The number of people diagnosed with arthritis in the United States has reached 54 million, and this figure is expected to rise to 78 million by 2040 as the population ages. At Dr. Louis Keppler & Associates, the team of orthopedic specialists, led by Dr. Keppler, has extensive experience helping their patients in Independence, Ohio, overcome the serious limitations that arthritis can place on their lives. To learn more about managing your arthritis, call or request an appointment using the online booking tool.
request an appointmentWhat is arthritis?
There are more than 100 types of arthritis, which is a catchall term for diseases that affect your joints, causing pain and inflammation. The most common forms of the disease fall under the following categories:
Degenerative arthritis
Osteoarthritis is, far and away, the most common form of arthritis, with approximately 31 million people diagnosed. This progressive and degenerative disease breaks down the cartilage in your joints, allowing your bones to rub together painfully.
Inflammatory arthritis
The two main types of inflammatory arthritis are rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. These forms of the disease develop when your immune system mistakenly attacks your otherwise healthy joints, causing inflammation and pain.
Metabolic arthritis
The primary form of this arthritis is gout, which is caused by a buildup of uric acid in your body. This build-up creates sharp, crystal-like structures in your joints (namely your big toe) that lead to considerable pain.
Infectious arthritis
Certain infections, such as salmonella and some sexually transmitted infections, can lead to problems within your joints.
What are the symptoms of arthritis?
Since arthritis refers to pain and inflammation in your joints, these are the primary symptoms to watch out for. You may also experience stiffness and increasing limitations on your ability to move your affected` joints freely.
Arthritis symptoms can also come and go, especially when it comes to rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, lupus, or gout, which can flare up, causing acute pain during certain periods.
How is arthritis treated?
As an orthopedic specialist and surgeon, Dr. Keppler understands better than most the complexities of the human joint and how to treat arthritis, especially osteoarthritis. Typically, Dr. Keppler starts out conservatively with:
- Physical therapy
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Hot and cold therapies
- Stem cell therapy
- Corticosteroid injections
If your arthritis persists or the damage to your joint is beyond repair, Dr. Keppler has considerable experience with joint replacement. Using the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques, Dr. Keppler can repair or replace your knees, hips, shoulders, ankles, wrists, and elbows.
If you’re suffering from debilitating arthritis, call Dr. Louis Keppler & Associates for relief. Or you can set up an appointment by filling out the online form.