More than 50 million people in the United States have osteoarthritis. It is especially common among those over 45 years old. If you think you may be suffering from osteoarthritis in Carrollton, GA, Dr. Peter Lazarnick (Dr. Pete) takes a holistic approach to treatment, and he will help you to enjoy the best life you can live.
Who gets osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is most common in older people. Before 45 years of age, more men suffer from it and after 45 there are more women. Life can be hard on your joints and if you are overweight, that adds additional stress. It isn't just a disease of the elderly. Younger people who have injuries or overuse joints can also end up suffering.
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the result of the breakdown of the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones at the joints. It wears down and in some cases leaves the person with bone-on-bone contact at the joint. This leads to inflammation and often extreme pain.
Signs of osteoarthritis
Signs of osteoarthritis may begin as stiffness, mild pain, and swelling of the joint. Joints may also be tender to the touch. Some people are able to feel the grinding of bones against each other and hear a clicking sound. You may notice when there are weather changes, your joints will throb. Most often, it will occur in the weight-bearing joints such as the knees, hips, and back. However, it is common in other parts of the body such as the shoulders and hands. These are caused most frequently by repetitive use.
In the fingers, signs of osteoarthritis beyond just the pain can be small lumps that appear at the joints. At the joint closest to the fingernail, it is called Heberden’s nodes; at the middle joint, they are referred to as Bouchard's nodes. In many cases, hand osteoarthritis tends to run in families and especially in post-menopausal women. It isn't just fingers either, it can affect where the thumb meets the wrist.
Knees are commonly impacted and suffer from the stiffness, swelling, and pain that are common in other joints. The knee may also become deformed and it can cause loss of mobility. When osteoarthritis impacts the hip joints, the pain may radiate to the groin, buttocks, and inner thighs. It can make bending and walking very difficult and disrupt the ability to carry out basic daily tasks.
Osteoarthritis can also be found in the neck and the spine. Living with pain is not fun and chiropractic care can help.
For pain relief from your osteoarthritis, you can count on Dr. Pete in Carrollton, GA, who offers a holistic approach to treatment. Make an appointment today. Call 770-832-2226.