A board-certified, family medicine physician, Dr. Daniel Skotte treats patients out of High Desert Family Medicine of Sunriver, Oregon. When caring for patients, Dr. Daniel Skotte addresses all manner of common chronic conditions, including arthritis.
When a patient has arthritis, it means that a joint (or joints) in the body has become inflamed, leading to symptoms like stiffness, swelling, discomfort, and reduced motion. Arthritis comes in two main forms—a common form called “osteoarthritis” and a less common form called “rheumatoid arthritis.”
Osteoarthritis manifests as a result of joint wear that occurs over a long period of time, usually many years. Eventually, the cartilage that cushions joints gets destroyed, so the bones that meet at the joint start to scrape against each other.
Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease, a class of disorders wherein the body’s own immune system attacks healthy tissues. In this case, the body assaults joint tissues, which in turn swell. Over time, this condition can lay waste to bones and cartilage.
To treat arthritis, doctors may recommend anti-inflammatory medications, pain-management strategies, and even surgery.
You must be logged in to post a comment.