Arthritis

---

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the US, affecting at  least 54 million adults and almost 300,000 children. Unfortunately, this  number is on the rise, with more than 78 million people on track to  have the disease by the year 2040. At Spine & Sports Medical Group  in Campbell, California and San Jose, California, the team of dedicated  physiatrists understands the debilitating effects arthritis can have on  your quality of life. The expert providers can help you manage your  symptoms and return to everyday activities. To learn more about your  treatment options, call the office or use the online scheduling tool  today. 

Arthritis is a  collective term for a group of diseases that cause inflammation and  swelling in your joints. Over time, constant inflammation results in  pain and a loss of movement which can limit your ability to do even  simple everyday activities, like holding a pencil.

The different types of arthritis are:

Degenerative  arthritis happens when cartilage, the cushioning surface on the ends of  your bones, wears away and results in inflammation and pain as your  bones rub against each other.

Infectious  arthritis is caused by a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection that  triggers inflammation in your joints. It can be treated with medication,  but if it’s not diagnosed in time, it can develop into a chronic  condition.

Also called gout,  metabolic arthritis happens because of a buildup of uric acid in your  blood, which crystallizes in your joints and causes sudden, sharp pain.

Different  types of arthritis have varying symptoms, but a common issue with most  arthritic conditions is joint pain and reduced mobility. If untreated,  arthritis can also develop into a chronic condition that affects your  heart, eyes, kidneys, and other major organs.

Arthritis  can’t be cured, but it can be managed with medication and lifestyle  changes. A team member at Spine & Sports Medical Group starts with a  physical exam to diagnose your condition.

If a physical exam and  imaging tests can’t confirm your diagnosis, your provider may suggest  minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery to better visualize, diagnose,  and treat your joint problem. During the procedure, a specialist at  Spine & Sports Medical Group makes an incision and inserts a tiny  tube with a fiber-optic light and camera to better examine the inside of  your joint. The magnified image allows your specialist to diagnose and  treat certain arthritis-related conditions.

The practice offers  joint injections to treat inflammation and pain from certain types of  arthritis. Your specialist may recommend corticosteroid injections to  reduce inflammation, or hyaluronic acid injections to increase  lubrication that has been compromised by degraded cartilage. 

Spine  & Sports Medical Group also provides innovative  platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) therapy, which harnesses the natural  regenerative properties of your blood to heal and repair arthritic  joints.

In severe cases, your specialist may recommend surgery to  repair or replace a damaged joint. To reduce your pain, the practice  offers arthrodesis, which is a procedure that fuses the bones of a joint  together to form one continuous bone. For patients whose condition is  so advanced that they experience bone loss, your surgeon may recommend a  bone graft to replace missing or severely damaged bone.

To learn  more about how the practice can help you manage your arthritis, call the  office or use the online scheduling tool to book your appointment  today.

We also see patients in the following surrounding cities:  Santa Clara, San Jose, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Cupertino, Mountain View,  Palo Alto, Los Altos, Milpitas, Fremont, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy. Book  your appointment today.