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If you’re one of the 58 million Americans living with pain or disability due to arthritis, you can find customized treatment solutions at Sanford Internal Medicine. The medical providers offer diagnostic imaging tests on-site to assess the health of your painful joints. They also design an arthritis management plan to keep you pain-free and physically active. Call the office in Sanford, Florida, to schedule an arthritis consultation or book an appointment online today.
Arthritis is a chronic disease that causes persistent joint inflammation and pain. There are over 100 types of arthritis, but the most common types include:
Osteoarthritis is a wear-and-tear disease that develops as you get older. This type of arthritis involves the breakdown of the protective cartilage that lines your joints. Without this cartilage, your bones rub together and create friction that triggers inflammation and pain in the joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to mistakenly attack the otherwise healthy tissues that line your joints.
Gout develops when excess uric acid in your blood forms crystals. These crystals can become sharp enough to stab your joints. Often, the crystals affect the joint at the base of your big toe, causing inflammation and pain.
You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Sanford Internal Medicine if you have arthritis symptoms that you can’t manage on your own. Joint-related symptoms of arthritis can include:
Without treatment, arthritis can be progressive and lead to permanent joint damage and deformities.
Sanford Internal Medicine offers diagnostic technologies to determine if you have arthritis and identify the type. The providers customize a treatment plan to help you regain your joint flexibility and reduce the need for surgery. They also offer services to manage your arthritis pain and other symptoms.
If your arthritis pain is moderate to severe, the Sanford Internal Medicine providers may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications or recommend steroid injections. Treating gout may involve medications to reduce your body’s production of uric acid.
Once you have control over your pain, you might benefit from physical therapy. The exercises performed during your sessions and at home can improve your range of motion and prevent inflammation.
Sanford Internal Medicine also offers weight management resources to help you achieve healthy body weight. Losing even a small amount of excess weight takes the pressure off your joints to preserve your mobility.
When you have a joint deformity due to severe arthritis, the providers can refer you to a specialist to discuss your options for joint repair or replacement surgery. Surgery is usually only a last-resort option for people who lose their mobility due to joint damage.