Arthritis

Arthritis is a type of joint inflammation that is typically caused by wear and tear. Repetitive motion and constant stress on various joints can cause degeneration and inflammation. Symptoms of arthritis include the following:

Chronic joint pain or stiffness
Swelling or redness around the joints
Decreased range of motion

Some of the most common types of arthritis that can impair your active lifestyle are as follows:

Knee arthritis

Knee arthritis can be caused when the cartilage of the knee wears away or is damaged after an injury, such as a torn meniscus, ligament injury, or knee fracture. Symptoms of knee arthritis can develop at any age and often occur years after an injury or other damage to the knee. Symptoms of arthritis in the knee include the following:

Knee pain when climbing stairs, standing up, or walking
Knee stiffness
Creaking, grinding or popping sounds in the knee
Knee buckling
Sudden or slowly progressing knee pain

Hip arthritis

As one of the largest joints in the entire body, the hip bears plenty of stress and strain. Arthritis in the area causes hip pain of a specific nature, usually starting slowly and progressing over time until it becomes more frequent and intense. Symptoms include the following:

Radiating pain from the thigh to the knee
Pain that worsens with strenuous activity
Stiffness or joint locking
Difficulty walking and bending
Grinding noise during motion
Reduced motion

Shoulder arthritis

Shoulder arthritis is less common than knee or hip arthritis. It occurs when the cartilage starts wearing down on the ball and/or the socket sides of the shoulder joint. Shoulder arthritis can cause serious shoulder problems such as causing the shoulder ligaments to separate from the joint. Symptoms of shoulder arthritis include the following:

Pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion
Joint swelling and tenderness
A feeling of grinding or catching when you move your shoulder joint

Treatment for arthritis

Your treatment options depend on the severity and nature of your arthritis. In many cases, arthritis can be resolved without the need for surgery. Medication of various kinds can be used to treat the painful symptoms arthritis can cause. Different therapies are also effective, including physical, aquatic, and occupational therapy. We will work with you to help you regain your range of motion, increase muscle mass and help reduce your pain, including careful diagnosis and a fully customized treatment plan that is designed specifically to meet your needs.

Unfortunately, non-invasive treatments can’t always resolve The most severe cases may require minimally-invasive surgery. Surgery performed to treat arthritis can replace some or part of the joint or otherwise relieve the pain and return the joint to better functionality.

Recovery after surgery

If you do require surgery to address your arthritis, your recovery time will vary based on the level of complexity the surgery requires to fully address your pain. You may need general anesthesia if the procedure is particularly extensive, although there are less invasive surgical procedures that can often achieve the results you want that can be performed with local anesthesia.

Your recovery will take anywhere from one to six months, again depending on the extent of your procedure. As a part of your healing process, you will work with a physical therapist to rebuild your strength and flexibility.

Why choose Dr. David Porter?

Dr. David Porter is a board-certified, orthopedic surgeon with years of experience working with athletes and active people who don’t want to be slowed down from the pain of arthritis. Dr. Porter is a specialist in sports medicine and focuses on non-surgical or minimally-invasive procedures to treat his patients’ concerns so that they can be back on their feet and active again sooner. Dr. Porter is known for his friendly professionalism and the outstanding outcomes he achieves for his patients.