How Quickly Can an Osteoarthritis Specialist Provide Relief from Pain?

Osteoarthritis is one of many forms of arthritis, and the most common one, affecting millions of people around the world. Osteoarthritis affects the joints and is the result of a natural breakdown of the cartilage that protects the ends of the bones. The cartilage protects and cushions the bones when they rub together when the joints bend and move. As people get older, this cartilage will break down with time.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis are most often pain in the affected joints, as well as stiffness and limited mobility. Treatments are available to help control the pain and allow sufferers to regain normal joint function. However, the condition is not reversible and so treatment will entail managing symptoms. Working with a doctor familiar with arthritis, and specifically, osteoarthritis can help to not only control the pain but also slow further progression of the disease in some cases.

Osteoarthritis is a very common form of arthritis that affects millions of people every year. Like other forms of arthritis, the risk of osteoarthritis increases with age, as it is caused by the natural breakdown of the cartilage that protects the bone ends in the joints.

The breakdown of the cartilage, causing osteoarthritis, can also occur at a higher rate for people who are affected by any of the following factors:

• While the reason is unknown, women have been shown to have higher occurrences of osteoarthritis
• Being overweight, and particularly obese causes additional stress on the joints that bear weight, such as the knees and hips, putting obese people at a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis
• Injuries to the joints, whether from playing sports or as the result of an accident, increase the chances of developing osteoarthritis, even many years following the initial injury
• Repeated stress placed on a joint, whether from a job or sports participation, increases the likelihood of osteoarthritis development
• Genetics have been shown to play a part, with people with a family history of osteoarthritis being more likely to have it themselves
• Bone deformities can place increased stress on the joints, causing the cartilage to break down faster than normal
• Some metabolic diseases, including diabetes and hemochromatosis, which is too much iron in the body, also increase the risk of osteoarthritis

Dr. Andrew Morchower can help you determine if you have an increased likelihood of developing osteoarthritis and work with you on preventative methods to help minimize the risk.

Osteoarthritis is a condition that affects the joints in the body, causing pain, decreased mobility, and stiffness in the affected joint, or joints. The bones of the body that meet together in each joint have a protected coating on the ends, called cartilage, that allows for them to smoothly bend and flex.

However, this cartilage can break down over time, whether as the result of an injury, a medical condition, stress on the joint, or simply old age. When the cartilage breaks down, the ends of the bones are no longer protected, causing the symptoms of pain and stiffness. This breakdown of the cartilage is known as osteoarthritis. As the cartilage can’t be replaced, osteoarthritis is therefore not curable. Symptoms can be managed through medications and alternative therapies to provide patients with relief and increased mobility.

Osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown of cartilage in the joints, which can happen for a number of different reasons, including simple natural wear and tear on the joint. Some people will be at a higher risk for osteoarthritis, such as people who have a family history of the disease, are overweight, have sustained an injury to the joint, have deformities in the bones, or have certain metabolic diseases. While these things can increase the chances of a person developing osteoarthritis, everyone is considered to be at risk as the cartilage can break down through the natural aging process. At OmniSpine Pain Management, our team of experts has experience with many different conditions and diseases that cause pain, including osteoarthritis. If you are experiencing pain in your joints that seems to get worse over time, doesn’t respond to over-the-counter painkillers, or is severe and limiting your ability to move, make an appointment with our team to get it checked out for signs of osteoarthritis or another form of arthritis.

Yes, HSA (Health Savings Account) funds can generally be used to pay for medically necessary osteoarthritis pain management treatments that meet IRS requirements for qualified medical expenses. Eligible services may include physician consultations, diagnostic imaging, prescription medications, and certain joint injections used to manage osteoarthritis-related pain and stiffness. At OmniSpine Pain Management, Dr. Andrew Morchower evaluates each patient’s condition to recommend appropriate treatment options. Patients should confirm eligibility with their HSA administrator and verify accepted payment methods with our clinic before scheduling treatment.

At OmniSpine Pain Management, osteoarthritis-related joint pain is diagnosed through a clinical evaluation of symptoms, physical examination, and imaging such as X-rays or MRI to assess joint degeneration and inflammation.

Non-surgical treatment focuses on reducing pain, improving mobility, and slowing symptom progression. This may include physical therapy, activity modification, anti-inflammatory treatments, and targeted exercises to support joint function. In more persistent cases, image-guided injections or minimally invasive procedures may be used to reduce inflammation and improve comfort, helping patients maintain daily activity without surgery. For more information, contact us today or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 8380 Warren Pkwy, Suite 100, Frisco, TX 75034. We serve patients from Frisco TX, Plano TX, The Colony TX, McKinney TX, Allen TX, and surrounding areas.