Pain Relief for Arthritis Chantilly, VA

Live Life Comfortably: Relieve Arthritic Pain With Physical Therapy

Do your joints feel achy or stiff when you wake up in the morning? Is the pain at its worst first thing in the morning and decreases as the day goes on? These are some common signs of early-onset arthritis, a common ailment that many people experience. Unfortunately, many people live with their painful arthritic joints for far too long, before making the decision to seek help.

Fortunately, our South Riding physical therapy practice can help manage your arthritis. One of our licensed physical therapists will help decrease your risk of sustaining arthritis-related injuries, and their evaluation will also help in determining which treatments will be beneficial in providing pain relief. If you have been diagnosed with arthritis, or you think you may be experiencing arthritic symptoms, contact Chiron Physical Therapy today. We’ll schedule an appointment for you and get you started on your first steps toward relief.

Why do I have arthritis?

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is fairly easy to diagnose because it is the most commonly experienced type of arthritis. There are a few ways that osteoarthritis can develop. Sudden injuries to the affected joint can cause osteoarthritis, or it can develop after a previous injury has fully healed. For example, let’s say you took a harsh fall on your knees in the basketball court when you were younger. You received the necessary treatment, recovered, and continued playing basketball. Even if your injury healed completely, it is still possible for osteoarthritis to occur later in life, especially if you continue running and jumping on the affected joint.

Labor-intensive careers can also cause osteoarthritis to develop. If you have a job where you have to swing tools in repetitive motions (such as a carpenter or roofer), your joints are at a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis. An additional factor that increases the risk of osteoarthritis is obesity since additional strain is being put on the hip and knee joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a little more difficult to understand. It is the second most commonly experienced form of arthritis, and it develops as an autoimmune response. When someone is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, it means that their immune system sees the joints as a threat and decides to attack them. This causes pain and inflammation in the joints. While research is still being done in order to better understand rheumatoid arthritis, many experts believe that your medical history, environment, and hormones could all be contributing factors. Since rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition, rather than an injury or general “wear and tear” like osteoarthritis, it is common for the same joints to be affected on both sides of your body.

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What are the most common symptoms of arthritis?

The Arthritis Foundation states that arthritis affects over 50 million people. It is also the leading cause of disability across the nation. Due to its commonplace nature across America, it is important to understand the symptoms so you can better identify if you may have the condition.
Osteoarthritis is caused when the joints begin to wear down. This can develop as a result of old age or overuse of the joints. The “wear and tear” of osteoarthritis can cause severe pain in the joints, as the cartilage is no longer acting as a cushion and shock absorber. Without thick cartilage to act as a cushion, the bones begin to rub together. This can cause piercing pain, tightness, or soreness within the joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis, also known as “inflammatory arthritis,” has been known to cause painful swelling, bone erosion, and joint deformity. Its symptoms typically present themselves in the forms of stiffness, weakness, tenderness, or a “pins and needles” sensation. This condition is also typically more common in females than males.

Those suffering from any type of arthritis tend to have similar symptoms. A common report amongst arthritic patients is a feeling of stiffness within the joints as soon as they wake up, with the discomfort fading throughout the day. Arthritis can also limit your daily life, as pain may be experienced during exercise or work, fading once the activity is over. You may also notice “popping” or “clicking” sounds when moving your joints, and they may feel sensitive or painful to the touch.

Find pain relief for arthritis with Chiron Physical Therapy:

WebMD states that those suffering from arthritis aches and pains can greatly benefit from physical therapy. After scheduling an appointment with Chiron Physical Therapy, one of our highly-trained South Riding physical therapists will conduct a physical evaluation to determine your best course of treatment. Treatment plans will be determined based on the nature of your condition. They typically include weight management to help ease some stress on your joints, and/or posture improvement to relieve stiffness and prevent injury. Our physical therapist will also provide specific techniques for alleviating your arthritis pain, which may include ultrasound, manual therapy, or thermal therapies.

Arthritis treatments are aimed at alleviating pain and decreasing the amount of stiffness, stress, and inflammation surrounding your joints. If you have arthritis, or you think you may be experiencing arthritic symptoms, contact our South Riding and Chantilly, VA physical therapy office today to consult with one of our physical therapists. At Chiron Physical Therapy, we are dedicated to helping you get the treatment you need so you can live life comfortably.

What causes arthritis pain?

Because arthritis is a catch-all term, pinpointing what causes arthritis may be difficult. In most cases, arthritis is caused by overuse, wear and tear, or injuries. It is also possible for arthritis to be caused by infections, such as Lyme disease, an immune system dysfunction, such as rheumatoid arthritis, or an abnormal metabolism, which can lead to gout.

What are the different types of arthritis?

There are over 100 different types of arthritis, containing monoarthritis (where only one joint is affected) and oligoarthritis (where multiple joints are affected). Some of the most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, which develops from “wear and tear” of cartilage, and rheumatoid arthritis, which develops from overactive immune systems.

Is exercise good for arthritis pain?

Targeted exercises can help ease your arthritic pains. It is possible to maintain an active lifestyle while living with arthritis, but you may need some assistance. Your physical therapist will conduct a physical evaluation to determine what the best course of treatment will be for you. Your physical therapist will then guide you through prescribed gentle exercises that become more intensive as you progress in your treatments, in order to help you achieve your highest levels of physical capability.

What is the best pain relief treatment for arthritis?

Regardless of the cause of arthritis, physical therapy plays a major role in the treatment of its symptoms. Physical therapy should always be the first method of treatment, before resorting to more aggressive procedures, such as surgery. In fact, in many cases, physical therapy can even eliminate the need for risky treatment methods altogether, such as harmful pain-management drugs or invasive surgical correction. If the condition is severe and surgery is required, physical therapy can also help you prepare and recover from your procedure