OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE, SHOULDER, OR FOOT AND ANKLE
Osteoarthritis is a disease that affects the joints and can make it painful to not only participate in athletic activities, but even go about day-to-day activities. The orthopedic team at Southern Orthopedics and Sports Medicine can help you manage osteoarthritis
in Charleston and Mount Pleasant, South Carolina so that you can continue to have an active lifestyle!
This disease occurs when the cartilage between joints changes, causing it to break down. When this happens, the bones rub together, causing
damage and pain. While osteoarthritis is common in older individuals, it can affect anyone. There is no cure for this disease, but treatments can help with the management of pain and make it easier to move about, as well as preventing damage from
getting worse.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
- Pain that is an ache, burning, or sharp
- Stiffness, especially when first getting up in the morning
- Muscle weakness around the joint
- Deformed joints, especially as the condition worsens
- Reduced range of motion and loss of joint use
- Cracking and creaking sounds in the joints
Treatment for osteoarthritis will vary depending on the individual, and your sports medicine physician will work with you to develop the course of treatment that is best for you. This may include use of oral pain medicine, injected pain medicine, heat
or ice on the painful joint, losing weight to take stress off of the joints, or exercising to strengthen the muscles. If these treatment options do not help to relieve pain, a surgical procedure may be recommended to replace the joint.
While
no cure exists for osteoarthritis in Mount Pleasant and Charleston, the surgeons and physician assistants at Southern Orthopedics and Sports Medicine can provide you with treatments to manage symptoms and prevent the condition from worsening. Call
us today at (843) 936-0715 to schedule a consultation with our team to create a treatment plan for your osteoarthritis and get back to your favorite activities.