What Is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a chronic condition that develops in the joints — the areas where two bones meet. It is not a single disease but rather an umbrella term covering more than 100 different types of joint disorders. The two most common forms treated at Olympus Spine and Pain are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis develops when the cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones gradually wears down. Without this natural shock absorber, bones can rub against each other, irritating sensitive nerve endings and causing pain, swelling, and limited movement. Osteoarthritis most frequently affects the hips, knees, and hands, but it can develop in any joint in the body.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system mistakenly attacks the synovial lining of healthy joints. This chronic inflammation causes significant joint damage over time and most often affects the hands, wrists, and knees. Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis can also affect other body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, and cardiovascular system.

Arthritis can also develop in other joints, including the small facet joints that connect your spinal vertebrae and the sacroiliac (SI) joint, which links the lower spine and pelvis. If you are experiencing back and leg pain alongside joint stiffness, arthritis may be a contributing factor.

What Are the Symptoms and Effects of Arthritis?

Arthritis affects far more than just your joints. The physical, emotional, and social impact of chronic joint pain can be profound. Common symptoms include:

• Joint pain that worsens with activity or at rest
• Joint stiffness, especially in the morning or after periods of inactivity
• Joint swelling and warmth
• Crepitus — a grating or grinding sensation during joint movement
• Limited range of motion
• In rheumatoid arthritis, joint deformity as the disease progresses

About 10% of people with arthritis must limit their daily activities because of the condition, and an estimated 8 million Americans are partly or entirely disabled by it. Beyond the physical toll, depression and anxiety are up to 10 times more common among those suffering from chronic arthritis. Seeking pain management early gives you the best chance of maintaining function and quality of life.

How Is Arthritis Treated at Olympus Spine and Pain?

Dr. Warner begins with a thorough individual evaluation to understand how arthritis is affecting your body and your life. He discusses your symptoms, your goals, and your preferences before building a customized treatment plan. Many patients with arthritis see the greatest improvements from a combination of lifestyle modifications and targeted pain management therapies.

Lifestyle approaches such as weight loss, low-impact exercise, and anti-inflammatory nutrition can meaningfully reduce joint stress. These are paired with interventional treatments such as corticosteroid injections, viscosupplementation, or nerve block injections to address pain at its source. For patients with rheumatoid arthritis, disease-modifying medications are also incorporated into the plan.

For more advanced or persistent arthritis pain, Dr. Warner may recommend longer-lasting solutions such as Scrambler Therapy, spinal cord stimulation, or an intrathecal drug pump. These interventional approaches can provide significant, sustained pain relief when other treatments have fallen short. Ketamine infusions are also offered for eligible patients with severe chronic pain.*

With the right combination of approaches, many patients are able to avoid joint replacement surgery — especially when they seek help early in the course of their disease. Whether you are managing neck and arm pain from cervical facet arthritis or joint pain in your knees and hips, Olympus Spine and Pain has solutions tailored to your situation.

*Ketamine infusions are FDA-approved as a sole anesthetic agent for diagnostic and surgical purposes, but are not yet approved for chronic pain treatment. Spravato®, an esketamine nasal spray, has FDA approval for addressing treatment-resistant depression.

Arthritis and Joint Pain — Frequently Asked Questions