid arthritis mainly affects the joints, causing joint pain, swelling, and stiffness in many joints at once. Genetics, gender, life exposures, and lifestyle can play a role in developing rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis must see specialty providers to mitigate the immune response to the disease.

What Are Common Arthritis Symptoms?

Symptoms of arthritis include but aren’t limited to:

• Joint pain
• Stiff joints
• Swelling and redness
• Decreased range of motion
• Grinding or clicking

Is Arthritis Treatable?

Patients have a variety of options for treating arthritis and its symptoms. 

Treatments include:

• Medication: Patients with osteoarthritis may get relief from over-the-counter NSAIDs. 
• Lifestyle Changes: Your provider may recommend maintaining a healthy lifestyle, crucial for successful arthritis management. Joint beneficial exercises include swimming, light aerobics, stretching, and walking.
• Physical Therapy: Physical therapy may help reduce your need for pain medication, improve joint strength and mobility, and delay or prevent the need for further medical intervention. 
• Surgery: For patients with severe arthritis, surgical interventions like joint replacement provide significant relief and improved mobility. 

Your provider will take your symptoms, lifestyle, and severity of joint damage into consideration when creating a treatment plan for your arthritis pain. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis will need to see a separate specialist to treat the autoimmune aspect of the disease. Regular communication with your healthcare provider can help you optimize your arthritis treatment strategies as the condition evolves.

Arthritis Pain Specialist in Indiana

The expert staff at OSMC is here to help you navigate arthritis symptoms. If you have been experiencing pain, weakness, or loss of stability in the ankle joint, our expert physicians are here to help you. Call us at (574) 821-5919 to schedule an appointment, or click here to schedule your appointment online. We serve patients from Elkhart, IN, Goshen, IN, Granger, IN, Middlebury, IN, and Nappanee, IN.