By Matthew Nienberg, PA-C
Physician Assistant, Blanchard Valley Pain Management

Do you have achy hips, a stiff neck, back pain or swollen knees? If any of these things sound familiar to you, you could be one of the millions of people in the U.S. who have symptomatic arthritis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 58.5 million people have been diagnosed by a healthcare provider with some form of arthritis.  

In 2016, 25.7 million people, or about 44% of people with diagnosed arthritis, reported activity limitations due to the arthritis. In fact, it is one of the leading causes of work-related disability.

Arthritis, at its most basic level, involves inflammation or swelling of one or more joints. Many conditions can cause arthritis, but the most prevalent is osteoarthritis (OA). This type of arthritis is generally referred to as degenerative or, in other words, wear and tear on a joint. This type of arthritis generally develops very slowly over time as the cartilage within the joint breaks down. 

The symptoms of arthritis can arise in the small facet joints, like the ones located throughout your spine, to the big joints like hips and knees. Some risk factors for OA such as age, race, sex or genetics cannot be changed but, luckily, there are lifestyle changes that an individual can make to reduce the likelihood of symptomatic OA. Simple changes such as choosing lower-impact activities, reducing repetitive stress on a joint, healthy diet, regular exercise and weight loss can all help.

If you are experiencing symptoms of arthritis such as pain, reduced range of motion, stiffness or swelling of your neck, back or joints, you could be dealing with an arthritic condition. When these symptoms become bothersome or start to impact your daily living, it may be time to make a call to your healthcare provider. 

While there is no definitive cure for OA, there are many treatments such as natural or pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories, physical therapy, various types of injections or surgery may be indicated. 

If you struggle with pain or stiffness all the time, or just once in a while, it may be time to make that call.