Don't Let Arthritis Keep You From Enjoying Life

With over 100 forms of the disease, arthritis is a collection of joint disorders, not a single, simple condition. Though two types of arthritis comprise most of the diagnosed cases, there are still over 54 million American adults living with some form of the disease.

When the pain and accompanying mobility problems begin to interfere with your daily living, make an appointment with Westside Pain Specialists to discover a pain management plan designed to sideline the effects of arthritis.

Dr. James Nassiri specializes in arthritis treatment, no matter what the source of your pain. Together, you can sideline the symptoms, rather than letting them sideline you.

The most common forms of arthritis

Osteoarthritis, by far the most common form of the disease, is a “wear and tear” condition. Live long enough and you’re virtually assured of some level of osteoarthritis. While it doesn’t always advance to the stage where it interferes with your daily living, for many people it does.

Cartilage that covers bones at joints like the knee and hip can break down over time. Healthy cartilage tissue is slippery, aiding joint movement by keeping bones from direct contact with each other. So when cartilage breaks down, those bones rub against each other, making it tougher to move the joint, and often quite painful. 

Rheumatoid arthritis is an immune system disorder that attacks the lining of joints first, though it can progress to the point where cartilage completely erodes.

Treatment options

Neither osteoarthritis nor rheumatoid arthritis is curable. Often, the first line of treatment for osteoarthritis is pain management, because a good therapy for the condition is continued movement and light physical therapy, which may be challenging against the background of pain created by the joint deterioration.

Slowing the progress of rheumatoid arthritis typically takes similar priority to pain relief. Joint replacement surgery is a last resort, and prosthetic joints have their own serviceable life, so surgery to treat both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis may be postponed until you can expect the replacement joint itself to last for the rest of your life.

Regenerative medicine

New drug-free therapies encourage your body to repair itself more efficiently. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy uses a sample of your own blood, treated to concentrate platelets, which are key factors in the repair process. Dr. Nassiri specializes in PRP therapy, which many patients find effective for relieving pain and slowing the progress of arthritis.

Growth factor hormones, present in platelets, are key to the healing process. Concentrating these from a blood sample permits a fast, safe, and biocompatible means for supplementing platelets supplied normally through your blood supply.

Since cartilage tissue isn’t well-supplied with blood even in healthy joints, injecting PRP into the arthritic joint provides additional building blocks toward tissue repair. Many patients experience relief from arthritis pain and inflammation. 

PRP has few side effects, and it works well alongside other treatments and therapies. It can reduce your reliance on conventional painkillers.

The best solutions for you depend on your condition and its progress. Call Dr. Nassiri and his team at Westside Pain Specialists today at their offices in Beverly Hills or Rancho Cucamonga, California. You can also send them a message here on the website. 

Get back to easy living before the summertime is over.