Arthritis

  • Osteoarthritis – A condition that results from gradual deterioration and loss of the joint surface cartilage.  This allows the bones under the cartilage to rub together, causing pain, swelling, and loss of motion of the joint.  It is often called wear-and-tear arthritis and is the most common type of arthritis.  Osteoarthritis gradually worsens with time and no cure exists.  However, osteoarthritis treatments can slow the progression of the disease, relieve pain, and improve function.
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis – A chronic inflammatory disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function in the joints.  It occurs when your immune system, the system that protects your body from outside harm, mistakenly starts attacking your body’s healthy tissue.  This causes inflammation that leads to swelling in the joints, making them progressively less and less mobile.
  • Post-Traumatic Arthritis – A condition that is caused by the wearing out of a joint that has had any kind of physical injury.  This injury could be from sports, a vehicle accident, a fall, or any other source of physical trauma.  These injuries can damage the cartilage and/or the bone.