Arthritis Specialist

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is a group of conditions that can cause tenderness, swelling, and stiffness in one or more of your joints. There are different forms with varied causes, but they all cause the same general group of symptoms. 

Your arthritis symptoms might range from mild to severe, and they might come and go or remain constant. Many forms of arthritis tend to get worse over time and eventually cause a major reduction in your mobility. 

Since various joint injuries, like tendon tears and bone fractures, can cause similar symptoms to arthritis, you’ll need to come in for a diagnosis before you start treatment. The team at Denver Metro Orthopedics, P.C. uses X-rays, ultrasounds, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and arthroscopy to diagnose arthritis and evaluate the level of damage. 

Which type of arthritis do I have?

There are over 100 types of arthritis, many of which are very rare and unlikely to be the cause of your joint pain. Dr. Schwappach has experience treating various types using primarily noninvasive approaches. At Denver Metro Orthopedics, P.C., they frequently treat:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a prevalent form of the disease that is degenerative in nature. It develops because of the gradual wearing down of the cartilage lining your joints, resulting in bones rubbing against one another directly. 

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis originates with immune system dysfunction. Your immune system targets your joints and causes inflammation even though they aren’t diseased. 

Post-traumatic arthritis

Post-traumatic arthritis develops after a traumatic injury damages a joint. It can arise after a sports injury, car accident injury, fall, or work injury, among other circumstances. 

How is arthritis treated?

Treating your arthritis can relieve some of the pain and swelling, and it can help control some of the long-term damage that comes from arthritis as it worsens. Many of the procedures available to treat arthritis at Denver Metro Orthopedics, P.C. are highly advanced and effective for controlling arthritic damage. 

As part of your treatment plan for arthritis, Dr. Schwappach might recommend:

• Cartilage microfracture
• BioCartilage®
• Meniscus allograft transplantation
• Osteochondral allograft and autograft
• Cartilage transplant
• Corticosteroid injections
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
• Hyaluronic acid injections (for the knee only)

To help control or prevent damage from your arthritis, Dr. Schwappach may also suggest taking steps at home, like using over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications or managing your weight. For clinical arthritis treatment, he usually start with noninvasive procedures and reserve surgeries for advanced cases. 

To learn more about arthritis, and find out which treatments can help you manage the pain, swelling, and stiffness, call Denver Metro Orthopedics, P.C., or reserve an appointment online today.