Arthritis refers to a group of conditions that cause joint pain and inflammation. You may also have stiffness, swelling and redness in the affected area. Arthritis commonly affects joints in your hips, knees, elbows and hands.
Over 50 million people in the United States are living with arthritis. Both adults and children can get the condition. Although arthritis can cause discomfort and limit your activity, you can live a high-quality life with the right treatment.
Experts at Summit Orthopedics offer surgical and nonsurgical arthritis treatment options for patients in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Learn about your options.
Types of Arthritis
There are over 100 types of arthritis, which can affect your joints and skin. Knee and hip arthritis are two of the most common types of osteoarthritis.
Knee Arthritis
Your knee joint is made of three bones: the femur (thigh bone), tibia (shinbone) and patella (kneecap). Smooth cartilage and joint fluids help protect these bones and allow them to move as they should.
If you have knee arthritis, your cartilage wears down, and the joint surface becomes rough. This causes the bones to grind against each other, leading to increased pain and a loss of smooth, normal movement.
Hip Arthritis
Your hip is a ball-and-socket joint made up of the femur (thigh bone) and the pelvis. In a healthy joint, a layer of smooth cartilage allows these bones to glide easily over each other.
Hip arthritis occurs when this cartilage breaks down, leading to painful friction between the bones. This can cause joint damage and the formation of bone spurs.
Additional types of arthritis include:
- Ankylosing spondylitis: This inflammatory arthritis primarily affects the spine. In severe cases, it can cause your vertebrae to fuse together, leading to a stiff spine that’s hard to move.
- Gout: A type of arthritis caused by an excess of uric acid in the blood, gout can lead to the formation of sharp, painful crystals in a joint, most often your big toe.
- Juvenile arthritis: This type of arthritis occurs in children under the age of 16. It can cause symptoms like joint inflammation, pain and stiffness.
- Psoriatic arthritis: This inflammatory arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects some people who have psoriasis, a type of skin condition. In addition to psoriasis symptoms, it can cause joint pain, stiffness and swelling.
What Causes Arthritis?
Arthritis can have different causes, depending on the type. Sometimes your doctor may not be able to pinpoint a cause. Different factors can raise your risk of arthritis, including:
- Being overweight
- Getting older
- Having a family history of the disease
- Smoking
Getting a Diagnosis
Diagnosing arthritis is a thorough process because its symptoms can mimic other conditions. Your doctor will examine your medical history and symptoms and likely order several tests, including imaging, to confirm the diagnosis.
X-rays are the most common imaging test for looking at joints. Sometimes an ultrasound or MRI is needed. Your doctor will use these tests to check for inflammation, degeneration or other signs of joint problems.
Nonsurgical Arthritis Treatment
In many cases, surgery isn’t the first or only option for managing arthritis. Our expert physicians believe in a personalized approach, and that often begins with a range of non-surgical treatments.
These include:
- Lifestyle changes: We’ll work with you to discuss how low-impact exercises, physical therapy and weight management can help reduce stress on your joints and relieve pain.
- Injections and arthritis medication: Anti-inflammatory drugs can help you reduce pain and inflammation. For more direct relief, we may suggest joint injections, including corticosteroids, to reduce inflammation.
- Assistive devices and therapies: Braces and other assistive devices can provide support and relieve pressure on painful joints.
The goal is to find the right combination of these treatments to help you live well with arthritis. When these options are no longer effective, we can then discuss whether an advanced solution like joint replacement may be right for you.
Surgical Treatment
When arthritis pain becomes so severe that lifestyle changes and other treatments are no longer effective, orthopedic surgery may be your best option. Surgery is one of the best ways to ensure the disease doesn’t worsen. Our expert surgeons specialize in procedures that can help you find relief from pain, restore your mobility and get you back to your favorite daily activities.
Total Knee Replacement
Orthopedic experts at Summit Orthopedics treat knee arthritis with the highest level of care. When nonsurgical lifestyle changes don’t relieve your pain, we provide total knee replacement to restore healthy functioning in your knees.
During a total knee replacement, or total knee arthroplasty, a surgeon removes damaged cartilage and bone from the thighbone, shinbone and sometimes the kneecap. Your surgeon then replaces these bones and joints with artificial parts.
Recovery can take up to a year, though most normal activities can be resumed within four to six weeks. Physical therapy is a crucial part of the recovery process.
Total Hip Replacement
A total hip replacement, or total hip arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure to treat severe hip arthritis.
During the procedure, your surgeon removes the damaged parts of the hip joint and replaces them with an artificial ball and socket. At Summit Orthopedics, we use a minimally invasive approach with smaller incisions, which can lead to a quicker recovery.
After the surgery, a full recovery can take up to 12 weeks, though most light daily activities can be resumed in a few weeks.
Nationally recognized Care for Arthritis at Summit Orthopedics
Summit Orthopedic’s Vadnais Heights Surgery Center has earned The Joint Commission’s prestigious Advanced Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement, making it the first surgery center in Minnesota to receive this honor.
This recognition means you can expect an exceptional surgical experience focused on safety and recovery.
- Extremely low infection rates: Our surgery centers have an infection rate of just 0.12%, significantly lower than the 3.5% rate found in many traditional hospitals.
- Superior pain management: We use advanced pain control techniques to help you achieve a greater range of motion and a faster recovery after surgery.
- Expert care before, during and after surgery: Our trained nursing professionals are dedicated to your comfort, assisting with everything from medication management to mobility and physical therapy after surgery.
Summit Orthopedics surgeons are available at nearly 30 convenient locations across the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Our state-of-the-art, comprehensive orthopedic centers offer same-day appointments from a team of experts who offer the full scope of orthopedic care.
Find your Summit Orthopedics arthritis expert, request an appointment or call us at (651) 968-5201 to schedule a consultation.
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