Arthritis Specialist in Kansas City
Arthritis
The help you need for arthritis pain.
Understanding the Basics of arthritis
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis, which refers to chronic joint inflammation, is the leading cause of disability in the United States, affecting more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children.
Although swelling, pain, and stiffness are common complaints overall, the severity and location of symptoms among the types of arthritis can vary.
The underlying cause of arthritis may vary depending on the type of arthritis. The most common ones we see are osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Often thought of as a single disease, over 100 different types of arthritis have been identified. When you visit an arthritis specialist at Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance, we create treatment plans based on your specific condition and symptoms.
Types and Causes
Osteoarthritis
While some people are more prone to degenerative joint disease, several underlying factors can lead to osteoarthritis. These include:
- Age
- Sex
- Joint injuries
- Repeated stress
- Obesity
- Bone deformities
- Certain metabolic diseases
It’s common for osteoarthritis to begin around your 50s, but it can happen earlier if there’s an underlying issue.
Psoriatic Arthritis
It’s not known what specifically causes psoriatic arthritis, but several factors may increase the risk of developing this condition or making it worse, such as:
- Having psoriasis
- Family history
- Certain genetic markers
- Age (between 30 and 50)
- An infection, physical trauma, or stress that affects the immune system
Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease that involves the skin (psoriasis) and joints (arthritis).
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis also is an autoimmune disorder, affecting 1.5 million people in the United States.
As with psoriatic arthritis, it occurs when your body’s immune system attacks its own tissues and causes an inflammatory response that results in swelling and pain.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Arthritis
Diagnosis for arthritis requires an examination from a specialized provider, along with tests such as X-rays or ultrasounds.
Common symptoms of arthritis include:
- Joint stiffness, especially after you’ve been sitting or lying down
- Pain and swelling around the joint (can be a sharp pain or dull ache)
- Feeling of the joints crunching when you move
- Inability to move for basic tasks such as cleaning or putting on clothes
Before assuming you have any kind of joint condition, be sure to schedule an appointment with a Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance physician.
We can provide professional insight and a proper diagnosis to understand your osteoarthritis treatment options.
Affected Areas
- Hands
- Shoulders
- Hips
- Knees
- Spine
Treatments
- Exercise
- Medications
- Injections
- Arthroscopy
- Joint Replacement Surgery
- Other Specialized Treatments
Arthritis Assessment
Assessing the Injury
Finding the right arthritis treatment starts with an assessment.
You can think of arthritis as a spectrum, with some instances being more severe than others.
The Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance physicians always focus on each individual patient and their concerns before creating a treatment plan.
During your initial appointment with an arthritis specialist in Kansas City, we will often ask questions such as:
From there, we can decide whether more conservative arthritis treatments will suffice or whether you would find the most benefit with surgery.
- Does your pain currently limit you or your activities?
- Has your pain progressed or worsened recently?
- Have you noticed any change in your symptoms that has made it more challenging to function?
- What are your lifestyle goals?
- How has pain affected those goals?
Injury Prevention
How to Prevent Arthritis
Arthritis isn’t 100% preventable, but it is always important to take proper care of your joints. When your joints are healthy, they are less likely to become worn down, though some wear and tear is expected as your body ages.
Taking care of your bones and joints is something you should implement in your daily life. We recommend regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and monitoring your blood sugar levels if you’re diabetic. In doing so, you may reduce the amount of stress on your joints to slow down any potential degenerative process.
You should also assess your pain levels. Rather than waiting until the problem becomes severe, note when your pain deters you from your daily activities. It’s often best to seek medical attention from one of our arthritis specialists in Kansas City to help manage these problems when you are experiencing limitations on your activity.
About Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance
Meet Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance
Our board-certified, fellowship-trained physicians and surgeons are highly experienced in their respective fields and are considered among the top orthopedic providers in the Midwest.
Along with our Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, and support staff, Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance physicians deliver the utmost level of dedicated care across a range of subspecialties. We’ve worked hard to build Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance with all the benefits of a large orthopedic collective, while maintaining the community impact and familiarity of an intimate, private-practice model.
While diverse in background and capabilities, the common thread that brings all of our team members together is our patient-centered approach.
Discover effective, comprehensive treatment from the best arthritis specialists.
Our care is personal. Our team is knowledgeable. And we’re more available than ever.
With access to board-certified specialists across Kansas City, we have the tools to meet almost every musculoskeletal condition.
Our Locations
Overland Park, Kansas
10777 Nall Ave Suite 300 Overland Park, KS 66211Leawood, Kansas
3651 College Blvd. Leawood, KS 66211Kansas City, Missouri
Saint Luke's Medical Plaza #1 4320 Wornall Rd., Ste. 610 Kansas City, MO 64111Belton, Missouri
Belton Regional Campus 17067 S Outer Rd #301 Belton, MO 64012Merriam, Kansas
7450 W. Frontage Rd Merriam, KS 66203