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(913) 642-0200
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(913) 319-7600
Find Your Location
Closed
(913) 642-0200
Closed
(913) 319-7600
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.
Types and Causes
Osteoarthritis
While some people are more prone to degenerative joint disease, several underlying factors can lead to osteoarthritis. These include:
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:
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:
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
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.
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.
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 64012