Arthritis is a common joint health problem, and it can interfere with your normal daily routines. The specialists at Genesis Orthopaedic and Spine in Westfield and West Orange, New Jersey, and serving serving all of Union county, Morris county, Middlesex county, and Somerset county including the surrounding towns of Cranford, Garwood, Clark, Scotch Plains, Mountainside, Springfield, Summit, Chatham, Millburn, Short Hills, Maplewood, Watchung, Berkeley Heights, Livingston, Union, Edison, Woodbridge, and Elizabeth. Offer outstanding diagnostic and treatment services for arthritis and can help get you back on your feet. Schedule an appointment online or over the phone to explore the available options.
For appointments, call us or book online at any of our convenient locations in Middletown, Morristown, Ridgewood, Westfield, and West Orange.
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is a chronic condition characterized by joint pain and inflammation. It isn’t a single disease, but a collection of over 100 different types of arthritis. According to the Arthritis Foundation, more than 54 million Americans are diagnosed with arthritis, and that number is expected to rise to more than 78 million by 2040.
Arthritis can have a serious negative impact on your quality of life. It’s the leading cause of disability in the United States and keeps many Americans from living a healthy, active lifestyle.
How do I know if I have arthritis?
Arthritis symptoms vary from one person to the next. Your symptoms might be tolerable, while another person could find their symptoms absolutely debilitating. Some joint issues to keep an eye out for include:
- Decreased range of motion
- Pain
- Swelling
- Redness
- Stiffness
Arthritis most often develops in the shoulder, knee, hip, elbow, ankle, neck, lower back, and spine. Symptoms can wax and wane over time or can be constant. If you find yourself altering your daily routines due to joint pain, schedule a diagnostic exam at Genesis Orthopaedic and Spine.
What are some treatment options for arthritis?
There are numerous treatments that can improve joint function. During your diagnostic exam at Genesis Orthopaedic and Spine, your specialist discusses the options best suited for your specific set of needs.
Regenerative medicine, such as PRP and mesenchymal cells, offers a wealth of treatments for arthritis.
Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is an innovative treatment that uses a small amount of your blood to stimulate your body’s innate healing abilities. After a simple blood draw, the sample is spun in a centrifuge to isolate the platelets, which are then reintroduced to the cleared plasma. That creates a solution rich in growth proteins. When injected into an arthritic joint, PRP prompts your body to repair damaged joint components.
Your doctor harvests adipose mesenchymal cells from your body fat. When injected into damaged joints, these cells go to work speeding new cell growth, differentiating into specialized cells, improving circulation and reducing inflammation. Those processes can help your body repair damaged cartilage.
Additional treatment options include bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), cortisone injections, and Lipogems®. All injections are done under ultrasound guidance.
Orthovisc®, a viscosupplementation treatment, is another option, as is prolotherapy, a procedure that helps stimulate healing within joints.
How long does it take to see improvements in arthritis pain?
Regenerative therapies take some time to show noticeable improvements. Your body reacts to these treatments with renewed cell growth and tissue repair. You may begin to see improvements in joint pain within a few weeks. The full effects, however, can take several months to develop.
Your doctor discusses ways to strengthen and support your arthritic joints while you wait for your treatments to show results. These actions can go a long way toward lessening pain and working hand-in-hand with regenerative medicine therapies.
If you’d like to explore these and other treatments for arthritis pain in greater detail, schedule a consultation at your earliest convenience, online or over the phone, at Genesis Orthopaedic and Spine.
