Suffering from arthritis? The team at Virgin Island Orthopedics and Medical Specialists of St. Thomas and St. Croix, including Dr. Mary Olsen, offer rheumatology treatments to help you find relief.
Guide to Arthritis Types, Symptoms, and Management
Arthritis is a term used to describe musculoskeletal issues that impact the joints, bones, and surrounding soft tissues. This condition can create a great deal of pain and make even the smallest of tasks seem impossible. However, you can find relief. Below, the team at Virgin Island Orthopedics and Medical Specialists of St. Thomas and St. Croix shares some important information about arthritis and how rheumatology can help.
Symptoms of Arthritis
Arthritis symptoms can vary, depending on the person, the type, and where it’s felt. However, the most common symptoms include:
- Joint pain
- Warmth or swelling around the joint
- Difficulty or inability to move a joint
- Chronic fatigue
- Aches and pain in the muscles surrounding the joint
Common Types of Arthritis
The term “arthritis” actually covers more than 150 types of conditions that affect the joints, muscles, and bones. Of these, the following are some of the most common.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: This type occurs when the immune system attacks the joints.
- Ankylosing spondylitis: Ankylosing spondylitis affects the joints around the lower back.
- Psoriatic arthritis: Those who suffer from psoriasis also often suffer from arthritis, as the inflammation caused by psoriasis impacts the joints.
- Osteoarthritis: When the cartilage that cushions and lubricates joints breaks down. It’s common in older adults but can also occur in those with very active lifestyles.
- Gout: Gout is a painful condition in which acid crystals form in the joints.
- Juvenile arthritis: Juvenile arthritis describes arthritis that occurs in kids and teenagers under 16.
How Is It Managed?
In most cases, symptoms of arthritis can be significantly reduced through lifestyle adjustments, including exercising or changing your current type of exercise, better nutrition, stretches, managing your weight, and range of motion exercises.
Medication to help the swelling is also available, as is surgical intervention when necessary. It’s important that you work closely with a rheumatologist like Dr. Mary Olsen, as they can diagnose your condition, ensure that there is nothing else at play, and develop an effective course of treatment customized to your needs.
Don’t let arthritis get the best of you. Schedule a rheumatology appointment at Virgin Island Orthopedics and Medical Specialists in St. Thomas and St. Croix, today. You can reach our St. Thomas office at (340) 714-2845 or our St. Croix office at (340) 692-5000.