When to Seek Treatment for Arthritis in your Shoulder, Hips or Knees

Over 50 million adults live with pain caused by arthritis, a degenerative disease with many sub-types. Osteoarthritis is a common form of the disease that leads to back, shoulder, knee, hip and hand pain, and sometimes orthopedic surgery is required. Dr. Brian Cohen is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who has helped more than 100,000 patients worldwide, including many patients suffering the effects of osteoarthritis. 

Osteoarthritis happens when articular cartilage wears down over time and the underlying bone changes, often due to age, genetics, gender or obesity. The smooth, lubricated cartilage surface found at the ends of your bones provides easy, painless movement, but the breakdown of cartilage caused by osteoarthritis leads to joint pain, swelling, stiffness and reduced mobility. Osteoarthritis can limit range of motion in your knees, hips, hands and other joints. In severe cases, your everyday life is affected by worsening symptoms because the missing cartilage causes bones to rub together, leading to further damage and reduced mobility. 

This condition causes chronic pain that may be aching or a sharp stabbing sensation. The joints may lock or catch due to the jagged ends of bones moving against each other and sticking momentarily. While there’s no cure for osteoarthritis, our orthopedic doctor can treat the condition with viscosupplementation injections, cortisone injections and anti-inflammatory medications. Physical therapy may strengthen the muscles around the joint to reduce arthritis pain. Surgery may be necessary for those who fail conservative management.

If arthritis affects your ability to walk without pain or difficulty or limits your everyday activities, it’s time to have an evaluation with our orthopedic surgeon. Whether the pain intensifies over days or years, you may need medical treatment when your quality of life is diminished by osteoarthritis. 

Dr. Cohen will order labs and imaging tests to confirm your diagnosis and create a treatment plan that may involve medications, occupational therapy, physical therapy or surgery to repair or replace the joint. Sometimes, losing weight can improve symptoms by reducing the stress put on weight-bearing joints. Exercise, yoga, acupuncture and massage may help joint pain. 

Orthopedic surgery for arthritis depends on your age, the type of arthritis, disease progression and the joint in question. Shoulder arthritis may be treated with shoulder arthroscopy or total shoulder replacement. Hip or knee arthritis may require a total hip replacement or total knee replacement. Dr. Cohen utilizes the MAKO system for robotic-arm-assisted surgery when performing these procedures. 

Dr. Cohen has helped many patients overcome arthritis through orthopedic surgery. He is board certified in orthopaedic surgery and a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine. He has mentored over 100 orthopedic surgeons, teaching them enhanced surgical techniques, and believes that utilizing the latest technology is the best way to achieve optimal results. Dr. Cohen has performed more than 30,000 procedures and is a top surgeon for the MAKO system. 

If you struggle with the pains of arthritis, contact Cohen Orthopedic in Columbus and Chillicothe, Ohio, today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Cohen.