Arthritis Specialist in Kansas City

Arthritis

The help you need for arthritis pain.

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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.

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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:

  • 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?

From there, we can decide whether more conservative arthritis treatments will suffice or whether you would find the most benefit with surgery.

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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.

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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.

Use our Symptom Tracker Tool to connect with the right Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance physician for your unique needs—and get back to the things that matter most.

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Our Locations

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Overland Park, Kansas

10777 Nall Ave Suite 300 Overland Park, KS 66211

Leawood, Kansas

3651 College Blvd. Leawood, KS 66211

Kansas City, Missouri

Saint Luke's Medical Plaza #1 4320 Wornall Rd., Ste. 610 Kansas City, MO 64111

Belton, Missouri

17067 S Outer Rd #301 Belton, MO 64102

F.A.Q.

Frequently Asked Questions

Testimonials

Wouldn't go any place else

Wouldn’t go any place else to have orthopedic specialist. Facility is state of the art and rehabilitation program the best.
Edward Straley

No complaints

No complaints at all. A very good experience.
Steve Richards

Dr. Ting and his staff are the best!

Dr. Ting and his staff are the best! Sarah his nurse is kind and supportive. Dr. Tings nurse for surgery was absolutely the best! Dr. Ting, I have complete faith in. He is who I shall go to for anything he handles! Can’t say enough about him! Thank you all for making a scary time a completely peaceful event. You are the best!!

Valene Vanice

Very helpful

Were able to fit us in last minute! Very helpful staff and knowledgeable provider. Very grateful for this practice!

Megan Fisher

Very professional!

Very knowledgeable! They answered all my questions thoroughly and accurately! Very professional!

Marlon Reece