Treating Joint Pain & Arthritis at the Oxford & Weybridge OSIC
The term “arthritis” simply means joint inflammation. Joint inflammation may present as a combination of swelling, tenderness, stiffness and warmth. There are several different types of arthritis which can be broadly classified into two categories; Osteoarthritis and Inflammatory Arthritis (also known as Inflammatory Arthropathies). Osteoarthritis: This type of arthritis can develop if abnormal stresses are placed through a joint or through significant or recurrent injury to a joint. It can, however, also occur without an obvious reason. It tends to affect the weight bearing joints such as the hip, knee and spinal joints but can also affect non weight bearing joints such as those in the hand. Osteoarthritis develops in several stages. Firstly, the cartilage that lines the joints becomes damaged and the joint space narrows which results in the bones at the joint grinding on each other. This grinding irritates the protective covering of the bones (periosteum) which results in extra bone formation (osteophytes) which inturn can affect the mechanics of the joint. Although such bone growth is an attempt by the body to stabilise the joint, unfortunately, in some cases these bone growths can compress nerves or other structures in the area causing either local pain (heat, redness tenderness) or pain far from the site of these bony changes. Inflammatory Arthritis: Inflammatory arthritis is a generic term used to describe a large number of arthritic conditions in which the synovial membrane (the tissue that contains the joints lubricating fluid) becomes irritated and inflamed. Two of the more common inflammatory arthritis’s are rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Inflammatory arthritis’s are usually also associated with non-joint features therefore diagnosis of these conditions is made by identifying certain signs and symptoms, through blood tests and the use of imaging, such as x-ray. In these cases we will discuss referring you back to your GP for these investigations. If you are suffering from arthritic joint pain, the practitioners at our Oxford and Weybridge Clinics may be able to help you. Our aim is to help you to protect your joints. This can be done by keeping the joints mobile and strong. A program of exercises may be prescribed to strengthen the muscles around the joint, providing more stability, and will be aimed at decreasing the discomfort that you may be suffering. |
Common problems we can help with at the Oxford & Weybridge Clinics: Back & Neck Pain • Low Back Pain • Neck Pain • Sciatica • Mid Back Pain (Thoracic Pain) • Postural Pain & Instability • Headaches & Jaw Problems Joint Pains & Arthritis • Shoulder Pain • Hip & Knee Problems • Foot & Ankle Problems • Achilles Tendonitis & Plantar Fasciitis Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) • Tennis Elbow, Golfers Elbow • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome & associated wrist problems Pre & Post Natal Care / Pregnancy Pain • Postural Pain & Instability • Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD / PSD) • Sciatica Click the headings above to find out more about how we can help. |