Arthritis Treatment Specialist in El Cajon, CA

There are warning signs that give indications that you might have arthritis. Pain indicates that something is wrong. With arthritis, the pain may come and go. It can occur while you are moving or when you are at rest. Pain might be in one location, or it could be in many parts of the body.
 
Some forms of arthritis can cause redness and swelling in the joint that is affected. If the swelling lasts for three days or longer or occurs frequently, it is a good idea to see a doctor. A classic symptom of arthritis is stiffness. You may notice this when you wake up in the morning, or after you have been sitting for a while. If the stiffness that you feel in the morning lasts more than an hour after you get up, it is good to suspect that you have arthritis.

Arthritis is far more common than you think. In the U.S. about 25% of adults deal with arthritis that has been diagnosed. Arthritis can lead to serious joint pain, limiting the things that people can do on a daily basis. This can impact mental health and people’s ability to work.
 
Arthritis is not limited to older adults. While it usually has a growing impact on people as they age. The numbers show that 60% of adults who are of working age (18-64) have arthritis.
 
There are risk factors that increase the likelihood that someone may develop arthritis when they age. Some of the factors you are not able to control like age, sex, and genetics. There are factors that you can control: joint injury or overuse, weight, occupation, infection, and smoking. Making certain lifestyle changes lie as being more physically active and eating healthier can decrease the risk of getting or worsening arthritis.
 
Joint-friendly physical activity can be an effective tool to manage arthritic symptoms. This can also be a good option to manage arthritis without medications, or in addition to them.
 
Self-management is those things you can do on a daily basis to manage your conditions. Making healthy choices, and seeking help when needed can make a difference in how your arthritis impacts you. Self-management is learning strategies to help you cope with the challenges of chronic health conditions.

Treatment for arthritis is mainly focused on relieving the symptoms and improving joint function. Medications are commonly used and will depend on the type of arthritis you have. The most common medication types are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, counterirritants, steroids, and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.
 
Physical therapy is sometimes an option. It can help with some types of arthritis. Exercise can increase the range of motion and strengthen the muscles around the affected joint.
 
Surgery is the final option for treating arthritis. If the other measures don’t work, this may be the option needed. The focus of surgery would be on joint repair, joint replacement, or joint fusion.

East County Urgent Care and Walk-In Clinic provides urgent care services as well as family practice. Many conditions and health concerns are treated here, including arthritis.
 
Call or check in online! We serve patients from El Cajon CA, Wells Park CA, Hillsdale CA, Alpine CA, Rancho San Diego CA, Santee CA, and Jamul CA.