Arthritis Specialist

What is arthritis?

Arthritis causes chronic inflammation around joints. It can develop in nearly any joint, but most commonly affects the knees, hands, wrists, shoulders, and ankles. Without treatment, arthritis can limit mobility and lead to chronic joint pain.

Are there different types of arthritis?

With more than 100 known types of arthritis, this painful condition can affect anybody at any age. However, you’re more likely to develop arthritis as you age. Some of the most common types of arthritis include:

Osteoarthritis

Often called the “wear and tear” arthritis, osteoarthritis occurs when the flexible cartilage that cushions your joints begins to deteriorate, irritating your bony joints. If you have osteoarthritis, your joints may feel stiff and painful.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that causes swelling around the joints in your hands, elbows, wrists, and knees. It can also affect your neck, ankles, jaw, and feet. Without the right care, you can develop painful bumps underneath your skin called rheumatoid nodules.

Gout

Gout develops when uric acid crystals build up in a specific joint. It almost always affects the joint at the base of the big toe or other joints in the foot. Gout pain is typically sudden and severe. Your joint may look red, swollen, and warm to the touch.

Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red patches of itchy, scaly skin. It typically affects the skin on the elbows, scalp, or knees. Many people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes inflammation and joint pain in addition to this uncomfortable skin condition.

What are the symptoms of arthritis?

Arthritis typically develops gradually, so you might not realize you have it until the condition has already progressed. If you think you have arthritis, check for the following symptoms:

• Joint pain
• Stiff joints
• Reduced range of motion
• Decreased mobility
• Visibly swollen joints
• Redness
• Joints that feel hot to the touch

Pain and stiffness from arthritis typically flare up when you first get up in the morning. Cold, wet weather can also aggravate your symptoms.

What are the treatments for arthritis?

To effectively relieve your pain and improve your mobility, Dr. Farricielli at The Center for Regenerative Medicine integrates holistic therapies into your arthritis treatment plan. Rather than masking your pain with medication, he aims to heal your damaged joints.

Viscosupplementation is an FDA-approved treatment for knee arthritis. When injected into your knee, viscosupplementation temporarily increases the viscosity of the fluid surrounding your inflamed joint. These injections can help relieve pressure and pain from your joints for up to six months.

Micronized aspirate fat injections are injectable treatments that take fat from your abdomen and use it to cushion your painful, stiff joints.

Dr. Farricielli also offers regenerative medicine treatments, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy and mesenchymal stem cell therapy. Both treatments use materials your body already produces to promote healing.

PRP therapy uses growth factors in your blood to promote cell regeneration and trigger your body’s healing response while reducing inflammation, while mesenchymal stem cell therapy uses mesenchymal stem cells to stimulate natural healing in your joints.

To learn more about the arthritis treatments available at The Center for Regenerative Medicine, call or book an appointment online today.