Arthritis

Arthritis affects 23% of all adults living in the United States. One in four experiences continual severe joint pain, and an astounding 24 million people are unable to take part in activities they love. Austin Yeargan III, MD, is a leading orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at Carolina Joint and Arthritis in Wilmington, North Carolina. He helps his patients with arthritis manage the pain and enjoy a better quality of life. He can help you, too. Call Carolina Joint and Arthritis, or book an appointment online today. 

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is a collective term for over 100 different inflammatory diseases that affect one or more joints. Arthritis tends to occur in adults over the age of 65 but can develop in younger adults, teenagers, and children too. Two of the most common types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis affects over 27 million people. It’s caused by the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of bones wearing down through age, joint injury, or obesity.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects around 1.5 million Americans. It occurs when the immune system attacks the cells inside a joint capsule.

Dr. Yeargan has experience identifying the different types of arthritis and managing every aspect of the disease.

What are the symptoms of arthritis?

Arthritis symptoms are unpredictable. They either take years to build up or appear from nowhere. Depending on the type of arthritis you have, your symptoms may include:

• Pain
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Redness
• Decreased range of motion

Dr. Yeargan creates a treatment plan to help manage your symptoms, so you can get on with enjoying life.

How does a doctor diagnose arthritis?

When a doctor diagnoses arthritis, they conduct a physical exam on the joints to check for a limited range of motion, fluid, warmth, or redness. Other conditions, like bone spurs, can produce arthritis-like symptoms, so they may also refer you for an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan for a closer look at your bones and cartilage.

Further blood tests check for inflammation levels and antibodies in your blood and joint fluids, which help determine what type of arthritis you have. This makes it easier for specialists like Dr. Yeargan to prescribe an appropriate course of treatment.

Dr. Yeargan can coordinate your care specialties, like neurologists, neurosurgeons, and general surgeons, to provide the most comprehensive treatment plan to his patients.

How do you treat arthritis?

Arthritis treatment focuses on managing symptoms and preventing arthritis from getting worse. At Carolina Joint and Arthritis, Dr. Yeargan’s treatment plans may include:

• Oral pain medications
• Lifestyle changes
• Complementary and holistic medicines
• Innovative orthobiologics

With careful ongoing care and pain management, Dr. Yeargan helps make arthritis pain and discomfort easier to live with. 

To get help managing your arthritis, call Carolina Joint and Arthritis or request an appointment online today.