Arthritis Treatment Creve Coeur, MO

Arthritis Treatment Creve Coeur, MO. Living with arthritis in Creve Coeur, MO? After being diagnosed, you need a safe and evidence-based treatment plan. Occupational and physical therapy are effective arthritis treatment options for millions of arthritis patients. Find out how these approaches can help you get the best arthritis treatment for you in Creve Coeur, MO here, or reach out to Axes Physical Therapy today to discuss how our joint and movement experts can help you continue to live the life you want.

As a treatment network currently fifteen locations strong, Axes Physical Therapy is capable of meeting the arthritis treatment needs of hundreds of patients living with arthritis in Creve Coeur, MO and throughout Eastern Missouri. Explore our conveniently located facilities or begin your path to enjoying life to the fullest while living with arthritis by requesting an appointment now.

Arthritis Treatment Creve Coeur, MO: An Introduction to Arthritis

Arthritis describes a physical condition characterized by joint inflammation. An estimated 58.5 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with a type of arthritis, and nearly half of them — around 25.7 million — experience significant limitations in their daily life due to their condition. After neck and back problems and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, arthritis is the third most common cause of disability for working-age adults in the US.

Arthritis clearly has a major impact on our society, but the statistics on their own don’t paint a complete picture where your own experience is concerned. As an arthritis treatment patient at Axes Physical Therapy near Creve Coeur, MO, you are not just a number. Our team of Creve Coeur, MO area physical and occupational therapists have dedicated their clinical careers to providing arthritis treatment to individuals with the arthritis treatment plan designed for their specific diagnosis and goals. When you entrust Axes for your Creve Coeur, MO arthritis treatment, you are assigned a personal, dedicated arthritis treatment professional who possesses the knowledge and experience needed to to address your condition and will approach your case using a treatment plan as unique as you are.

Types of Arthritis

The CDC identifies more than one hundred conditions that are grouped under the categorization arthritis. The causes and treatment methods differ from one diagnosis to the next, but all arthritis conditions generally include joint stiffness and inflammation. Getting the right arthritis treatment in Creve Coeur, MO for you requires receiving a timely and accurate diagnosis and understanding your condition.

There are numerous diagnoses that are considered arthritis, and some are more common than others. Below, we briefly examine the two most common forms of arthritis. By becoming experts on the specific causes, mechanics, and outlook of each disease, our Creve Coeur, MO physical therapists and occupational therapists are skilled in effectively treating many patients living with many types of arthritis in the Creve Coeur, MO area.

Osteoarthritis: a degenerative joint disease. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, reaching an estimated 27 million people in the US. While it affects people in different ways, common symptoms include stiffness of the joint or joints, pain, and irritation. Your osteoarthritis can affect any part of the joint. Overtime, the cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and bones in the affected joint(s) can wear down.

Medical professionals put physical therapy at the top of the list of recommended treatments for osteoarthritis. Patients in Creve Coeur, MO with osteoarthritis should make sure their arthritis treatment includes physical therapy, targeted joint exercises, lifestyle modifications, and education.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: an autoimmune inflammatory disease. When you have rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks the lining of the joints, gradually moving farther to damage the rest of the joints, including bones and ligaments. Rheumatoid arthritis affects joints in a symmetrical fashion, such as in both right and left knees or both wrists. Patients may experience additional symptoms not directly related to the joint, such as loss of appetite and fatigue.

The American College of Rheumatology recommends using what is known as the treat-to-target approach for rheumatoid arthritis treatment. Following the treat-to-target method, your treatment team works toward one of two goals: either eliminating symptoms or reaching lower disease activity. Once we know what your goal is, we will design an arthritis treatment plan in Creve Coeur, MO that addresses that goal and measure indicators of your disease over time.

Arthritis Treatment Options

There is no correct emotional reaction to receiving a diagnosis like arthritis. It is normal to feel overwhelmed, angry, or hopeless when you discover that you may be looking at a future of permanent joint damage. The rate at which your joints break down depends, in part, on what you do after you’ve been diagnosed. Begin treatment in Creve Coeur, MO as soon as possible for your arthritis.

Under the umbrella of arthritis, there are a wide variety of conditions that have many different causes. Whether your arthritis is due to degeneration, trauma, an autoimmune response, or a specific infection, the important thing after diagnosis is to make it a priority to move forward with the right arthritis treatment that targets your condition and addresses your needs. With a sound arthritis treatment team in Creve Coeur, MO and early education about your disease and how to care for yourself, you can have a positive impact on your arthritis. You will work toward minimizing permanent joint damage, preserving your mobility, and reducing pain.

