Arthritis can appear in over 100 forms, but when people say they have arthritis, they probably mean they have either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. These two forms are the most common and affect people in varying degrees. Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) produce similar symptoms, but their origins and diagnoses are very different. So what’s … Read more
In order to commemorate National Arthritis Awareness Month, Midwest Center for Joint Replacement and other OrthoAlliance (OA) partner practices collaborated with the Arthritis Foundation to present a free three-part webinar series about arthritis. The webinar series, OrthoInsights, covers information including arthritis types, its symptoms, treatment options, and resources for support of those with arthritis. … Read more
What causes post-traumatic arthritis? Post-traumatic arthritis can develop months to years after any physical injury to your joints. Most commonly, physicians see arthritic development in patients who have suffered from vehicle accidents, past sports injuries, military injuries, and falls. These types of injuries can damage a joint’s cartilage, bone, or mechanical structure, causing one or all of … Read more
Smoking causes joint damage Smoking is still the number one cause of preventable death. According to OrthoInfo, more than 440,000 people in the U.S. die from tobacco-related diseases each year. Some damage done from smoking cannot be repaired, but other negative effects on your body can be reversed – or at least reduced – simply by … Read more
Musculoskeletal conditions and injuries are very common in aging athletes, including muscle strains, tendinopathy (rotator cuff tears, Achilles tendon tears, etc), meniscal tears with osteoarthritis in the knees, or worse – fractures. As you age, it is very important that you listen to your body and treat your aches and pains with care. However, the … Read more
Although diabetes and osteoarthritis are independent conditions, they have been known to aggravate one another. It can be more difficult to manage your osteoarthritis pain when you have diabetes because your internal systems don’t operate as efficiently. However, controlling your osteoarthritis will in turn help stabilize your diabetes, and vice versa. Fragile and fluctuating blood sugar levels … Read more
If you’ve been having pain in your knees but aren’t sure if it’s connected to arthritis, check for these warning signs: If you are beginning to experience these symptoms, but aren’t ready for surgical intervention, you can try to combat these symptoms with anti-inflammatories, heat on stiff joints, ice packs on swollen joints, and physical … Read more
The holiday season is quickly upon us! Sweet treats, comfort foods, and holiday drinks are calling your name at every turn, and warm gatherings with family and friends cause for much celebration. However, the combination of cold weather and rich foods can make arthritis symptoms flare up. Here are some tips on caring for arthritis during the … Read more
What kind of weather is the worst for arthritis? According to a 2014 study of people with arthritis, 67% of participants reported weather sensitivity, especially to cold and wet days. So what’s so special about the cold and rainy days that make your joints ache? Researchers believe that the main reason arthritis flairs up in cold … Read more
