Arthritis

Joint pain and stiffness can often be caused by arthritis, either in a single hip or knee joint or both joints. There are two major types of arthritis that affects these joints: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. They affect the joints in entirely different ways.

Osteoarthritis is related to ordinary wear and tear on the joints, which damages the cartilage, causing bones to grind directly against one another. This cases pain and restricts movement. It can also lead to a joint injury or an infection. In contrast, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system attacks the joints, inflaming the synovium (the membrane that lines the joint capsule and provides fluid that lubricates the joint). This causes pain, swelling and redness. Eventually, it can lead to the destruction of the cartilage and bone in the joint itself.

Symptoms of arthritis can be similar to other hip and knee joint injuries, including pain, stiffness, redness, swelling and reduced range of motion.

Treatment of Arthritis

Before surgery becomes an option, arthritis sufferers are encouraged to try self-care methods to reduce swelling, relieve stiffness and lessen pain. It may take a couple of tries to figure out what works best for your particular type of arthritis.

Analgesics will help relieve your pain, but they won’t reduce the inflammation. These include over-the-counter drugs such as Tylenol as well as controlled substances like oxycodone and hydrocodone.

NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen as well as prescription drugs. These can cause stomach irritation, so you want to speak with your doctor about taking these on a sustained basis for arthritis. You can also get creams and gels that have NSAIDs in them that can be applied directly to the painful joint.

Other arthritis treatments are available as well to treat arthritis, including DMARDs, biologics and corticosteroids that are designed to slow or stop the immune system from attacking the joints in cases of rheumatoid arthritis.

The only permanent relief from arthritis in the hip or knee joint is replacement surgery. If you suffer from chronic arthritis, you may want to see your doctor or one of the joint experts at the Florida Hospital Celebration Health Joint Replacement Center about the possibility of having knee replacement surgery or hip replacement surgery.