Living with painful arthritis is a daily battle. Ask someone what it’s like, and you may be surprised at the range of differing responses you hear. For some, this debilitating condition feels like having the flu or living with a bad sprain. For others, it feels like having a constant electric shock that radiates along the nerves. Many also report emotional impacts, such as feeling defeated – or like a failure. More than one-third of the adults who have been diagnosed with arthritis report that it limits their leisure activities – including the ability to spend quality time with loved ones and friends. No matter how painful arthritis has impacted your life, the good news is that there are many types of treatments that can target your pain and provide relief. It’s just one of many chronic conditions treated by Family Integrative Medicine at our medical clinics in Central Florida. Symptoms include:
- Pain
- Redness
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- Tenderness
- Grating sound or sensation
- Groin pain
- Symmetrical joint pain
- Decreased range of motion
- Rashes or scaly skin
When it comes to treating arthritis, our compassionate and highly skilled professionals have extensive training in finding the root cause of painful conditions and internal imbalances. We provide a full spectrum of services aimed at improving your quality of life. As a result, Family Integrative Medicine is well-known in the Central Florida area for helping numerous chronic pain sufferers.
Understanding Painful Arthritis Conditions
Did you know that painful arthritis conditions are one of the leading causes of disability in the United States? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it affects around 58.5 million individuals – and risk increases with age. The term arthritis actually covers more than 100 different diagnoses that affect your body’s joints and tissue in unique ways. Generally, these conditions can be separated into several categories with common symptoms and treatments.
Osteoarthritis
This is a degenerative disease that affects the whole joint and its protective cartilage. Over time, the fluid surrounding the joint breaks down over time, and eventually bones within the joint rub against each other, causing severe pain and difficulty with movement.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
With this condition, your immune system becomes hyperactive, triggering inflammation that attacks the body’s own joints, tissue and organs. As a result, the inflammation may permanently damage the lining of your joints and cause significant pain during the process.
Fibromyalgia
A pain disorder that’s caused by issues within the central nervous system (CNS), fibromyalgia affects the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include pain from touch and normal daily movements, as well as insomnia, problems with concentration and mood, and extreme pain.
Back Pain
One of the most ambiguous complaints experienced at a doctor’s office, several forms of arthritis can be responsible for back pain. These conditions include spinal stenosis, ankylosing spondylitis, or even an acute or repetitive injury.
Can Family Integrative Medicine Help with Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Arthritis Pain?
Can Family Integrative Medicine offer the best non-surgical treatment options for arthritis pain? This approach acknowledges the role of genetics, environment, and lifestyle in managing arthritis pain. Through a combination of acupuncture, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and nutritional guidance, integrative medicine aims to reduce inflammation and improve mobility for individuals suffering from arthritis pain. By considering the whole person, Family Integrative Medicine can provide effective non-surgical options for alleviating arthritis pain.
Treating Painful Arthritis Conditions
Numerous types of treatments can alleviate pain symptoms. In fact, regenerative medicine has been shown to safely and effectively treat painful arthritis. It can provide a real solution that helps patients live pain free for good. Any medical treatment should be tailored to your specific diagnosis, because the right approach will vary based on the type of arthritis you are experiencing. For example, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) have been proven to reduce pain and inflammation when taken in appropriate doses for cases of osteoarthritis. Non-medicinal pain relief can also be effective, such as physical therapy, topical massage, hot-cold therapy and more! Additional non-drug treatments such as medical acupuncture, exercise and stress management can also offer relief from pain.
To maximize arthritis pain relief, at-home therapies are recommended:
- Exercises (consult with your medical provider): Exercise can help keep the joints and muscles strong around the specific area.
- Cold therapy: Cold therapy will reduce blood flow and help reduce swelling.
- Heat therapy: By using tools like the UTK Quantum Wave Heating Pad, you can reduce joint stiffness to the area and increase mobility.
- Massages: Massages can help loosen the muscles around the joint and provide pain relief and mobility.
Let Family Integrative Medicine Treat Your Painful Arthritis
At Family Integrative Medicine, we understand the importance of crafting a treatment protocol that will deliver effective results for our patients. Not only can we help you feel better, but our experienced team of medical professionals can help you live a healthy and happy life with an arthritis diagnosis. It all starts with an appointment at one of our gracious medical clinics. We serve patients from four convenient office locations in Orlando and the surrounding Central Florida region. You can count on our staff to take the time to get to know you, listen to and answer your questions, and thoroughly identify solutions that promote whole-body health. Schedule your consultation today!