The right arthritis treatment method for you is decided based primarily on what type of arthritis you have and your other health characteristics. Usually, an arthritis treatment plan features a combination of any of the following:

Medication. You may benefit from the use of NSAIDs, topical counterirritants, steroids, or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). These medications vary in the risks involved and possible negative side effects. Some of these medications are really meant to address the symptoms of your arthritis, though steroid injections and DMARDs have been shown to stunt your disease progression.
Physical or Occupational Therapy. Ample peer-reviewed studies show that gentle, low-impact activity is beneficial to joints and helps manage arthritis. As part of your comprehensive arthritis treatment plan in Creve Coeur, MO, you will work with your physical or occupational therapist to receive manual care techniques in addition to education, exercises to do at home, guidance on changes to your lifestyle, and assistive devices. Physical therapy is a non-invasive, customized approach and presents little associated risk for the majority of patients.
Surgery. Surgery treatment for arthritis is typically reserved for arthritis patients when other forms of arthritis treatment have been unsuccessful. Your doctors and other members of your Creve Coeur, MO arthritis treatment team have a responsibility to consider and educate you on all of the benefits and associated risks of receiving surgery. Surgeries for arthritis include synovectomy, joint repair, joint replacement, and joint fusion. If you are a candidate for surgery, your arthritis treatment plan should include physical therapy for post- and pre-operative treatment.

Physical Therapy Arthritis Treatment in Creve Coeur, MO

Physical therapy is a non-invasive healthcare discipline based in movement health. The job of a physical therapist is to improve your quality of life by employing evidence-backed treatment methods. The Creve Coeur, MO physical therapists of Axes Physical Therapy improve the lives of patients of all ages, genders, fitness levels, socioeconomic backgrounds, and medical conditions, including different types of arthritis.

At Axes Physical Therapy in Creve Coeur, MO, you will be matched with a joint expert with experience treating arthritis for Creve Coeur, MO patients. Your personal physical therapist will design an individualized arthritis treatment plan that meets your exact needs. We will work closely with you and communicate with the other medical providers on your arthritis treatment team to ensure you receive the appropriate physical therapy treatment modalities, supplemental exercises and education, and modifications to your home and work to help you remain independent and free from pain.

In addition to the hands-on care your Creve Coeur, MO physical therapist may use to target your arthritis symptoms or minimize the degeneration of your joints, educating you is another critical piece of the arthritis treatment puzzle. As experts in movement health and the musculoskeletal system, your physical therapist for arthritis treatment will work with you to help you:

Master proper posture and gait
Find the right assistive devices such as shoe inserts and braces.
Make adjustments around the house to make your daily activities easier
Find the right diet

The Creve Coeur, MO physical and occupational therapists of Axes are equipped to help anyone manage chronic conditions, heal from injuries, prevent injuries and improve overall movement health. Learn more about a few of our services and capabilities, such as:

What can physical therapy as arthritis treatment do for me?

Ultimately, physical therapy as a treatment for arthritis aims to eliminate symptoms or keep the disease from progressing. Because of your physical therapist’s approach based in movement science and expertise of the human musculoskeletal system, physical therapy offers a number of advantages. When you turn to Axes Physical Therapy for your Creve Coeur, MO arthritis treatment, you can expect any of the following benefits:

Increased range of motion
Reduced stiffness
Preserved bone strength
Increased joint support
Improved fitness
Weight loss
Superior balance and posture
Other benefits such as more energy, better mental health, and better sleep

With physical therapy as a part of your arthritis treatment, you will work toward alleviating your symptoms and preserving your ability to perform daily tasks. Start managing your arthritis and improving your overall movement health and quality of life with the gentle, personalized, evidence-backed care you get when you come to Axes Physical Therapy for your Creve Coeur, MO arthritis treatment needs.

What things can I do at home to supplement my Creve Coeur, MO arthritis treatment plan?

The outlook of your Creve Coeur, MO arthritis treatment is dependent upon your active participation, including following through on home exercises and adjustments to your lifestyle your arthritis treatment team prescribes. You must find an arthritis treatment team near Creve Coeur, MO that are comfortable with and trust to follow their advice. To support a good arthritis treatment plan, there a number of things you can do on your own, including:

Be active
Eat a balanced diet
Maintain a healthy weight
Avoid stress
Practice good posture
Get good rest
Make modifications to your home environment
Apply heat
Quit smoking

One of the best things you can do for yourself if you are suffering from a form of arthritis is to stay active. Physical therapy helps you optimize your efforts by prescribing the best home exercises and teaching you the proper technique to protect your joints. If you historically live an inactive lifestyle, remember to start slow and be patient. Protect your joints from undue stress by performing only low-impact exercises. Consult with your physical or occupational therapist to make sure you have the techniques and exercises that are safe and effective for arthritis treatment.

Begin Arthritis Treatment in Creve Coeur, MO

Come to Axes Physical therapy for the best quality physical therapy arthritis treatment in the Creve Coeur, MO area. Your dedicated physical therapist will be an active member of your arthritis treatment team as a clinician with expertise in movement and joint health and has clinical experience treating diseases like yours. Our network of local, practitioner-owned physical therapy clinics is here to provide you with personalized, one-on-one care for your arthritis. Visit the location nearest you today or contact us now to speak to a doctor about your arthritis treatment needs or to schedule your first appointment. When it comes to treating your arthritis, there is no time to waste. Contact Axes Physical Therapy today.