About one out of every five Americans suffers from arthritis, according to the CDC, and that means millions of people are dealing with chronic joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, along with a reduction in their mobility and their quality of life.
Although arthritis research has definitely advanced significantly in recent years, making symptom management easier and more effective, there’s still no cure — no pill or treatment that can “undo” the damage to your joint structure and function.
Of course, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do to improve your symptoms and your comfort. At Mid-Jersey Orthopaedics, our team specializes in arthritis treatments and therapies to help every patient find relief based on their symptoms, their lifestyle, and their personal risk factors. Here’s how we can help you.
When most of us think about arthritis, we think of two types: osteoarthritis, the most common type that typically occurs as we get older, and rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic condition in which the immune system attacks our joints.
But arthritis is much more complex than that: It’s a grouping of more than 100 diseases, all of which target your joints. These diseases are usually associated with a breakdown of the protective layer of slick cartilage that helps your joints move smoothly, preventing painful friction.
As that layer degrades, friction increases, leading to inflammation and increased damage inside the joint. Over time, ongoing damage leads to pain, stiffness, and a loss of mobility that can take a toll on even simple activities, like walking, climbing stairs, or buttoning a shirt.
There may not be a cure for arthritis right now, but there are definitely steps you can take to reduce your symptoms and minimize the impact on your joints.
Managing arthritis is a journey, and like any journey, you have to know where you are before you can take those first steps. Scheduling an evaluation gives our team a chance to review your symptoms and assess your joints, so we can develop a management plan tailored to your specific joint needs.
Arthritis can affect just about any joint — even the joints in your spine. Still, it’s the weight-bearing joints that often take the brunt, thanks to years of wear and tear from walking, standing, and climbing. If you’re carrying around extra pounds, the strain is magnified — and so is the damage. Shedding that extra weight can dramatically reduce strain on your joints and reduce damaging inflammation, too.
Arthritis involves inflammation, and in fact, the inflammatory process plays a major role in the joint damage associated with the disease. Making sure your diet includes plenty of anti-inflammatory foods is a great way to help reduce inflammation and protect your joints. Leafy greens, berries, olive oil, and oily fish are all great choices, but there are plenty of other options, too — including dark chocolate.
When joints are sore and stiff — even a little bit — being active might seem like the last thing you want to do. But rather than bothering joints, movement helps lubricate them, reducing friction, and it also stimulates healing circulation. Look for low-impact exercises and don’t overdo it. We can also help you find a physical therapist to develop a plan that’s just right for you.
Finally, make sure you’re getting plenty of high-quality sleep. Sleep doesn’t just refresh you mentally — it provides essential “downtime” that allows your body access to “extra” resources necessary for healing and recovery.
Aiming for roughly 7-9 hours every night takes the strain off your joints while also making it easier to cope with arthritis symptoms during the day.
The aches and pains of arthritis aren’t a “natural” part of aging — and they’re not something you simply have to learn to live with, either. Playing a proactive role in your joint health can go a long way toward relieving your symptoms and slowing the joint damage associated with the disease.
To learn more about arthritis management and how we can help you maintain your active, healthy lifestyle, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Mid-Jersey Orthopaedics in Flemington, Bridgewater, and Washington, New Jerse
