Kadie E. Leach, MD, is an internal medicine specialist with a busy practice in Lanham, Maryland. Dr. Leach has served the Washington, DC, community for over 30 years. She remains committed to improving your overall health and quality of life with a holistic, patient-first approach to health care.
Here are five tips Dr. Leach offers for managing arthritis, starting with understanding its effects on your joints and why it’s essential to engage a physician’s help in overcoming the challenges of arthritis.
There are more than 100 types of arthritis. Each type can affect your joints and overall health in different ways.
Osteoarthritis (OA), for example, is the most common type of arthritis. OA is linked to age-related degeneration of the cartilage that covers the ends of bones within joints. As this protective covering wears away, affected joints become increasingly stiff and painful.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), on the other hand, is an inflammatory condition that develops when your immune system mistakenly attacks the tissue (synovial membrane) that lines your joints. RA-related inflammation can also affect your skin, eyes, lungs, and heart. It also dramatically increases your risk of developing osteoporosis, which decreases bone density and strength.
Effective arthritis management requires a physician’s support, including an accurate diagnosis of the type and level of joint damage you’re experiencing.
No matter the type, arthritis management includes joint-friendly activities that help relieve arthritis pain, improve mobility, and support bone health. Routine exercise can also enhance your mood, aid in restful sleep habits, and reduce strain on your joints by helping control your weight.
Walking, swimming, cycling, and other low-impact activities are joint-protective, while high-impact routines such as running can worsen arthritis-related joint damage. Strengthening and stretching routines also help develop and maintain the strength and flexibility of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support your joints.
You may benefit from a physical therapy program that includes guidance from Dr. Leach regarding exercise routines best suited for your joint health.
Dr. Leach formulates an arthritis treatment plan that includes effective pain management. Your strategy may include anti-inflammatories, medical marijuana, or other pain relievers to control breakthrough arthritis pain. You may also benefit from a temporary course of prednisone or another corticosteroid to reduce inflammation, or you may need daily medications to slow joint damage related to RA.
A nutritionally sound diet, seven to eight hours of restful sleep each night, stress reduction, and other healthy habits can improve your overall physical and emotional health and positively impact arthritis. Dr. Leach can customize a plan that fits your current health status and needs.
Identifying and treating arthritis in its earliest stages helps preserve joint health and helps limit its impact on your mobility and quality of life.
Symptoms of arthritis can come and go initially and may include:
Don’t ignore arthritis symptoms. Instead, schedule a visit with Dr. Leach today for an accurate diagnosis and customized treatment plan. Call our office or request an appointment online.
