Arthritis Specialists
Arthritis Experts in Woodbury Heights, Haddon Heights, Voorhees, & Pine Hill, NJ
Our podiatrists deliver expert arthritis treatments and surgeries using the latest techniques and medications.
This condition refers to inflammation of the joints, affecting one joint or multiple joints. While the term commonly refers to either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, over 100 different types of it are currently known.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type in the US, caused by "wear and tear" in the joint cartilage. While OA isn't a normal part of aging, it is associated with older age, being diagnosed in the 50s or 60s.
Common Types of Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
An autoimmune condition where the body's immune system attacks the joints, leading to hot, swollen joints. RA is progressive, eventually causing the joint's complete degradation unless treated. It most typically develops between the ages of 30 and 50.
Psoriatic arthritis
A long-term inflammatory arthritis that occurs alongside the skin condition psoriasis. It commonly affects the fingers and wrist joints in the first six months of the disease. Unlike RA, it is asymmetrical.
Gout
An inflammatory condition is caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals in the joint space. High levels of uric acid in the blood are the underlying cause. The condition is characterized by periods of "gout attacks," with severe symptoms (pain, swelling, heat), followed by a remission phase that can last months or years.
Arthritis Symptoms
Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling are the most commonly seen symptoms. These symptoms are typically worsened when getting out of bed in the morning or after a period of resting. Other symptoms of OA include:
Reduce range of motion
Muscle weakness adjacent to the joint
Grating or scraping feeling
Clicking or popping in the joint
Bony growths in the fingers
Instability or buckling
Other symptoms of RA include:
More than one affected joint
Morning stiffness for 30 minutes or more
Low-grade fever
Fatigue
Eye and mouth inflammation
Heart muscle and blood vessel inflammation
Anemia (low red blood cell count)
Symmetrical joints affected
Diagnosis of Arthritis
The treatment is heavily specialized depending on the condition. It is, therefore, critical to ensure the correct diagnosis is made.
Osteoarthritis
Diagnosis is made primarily on the basis of history and examination. X-rays can show cartilage loss, bone damage, shrinking of the joint space, and bony spurs. If the disease is caught early, the X-ray could be normal — used to track the disease's progression.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Specialized blood tests, such as rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibodies, are used if a doctor suspects rheumatoid arthritis. X-rays are also performed to track the progression of the disease, alongside MRI and ultrasound.
Other tests can involve aspirating fluid from the joint to analyze the specific condition. Septic arthritis, involving infection of the joint space, is severe and diagnosed by culturing the joint fluid. Meanwhile, psoriatic arthritis is defined by its clinical signs, evidence of joint disease on MRI, and negative RA tests.
Arthritis Treatment
It is focused on relieving symptoms and increasing joint function. A combination of treatments is most commonly administered, including physical therapy and medications.
Here are some of the medications used in the treatment of this condition:
NSAIDS
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), e.g., ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve), relieve pain and soothe inflammation in osteoarthritis. NSAIDs can also be applied topically to the affected joint as a cream or ointment.
Steroids
Corticosteroids, like prednisone, are used to reduce inflammation and pain in the short term. Long-term use of steroids can lead to bone thinning, diabetes, and weight gain. Steroids are either given as a pill or as an injection into the joint.
DMARDs
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are specially designed drugs used to suppress the overactive immune system in patients with RA. Methotrexate is the first-line drug, but other, newer biologics are gradually becoming available.
Arthritis Surgery
It is the last line of defense. When other conservative treatments aren't successful, your podiatrist may suggest one of the following procedures:
Joint repair
Joint surfaces are smooth and realigned to improve the joint's function after severe disease damage.
Joint replacement
If repair is not possible, a joint replacement may be viable. Joint replacement is less common in the feet and ankle, with the hips and knees most likely to be replaced.
Joint fusion
Smaller joints, such as the ankle or toes, can undergo fusion in cases of arthritis. The two ends of the bone are removed and then locked together — healing will form a single rigid unit.