What You Should Know about Managing Arthritis Pain

Millions of people in the United States experience the debilitating effects of arthritis, making everyday tasks challenging at least and sometimes impossible.

There’s no cure for arthritis. However, a comprehensive treatment strategy helps control pain while preserving joint health and improving overall quality of life.

Dr. Ravi Panjabi and his team at Advanced Pain Management in Castro Valley, California, provide high-quality integrative pain management services to teens and adults.

Our treatments aim to control pain while preserving joint health by decreasing inflammation and strengthening the muscles, tendons, and other tissue structures that support arthritic joints.

We’re happy to provide information about chronic pain driven by arthritis and the therapies that help.

Understanding arthritis

Arthritis is a broad term encompassing more than 100 types, but two of the most common are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Osteoarthritis

OA is a degenerative joint disease that often occurs with age. Overuse of joints during work, sports, or hobbies can accelerate these changes, which involve the breakdown of cartilage within the joint. 

Joint inflammation, pain, swelling, and reduced flexibility occur as the cartilage wears away.

Rheumatoid arthritis

RA is an autoimmune disorder that causes the body's immune system to attack the linings of inner membranes surrounding the joints (synovium). It can cause pain, chronic inflammation, and debilitating damage to affected joints.

Inflammation related to RA can also affect the skin, eyes, kidneys, and other vital organs.

Managing arthritis pain

At Advanced Pain Management, your specialist develops individualized treatment strategies based on arthritis type, which joints are involved, and the severity of your pain and disability.

Generally, however, treatment strategies for arthritis include:

Medications

Depending on your evaluation results, Dr. Panjabi may prescribe medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce OA-related pain and inflammation.

While disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologics are necessary in treating RA, it also responds to many of the same therapies as other arthritis types.

Injection-based therapies

Our expertise at Advanced Pain Management includes injection-based therapies such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to boost your body’s natural tissue repair and rebuilding processes. That helps restore healthy joint function and decrease pain.

Depending on your response to oral medication, Dr. Panjabi may recommend steroid joint injections. These injections reduce inflammation and pain, often for several months, and make it easier to complete physical therapy activities that support your joints.

You may also benefit from nerve blocks or radiofrequency ablation to disrupt pain signals between your brain and the affected joint.

Physical therapy

Joint-friendly exercises, massage, and other physical therapy modalities help improve joint function, reduce pain, and increase strength and flexibility.

Assistive devices

Splints, braces, and walking aids can support and reduce the strain on affected joints, making daily activities more manageable.

Home care for arthritis pain

Along with in-office treatments, Dr. Panjabi develops a personalized plan for joint protection that may include:

Proper body mechanics and ergonomics

Learning proper body mechanics and ergonomics can help protect your joints during daily activities, reducing the risk of further damage.

Weight management

Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for arthritis management, especially osteoarthritis. Extra weight puts additional stress on the joints, making pain worse. A balanced diet and regular exercise can help with weight management.

Stress reduction

Stress can exacerbate arthritis symptoms. Practices like meditation and deep breathing can help manage stress and provide pain relief.

Balanced diet

A joint-friendly diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce arthritis symptoms.

Physical activity

Regular low-impact exercises like swimming, cycling, and walking can improve joint function, alleviate pain, and help protect your joints from further damage.

Restful sleep

Your body uses sleep to repair and rebuild tissue, adjust digestive processes, and perform other essential activities. Adults require 7-9 hours of restful sleep nightly to promote overall health.

Schedule an evaluation by phone or online at Advanced Pain Management today for more information about managing arthritis and other chronic pain issues.