Arthritis can limit your movement and activity as it causes tender, inflamed, and painful joints. Unfortunately, these symptoms usually worsen as you age. The best way to manage that is with help from Houston arthritis doctors. These are specialists who can diagnose your condition and offer a personalized care plan to reduce pain and swelling. Keep reading and discover how the best specialists work and explore the evidence-based care options they offer.

Diagnosing arthritis

Arthritis doctors will conduct a physical exam to check swelling and warmth in your joints and assess your range of movement. Additionally, they may order imaging and laboratory tests to assess the joint damage and identify the type of arthritis you have. All this will help them diagnose your condition before creating a personalized treatment plan.

Treatment tailored to your condition

When you visit an arthritis doctor, one of the first things they will do is identify the type of arthritis you have. From there, they can create a custom care plan with multimodal approaches for pain management.

Most patients have either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage on your joints and bones wears down with age. On the other hand, rheumatoid arthritis happens when your immune system attacks the joints.

In some cases, arthritis may be caused by underlying diseases or infections, such as lupus, psoriasis, or gout. Houston arthritis doctors will personalize your care plan to meet your exact needs.

Treatment goals

Doctors tailor the treatment according to the arthritis you have. However, they aim to relieve the symptoms and manage pain to improve your quality of life.

Although there’s no cure for arthritis, doctors apply evidence-based practices to improve your symptoms. These include non-surgical treatments like anti-inflammatory medications, therapeutic injections, and physical therapy.

Additionally, a doctor will recommend lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of joint injuries and pain. These include avoiding tobacco products, doing non-weight-bearing and low-impact exercises, and maintaining a healthy body weight.

Houston arthritis doctors will do their best to minimize the need for surgery. However, they may recommend it for severe cases that have not improved with non-invasive or minimally invasive treatments.

Manage your arthritis today

Call 832-777-7246 to arrange a consultation with Houston arthritis doctors. Experience a comprehensive multimodal approach to your care here at Houston Spine & Joint Pain Consultants.