Osteoarthritis is one of the most common types of arthritis. It occurs when the cartilage at the end of the bone wears down, causing your joints to rub up against each other. Osteoarthritis goes by many names. Your doctor may refer to it as degenerative joint disease or “wear and tear arthritis.” This is because there is no immediate cause of the condition other than your body’s natural wear over time.
Dr. Todd H. Lanman, leading spinal neurosurgeon and founder of the Advanced Disc Replacement Spine Restoration Center, has worked with countless patients who experience osteoarthritis. He prioritizes bone health and works carefully with patients, so they can reduce their pain levels and maintain their full range of motion. Learn more about osteoarthritis and how Dr. Lanman can help you manage it.
If you want to understand osteoarthritis, it helps to learn how your body works to protect your joints. At the end of your bones you will find cartilage, a firm, slippery tissue that allows you to move your limbs effortlessly. Cartilage is the same material that makes up your nose. Its purpose at the end of your bones is to serve as a form of padding between two bones.
Unfortunately, this padding wears down over time. When this occurs, your bones rub against each other. This can be painful and can limit your desire to move your body parts that are affected with wear and tear arthritis.
If you have trouble picturing what osteoarthritis is like, think of the brake pads on a car. New brake pads have a lot of cushioning and bounce back when you press on them. After you drive your car for several months, the brake pads are worn down to the point where there isn’t any cushion left. This is similar to how your cartilage works to cushion the impact on your joints.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 32.5 million adults in the United States have osteoarthritis. This condition can form in one part of the body (like your knee or in your hands) and can then develop in other areas over time.
Osteoarthritis is common in your hands, knees, hips, and spine. These are typically the joints that are used the most throughout the day, as your fingers text on your smartphone or your knees bend to put away groceries. Osteoarthritis can also start in one part of your body and then form in other parts. The disease itself isn’t spreading (as if it were a rash) but people who are prone to osteoarthritis and develop it in one joint are more likely to notice it in other joints.
Knowing the symptoms of osteoarthritis can help you understand your diagnosis and can give you the information you need to catch it in other parts of your body. A few common symptoms include:
Osteoarthritis symptoms often start with mild discomfort and then worsen over time. For example, your knee joints may feel stiff early in the morning before you start moving them. After a while, your degenerative joint disease may result in a lost range of motion and pain throughout the day.
Osteoarthritis can affect almost anyone. However, some demographics are more prone to developing a degenerative joint disease than others. A few factors to consider when evaluating whether you have osteoarthritis include:
As you can see, many of the factors that contribute to your likelihood of developing osteoarthritis are out of your control. You can’t control your genetics or your age, which both play important factors in joint health. Additionally, you can’t undo injury, overuse, or obesity in youth. Fortunately, your specialist can work with you to determine the best path for treating this condition.
There is no cure for osteoarthritis, which means doctors often focus on treating the symptoms and helping patients live comfortably. First, your doctor will recommend a series of lifestyle changes that can improve your muscles and reduce the amount of pressure that is currently on your joints.
Your doctor will likely recommend multiple osteoarthritis treatments to see what is best for your needs, as they want to see what your body reacts to and how you feel after trying different courses of action. For example, Dr. Lanman may recommend swimming exercises, which will increase your physical activity, help you lose weight, and take pressure off your joints for an hour at a time. Something as simple as starting a swim routine can reduce the pain you experience because of osteoarthritis.
If your osteoarthritis is severe or the treatment plan isn’t as effective as you hoped it would be, then your doctor may recommend a surgical plan of action. A surgeon will remove the damaged joint through a minimally-invasive procedure and replace it with an artificial one. The replacement joint acts just like your original joint, with protective padding that keeps your bones from grinding against each other.
Even though surgery is safe, your doctor will likely want to try other treatments first because of the risk and required recovery time involved in the procedure.
The recovery time for osteoarthritis varies depending on the type of surgery you have and your own personal experience as a patient. Everybody is different, which means it may take longer or shorter for you to recover from your operation.
Dr. Lanman specializes in artificial disc replacement surgery, where he removes a worn-out or broken disc in your spine. These worn discs can be the source of your osteoarthritis and can limit your range of motion while leaving you in pain. If Dr. Lanman recommends artificial disc replacement, you can expect a surgery recovery time of 3-5 weeks. By then, you should be able to complete light activities and desk work. From there, it could take up to three months to reach your full activity levels.
This recovery time is standard for other types of osteoarthritis care. If you have surgery in your knee or elbow, you will likely take 3-5 weeks to recover and then additional time to regain your full range of motion.
During your osteoarthritis surgery recovery period, your doctor will give you instructions to help with recovery. Dr. Lanman may recommend a pain medication with anti-inflammatory ingredients to reduce swelling. He may also give you a timeline to start physical therapy exercises so you can get used to your new joint and return to your pre-pain movement levels. By following your doctor’s guidelines, you can increase the chances that you recover on time.
If you have experienced a decreased range of motion in your back along with pain and tenderness, you may have osteoarthritis in your spinal discs. This condition can make movement difficult and reduce your overall quality of life. Dr. Lanman may be able to start you on a treatment plan to reduce your pain and restore your movement.
Request a consultation today with Dr. Lanman in his Beverly Hills office. It’s time to get back to the better you.