According to the World Health Organization, more than 528 million people worldwide have osteoarthritis. The knee joint is most commonly affected, with over 365 million cases, followed closely by the hip and hand joints.
Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent form of the disease, affecting older adults — but surgery isn't always the answer. Many people find relief with conservative treatments like physical therapy and injections.
Our team provides nonsurgical therapies for osteoarthritis and other orthopedic injuries at the Spine and Orthopedic Center of New Mexico in Roswell, New Mexico.
Dr. Omar Osmani and Dr. David Ball are two compassionate and experienced doctors providing personalized treatments for osteoarthritis.
Arthritis is a disease that encompasses several subcategories of joint problems. Understanding the anatomy of the body's joints is crucial to understanding arthritis.
There are many types of joints, but each one is where two or more bones meet. Various structures make up the joint, including synovial fluid and cartilage. Over time, these structures wear down, causing pain.
Osteoarthritis is one form of arthritis that affects the protective cartilage that lines the bones. This cartilage protects the bones from rubbing, causing friction and pain. Over time, the cartilage wears down from aging or injury, leading to intense pain.
Osteoarthritis affects the knees, hips, and hands but can also affect other joints. Osteoarthritis isn't curable, but you can manage it with nonsurgical treatments.
We successfully manage many patients with nonsurgical treatments for osteoarthritis. These treatments are successful for mild to moderate forms of the disease. Most people benefit from the following conservative treatments:
Physical therapy helps strengthen the supportive tissues, improving stability and relieving pain. It involves stretching, rehabilitative exercise, and complementary therapies to improve flexibility and reduce discomfort.
Corticosteroids are powerful medications that significantly reduce inflammation in the joints. We prescribe them orally or give them through a joint injection. Corticosteroids provide weeks to months of pain relief from osteoarthritis.
If you're living with knee osteoarthritis, we offer viscosupplementation injections. They contain hyaluronic acid, similar to the joint fluid that prevents friction. It replaces the lost fluid that occurs over time, giving you long-term relief.
Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is a regenerative medicine that utilizes your blood to regenerate tissues. Platelets contain powerful growth proteins that rebuild damaged tissues within arthritic joints.
Supportive devices like braces, crutches, or canes help provide stability and take pressure off affected joints.
We also offer lifestyle tips to help relieve everyday osteoarthritis pain. Small daily changes reduce stress on the joints, preventing arthritis from worsening.
One way to alleviate joint stress is by maintaining a healthy weight. Losing excess weight puts less pressure on the joints, relieving pain and reducing the risk of worsening arthritis.
Exercise is another way to control osteoarthritis, as long as it's low-impact. Regular low-impact exercise strengthens the supporting muscles while improving stability. The best low-impact exercises include swimming, cycling, and walking.
When osteoarthritis pain does strike, utilize over-the-counter pain relievers and heat or ice. These treatments provide short-term relief but are highly effective for mild to moderate osteoarthritis pain.
Combining lifestyle tips and conservative treatments is an excellent option for osteoarthritis relief.
If you have osteoarthritis and require treatment, call our Roswell, New Mexico office today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Osmani or request an appointment on our website.
