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Our Services / Arthritis

Arthritis

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation in Jonesboro, GA


As the most common type of arthritis, osteoarthritis is a top cause of disability in adults. But with early treatment from Rajiv Sood, DO, and the team at Spine and Orthopedic Center, you can slow down the progressive joint damage. Dr. Sood offers a wide range of therapies that ease your symptoms, protect the joint, and help you stay active longer. If you have joint pain or stiffness, don’t wait to get help. Call the office in Jonesboro, Georgia, or schedule an appointment online today.

Arthritis Q & A

What causes arthritis?

Arthritis is a general diagnosis that includes many conditions. Among all of the different types, the most common is osteoarthritis. Though osteoarthritis may affect any joint, it most often begins in your weight-bearing joints, such as your knees, hips, shoulders, and spine.

Osteoarthritis develops over years of repeatedly using the joint. The ongoing wear-and-tear gradually breaks down the articular cartilage that covers and protects the ends of bones in the joint.

As osteoarthritis progresses and more of the cartilage wears away, the bones become exposed and rub together when you use the joint. Over time, the bones become damaged, and inflammation and bone spurs develop.

Though uncommon, a severe joint injury can accelerate cartilage degeneration, causing osteoarthritis in months rather than years. However, this condition, called post-traumatic arthritis, usually heals with treatment.

What symptoms occur due to arthritis?

The classic symptoms of osteoarthritis include joint pain, stiffness, and limited movement. In the early stages, your symptoms may only appear during or after activities that place stress on the affected joints, such as walking, running, and sports.

As the disease progresses and you sustain more joint damage, your symptoms gradually get worse. The pain and stiffness become a more constant problem, and you may have joint clicking or popping.

How is arthritis treated?

Before Dr. Sood can develop a unique strategy for treating osteoarthritis, he first performs a physical exam and takes digital X-rays to diagnose the condition and determine the overall health of your joint.

Though Dr. Sood customizes each person's treatment to meet their age, activity level, and stage of arthritis, he always designs treatment plans that limit the need for using long-term medications.

Your treatment for osteoarthritis may include any of the following therapies:

  • Physical therapy
  • Customized bracing
  • Customized orthotics
  • Hyaluronic acid injections
  • Corticosteroid injections
  • Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
  • Prolotherapy injections
  • Non-addictive pain medications
  • Anti-inflammatory medications
  • Genicular nerve block
  • Radiofrequency ablation

Physical therapy is an essential treatment for arthritis. Moving the joint with active and passive exercise reduces inflammation, relieves pain, and slows down the progressive joint damage. 

Strengthening the muscles that protect the joint also helps maintain joint stability and takes the pressure off the affected joint.

When you need a joint injection, Dr. Sood uses ultrasound or X-ray imaging to guide the procedure. Imaging allows him to precisely inject beneficial medications at targeted locations.

If you have joint pain and stiffness, call Spine and Orthopedic Center or book an appointment online today.