Our Services / Arthritis

Arthritis affects more than one in four adults, often progressing to cause debilitating joint pain and disability. But when you seek early treatment from Jacob Katz, MD, at Katz Medical Group, you can slow down the progressive joint damage, maintain optimal mobility, return to activity, and get relief from the pain. Don't wait to schedule an appointment. At the first sign of joint symptoms, call our office, or use the online booking feature today.

What are the different types of arthritis?

Arthritis is a general diagnosis that refers to many conditions. The different types of arthritis fall into several categories, including:

Degenerative arthritis

Degenerative arthritis is synonymous with osteoarthritis. This type of arthritis begins by breaking down joint tissues and exposing bone because of cartilage wear and tear, eventually causing inflammation. 

Inflammatory arthritis

The diseases in this category begin when the immune system attacks the joints and causes destructive inflammation. The most common examples include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus)
• Sjögren's syndrome
• Spondyloarthritis 
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Scleroderma 
• Connective tissues disease
• Marfans syndrome
• Ehlers Danlos syndrome

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, the ongoing joint inflammation erodes the bone and causes joint deformities. 

Metabolic arthritis

May develop due to the body's production or underexcretion of uric acid. Gout develops when you have abnormally high blood levels of uric acid. The substance accumulates in joints, forms crystals, and causes painful gout attacks. It commonly affects the big toe, but it can also affect any joint. Gout is often not considered, but it’s an important condition to think about when having pain in a large or small joint like the foot or toe. 

What causes osteoarthritis?

Of all the different types of arthritis, osteoarthritis is the most common by a wide margin. This type develops over years of daily stress on the joint. The persistent wear-and-tear slowly breaks down the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones inside the joint.

As the disease progresses, more of the cartilage wears away and the exposed bones grate against one another. Osteoarthritis gradually causes inflammation, bone damage, and the growth of bone spurs aka osteophytes 

What is post-traumatic arthritis?

If you sustain a joint injury, the damage may accelerate cartilage degeneration. As a result, osteoarthritis develops over months instead of years. Unlike normal degenerative osteoarthritis, this condition, called post-traumatic arthritis, usually heals if you get prompt treatment. Common injuries include meniscal tears, ACL tears, and high-velocity injuries.

What symptoms develop due to arthritis?

Arthritis can affect any joint, but different types tend to begin in specific joints. Osteoarthritis starts in large, weight-bearing joints like your knees and hips. 

By comparison, rheumatoid arthritis initially affects the small joints in your fingers, toes, wrist, ankle, and spine. Gout primarily affects your big toe, but it can occur in any joint

All types of arthritis cause progressive joint damage, resulting in pain, stiffness, and limited movement. Inflammatory types also cause swelling and fatigue, leading to joint deformity.

Some types of inflammatory arthritis cause skin symptoms like rashes. Others lead to inflammation in organs throughout your body.

How is arthritis treated?

Treatment for arthritis generally includes physical therapy, exercise, over-the-counter pain relievers, ultrasound-guided joint injections, and medications.

Though there currently aren't medications that directly target osteoarthritis, Dr. Katz focuses on a holistic approach and works with each patient individually to address possible treatment options. These can include lifestyle changes, vitamins, weight loss, topical medicated creams, advanced drugs, or injections to treat other types of arthritis.

For patients with connective tissue disease or hypermobility, the team utilizes evidence-based treatments such as taping, mirror therapy, joint protection techniques, and musculoskeletal strengthening to protect the joints.

If you need expert care for arthritis, call Katz Medical Group or book an appointment online today.