Arthritis affects nearly 50 million Americans with pain and loss of mobility. This chronic disease of the joints affects every patient in different ways. It can present in over 100 different forms, with varying pain levels, loss of mobility, and various body joints affected. At the Michigan Center for Pain Management, our board-certified pain management doctors offer an individualized approach to arthritis treatment. We work with you to hear your pain management and mobility goals to build an effective solution for arthritis treatment. We are proud to offer minimally invasive and medication-free treatment plans for managing arthritis, and we work with insurance companies to ensure that you and the patient receive the best quality of care at affordable prices. Keep reading to learn more about how the Michigan Center for Pain Management has revolutionized pain management solutions for arthritis treatment.
Osteoarthritis (OA) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis are the two most common types of arthritis patients present with at our clinic. While both types can cause severe joint pain and mobility issues, they differ in their mechanisms of action and treatment plans. Understanding how these two forms of arthritis cause pain and mobility issues is crucial for forming an effective arthritis treatment plan. Early diagnosis is critical for both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis(OA): Osteoarthritis is sometimes referred to as degenerative arthritis and is responsible for over half of all arthritis cases in the US. With OA, the body’s cartilage breaks down over time, leading to joint pain and loss of mobility. Cartilage acts as a cushion and shock absorber for your body’s bones, and without it, bones rub together, leading to inflammation of the joints, bone damage, and bone spur formation. Common symptoms of OA include:
- Sore and stiff joints
- Joint stiffness in the morning
- Decreased coordination
- Decreased mobility
These symptoms can be widespread throughout your joints or localized to one or two joints. To test for OA, the Michigan Center for Pain Management will use our on-site medical imaging equipment and conduct a physical examination to develop an arthritis treatment plan for your osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA): Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that differs from osteoarthritis. With RA, your body’s immune system attacks healthy tissues of the joint, leading to joint pain, loss of mobility, and possible joint deformities. The most common symptoms of RA in patients include:
- Joint pain
- Morning stiffness
- Dry eyes and mouth
- numbness or pins and needles in hands or feet
Diagnosing RA is more complicated than diagnosing OA. When you come into the Michigan Center for Pain Management, our board-certified pain management doctors will conduct a physical and use on-site medical imaging tools to look for signs of RA. As RA is an autoimmune disease, a rheumatoid factor test can be used to look for autoantibodies in patients with RA to confirm the diagnosis further. Once a diagnosis has been made, you will work alongside our team to develop an individualized arthritis treatment plan.
Individualized Treatment Plans and Minimally Invasive Treatment Options for Arthritis at the Michigan Center for Pain Management
Arthritis can be a frustrating condition to live with, and many patients express feelings of hopelessness before they come under the care of the Michigan Center for Pain Management. Our arthritis treatment doctors work with our patients throughout their journey and adjust their treatment plans to help you reach your pain management goals. While every patient’s journey is different, often, our patients can get effective and safe pain relief from arthritis with minimally invasive and medication-free treatments. To take the first step towards taking your life back from arthritis pain, contact the Michigan Center for Pain Management’s patient care coordinators at (248) 923-1905 today.