Arthritis Pain
Waking up in the morning with stiff and painful joints that make it difficult to get your day going is a common sign of early-onset arthritis. As the day progresses, often these pains lessen and joints become more mobile, but it should not be overlooked! Arthritis is a common condition many people develop yet continue to live with pain for far too long before seeking professional help. The best way to treat arthritis is to take preventative action, like physical therapy. Arthritis can often lead to injuries if not treated properly, causing further issues with your joints and muscles. At Prime Physio Physical Therapy, a licensed physical therapist will evaluate your symptoms and create a personalized plan tailored to your needs to help provide pain relief. From gentle exercises to lifestyle improvements, our mission is to find the best plan of action to provide immediate pain relief from your arthritis and give you the necessary tools and knowledge so you can do the things that you love.
While there are a number of different types of arthritis, the two most commonly experienced are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is caused by wear and tear or the overuse of your joints as you age. However, it can also be caused by joint injuries or obesity, which puts extra stress on your joints. The most commonly affected joints are joints that bear weight, like your hips, knees, feet, and spine. This is because these areas are constantly in action and are moving, which in turn causes the cartilage to gradually wear down over time (but more quickly when you are overweight), leaving nothing to cushion the joint. Without your body's natural shock absorbers, the bones rub together causing friction, leading to pain, swelling, stiffness, and difficulty doing everyday tasks. Depending on which joint(s) is/are affected, symptoms may include:
​
Deep, aching pains
Stiffness in the morning that typically lasts less than 30 minutes
Pain when walking
Difficulty gripping items, climbing stairs, bending over, squatting, combing your hair, etc
Feeling stiff after resting
A joint that is warm to the touch
Swelling
Loss of range of motion
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an auto-immune disease, which means your immune system attacks parts of your body, especially your joints, leading to inflammation that can cause severe joint damage if left untreated. Though it is still unclear as to what exactly causes rheumatoid arthritis, researchers believe that a person’s environment, hormones, and medical history could all be contributing factors to the onset of this disease. It is common for a symmetrical pattern to present with RA, because it is an autoimmune disorder, you will often see that the same joints on different sides of the body are affected. It is also typical that multiple joints are affected, like your hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, ankles, feet, jaw and neck. Similar to Osteoarthritis, you will experience pain, stiffness, and swelling. However, unlike Osteoarthritis, these symptoms can last multiple hours or occur all day, and can cause fatigue and loss of appetite.
Other common forms of arthritis include:
​
Psoriatic Arthritis
Associated with the skin condition psoriasis, this type of arthritis affects the joints, often leading to swelling and pain in the fingers.
Gout
Caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints, that can cause sudden and severe pain, often in the base of the thumb or finger joints.
Thankfully, physical therapy is a great tool for anyone suffering from arthritis pain! With exercises and treatments tailored to you, Prime Physio Physical Therapy can help reestablish movement in your joints, strengthen supporting muscles, and improve the way you move your body when walking, running, twisting, and so forth, all of which will bring relief to your joints. Physical therapy treatment often helps patients avoid the need for surgery and medications, while also providing the knowledge to help prevent future joint injury. Our physical therapist in Bronxville, NY or Mamaroneck, NY will work with you to create a plan that fits your lifestyle and get you the pain relief you deserve.