Osteoarthritis

You don’t have to suffer from swollen, sore, or achy joints. At Border Pain Institute in El Paso, Texas, board-certified pain management specialist Carlos Viesca, MD, and his team offer pain-reducing osteoarthritis treatments that restore joint health and ease pain. Schedule an in-person or telehealth evaluation today by phone or online to learn more about treatments.

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a common form of arthritis affecting millions of people. It develops when the protective cartilage cushioning the ends of the bones wears away over time. Osteoarthritis often damages the knees, hips, hands, or spine, though it can affect any joint. Treatment with the Border Pain Institute team offers effective, long-lasting joint pain relief.

Which symptoms does osteoarthritis cause?

Osteoarthritis can cause the following symptoms:

• Joint stiffness
• Pain
• Joint swelling
• Reduced range of motion
• Tenderness
• Bone spurs
• Popping or crackling sounds in joints

Osteoporosis symptoms typically develop slowly and get worse over time.

What will increase the risk of osteoarthritis?

Things that appear to increase the risk of osteoarthritis include:

• Family history of arthritis
• Older age
• Being female
• Joint injuries
• Carrying excess body weight
• Diabetes and other metabolic diseases
• Bone deformities
• Repeated joint stress

When not treated, the joint pain and stiffness linked to osteoarthritis can become severe, making it challenging to complete simple daily tasks.

How does a pain specialist diagnose osteoarthritis?

Diagnosing osteoarthritis includes reviewing your medical history and symptoms, a physical exam, bloodwork, or a joint fluid analysis. You might need X-rays, an MRI, or a CT scan to pinpoint the cause of discomfort and the extent of the joint damage. A pain specialist can then develop a personalized treatment plan.

How is osteoarthritis treated?

Treating osteoarthritis at Border Pain Institute will include one or more of the following pain-reducing solutions:

• Healthy lifestyle changes
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Cortisone injections
• Lubricating injections
• Regenerative medicine
• Oral medication
• Topical treatments
• Peripheral nerve stimulation
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Surgery

You could be a candidate for joint replacement or another kind of surgery to relieve severe discomfort and restore the joint’s structure and function.

Maintaining an ideal weight, eating nutritious foods, taking dietary supplements when asked to, getting plenty of sleep, and engaging in low-impact exercises are also necessary. Tai chi, yoga, heat and cold packs, and topical extracts might also help.

Follow up periodically with your pain specialist to ensure that your pain management plan continues to work effectively.

Schedule an in-person or telehealth appointment at Border Pain Institute today by phone or online for osteoarthritis pain relief.