Arthritis Pain Treatment
What is Arthritis?
The term arthritis refers to a wide range of diseases (somewhere around 200) that affect the joints and creates pain for the individual. Some common examples of arthritis-related diseases include lupus, arthritic hands and rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis, in its various forms, can cause a number of symptoms that can impair your ability to perform your usual, everyday activities.
The Development of Arthritis
The development of arthritis happens in multiple ways. The most common development of arthritis happens when an injury goes on to cause chronic pain in the form of arthritis. It can also be caused, however, by metabolism issues, genetics, infections, or dysfunctions in the immune system.
Transversely, engaging in regular physical activity has been proven to lessen and even stop arthritis pain. Your pain, function, and mental health can all improve by adding regular exercise into your routine.
Treating Arthritis
Treatments for arthritis are specifically designed to control the chronic pain that debilitates your activities and stops you from living your daily life. Our treatment designed by our Atlanta orthopedist also aims to minimize further damage caused by arthritic hands to the joints. Treatments often include medications and therapy, such as physical therapy. At Comprehensive Spine & Pain, we work with our patients in the Atlanta area to determine how they can better live and improve their health.
At Comprehensive Spine and Pain, our Atlanta pain specialist will work with you to determine how to best improve your health and find long term pain management solutions in Atlanta without the need for further medical assistance.
Early Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
It is extremely common for physical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis to appear before it can be diagnosed. Review the following list so you can detect any changes you may experience early on.
Fatigue
Since fatigue is a symptom that can be indicative of a wide range of diseases, it can be difficult to pinpoint it directly to arthritis. As a result, be conscious of any additional symptoms you are experiencing and speak to your Atlanta orthopedist about your concerns.
Joint Pain
If you feel pain in your joints, it could be a sign that arthritis is developing in that area. This can include tenderness, swelling, redness, warmth or stiffness. If this joint pain is occurring on each side of the body, it could be an indication that you are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
Loss of Range of Motion
The loss of motion in your joints or limbs is often a late-stage sign of arthritis. If you are losing your range of motion, consult with our Atlanta pain specialist to seek diagnosis and treatment.
Treatment for Arthritis
Most of the treatments for arthritis are aimed at transforming pain and improving function. Since every case is unique, our Atlanta orthopedist will try various treatments until they discover the perfect pain management solution for you.
Medications
The type of medication needed to treat your arthritic hands and joints will be determined by the type of arthritis you suffer from. Following are the most common medications we prescribe at our pain and spine clinic.
Analgesics
Analgesics are an effective solution for reducing pain but will not decrease levels of inflammation. These types of medicines include Tylenol, Percocet, Oxycontin and more.
Counterirritants
This treatment comes in the form of creams and ointments containing multiple ingredients that inhibit pain signals to reduce the discomfort caused by your joints. They should be directly applied to the affected areas.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Effective at treating pain and inflammation, these types of medications include Advil, Motrin and more. Since some of these drugs have the potential for harmful side effects, it is important to consult with your Atlanta pain specialist before taking them.
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
DMARDs are used to stop the immune system from attacking the joints.
Biologic Response Modifiers
Used in combination with DMARDs, biologic response modifiers are genetically engineered to target protein molecules involved in the response that causes the immune system to attack the joints.
Corticosteroids
These medications reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system to provide pain treatment to arthritic hands and joints.
Arthritic Pain Management in Atlanta
Our Premiere Pain Management Specialist in Atlanta
Dr. V.K. Puppala is genuinely concerned for your well-being and will treat you with the utmost compassion and respect. He takes a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment by incorporating several minimally invasive interventional methods into his practice using practical treatments and effective medication management.
With four office locations in and around the city, Dr. Puppala specializes in treating patients seeking help with pain management in Atlanta. To make an appointment today, contact us online or call 770-627-7246.
Why Choose Our Atlanta Orthopedist to Treat Your Pain Condition?
• Double Board Certified in Pain Management and Anesthesiology
• Non-surgical Approach
• State-of-the-Art Equipment
• Immediate Appointments
• Effective Treatment Plans
• Accepts Most Insurance Plans
• Friendly and Knowledgeable Staff
• Convenient Locations
Early Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
There are many symptoms that can show long before rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is officially diagnosed. These symptoms may include many physical symptoms. It is important to be in tune with your body and discover these changes early on. Catching these symptoms early on, when combined with lifestyle changes, can save much pain and hassle down the road.
Fatigue
Fatigue is often accompanied by words like “lethargic” and “exhausted.” There are some treatable diseases that lead to fatigue; things like anemia, thyroid diseases, and COPD, but much of the cause remains hard to pinpoint for patients and doctors alike. If you are experiencing fatigue, be conscious and aware of any additional symptoms and speak to your health care team about your concerns. This will help them determine any issues as early as possible.
Joint Pain
Pain in the joints during physical activity or even when relaxing can be a sign that arthritis may be developing in that area. Along with pain, you may also experience joint tenderness, swelling, redness, warmth, or stiffness in the joints. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, this will often happen symmetrically, meaning both sides of the body will be affected equally.
Loss of Range of Motion
Loss of motion in the joints is a later-stage sign of arthritis developing in the limbs or other joints. If you feel like you are losing range of motion, you should consult with a doctor to find out for sure whether or not you have a problem. This loss of range of motion can occur suddenly or gradually over time.
Treatment for Arthritis
Most of the treatments performed for arthritis are aimed at transforming pain and improving joint function. While everyone is different, oftentimes we try multiple treatments before discovering the perfect combination for you.
Medications
Different types of arthritis call for different medications. Here are some of the ones we prescribe and use most commonly:
Analgesics
Analgesics are effective for the reduction of pain but will not affect your level of inflammation. Some of the examples of these are Tylenol and some narcotics like Percocet, Oxycontin, and others.
Counterirritants
These arthritis treatments come in the form of creams and ointments. They contain various ingredients that, when rubbed over the skin, can inhibit pain signals and reduce the pain you feel from the joints.
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
These drugs treat pain as well as inflammation. Some examples of NSAIDs include ibuprofen like Advil and Motrin. Some NSAIDs are only available when prescribed by your doctor. There are possible side effects of these drugs that are important to consider if you are at risk of heart attack or stroke. They can be taken orally or rubbed over the skin in the form of creams and gels.
Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)
The purpose of a DMARD is to stop the immune system from attacking the joints.
Biologic Response Modifiers
Usually used in combination with DMARDs, These drugs are genetically engineered and are used to target protein molecules involved in the immune response that is causing your system to attack the joints.
Corticosteroids
These drugs reduce inflammation and suppress your immune system, which is often the problem in cases of arthritis, as your immune system is attacking the inflamed joints.
Arthritis Treatment in the Atlanta Region
V. K. Puppala, M.D. sees patients at his Villa Rica, Georgia office. Patients from all over the Metro Atlanta area seek his help. Dr. Puppala is genuinely concerned about his patient’s general well-being and is known for treating all his patients with respect and compassion. Dr. Puppala takes a multidisciplinary approach by incorporating a number of minimally invasive interventional methods using practical treatments and effective medication management. Call 770-627-7246 or 770-MAP-PAIN today to make an appointment.
