Arthritis

Arthritis is a degenerative disease that causes inflammation in one or more joints in the body. It is one of the leading causes of joint pain and can result from many factors, including natural friction, infection, trauma, and disease. Arthritis more frequently affects the larger, weight-bearing joints such as the hips and knees.

The two most common forms of arthritis, affecting millions of Americans every year, are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent of the two and is the leading cause of joint pain overall. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that most commonly develops in middle age.

Osteoarthritis, also known as wear-and-tear arthritis, most frequently affects the hip and knee joints due to the constant stress these joints must endure. Patients over the age of 50, those with a family history of the disease, and those who have had a past joint injury have a higher risk of developing the condition.

Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease that causes the cartilage surrounding the ends of bones to wear away. As cartilage decreases, the bones of the joint begin to rub against each other during movement, resulting in pain and inflammation. In the early stages, patients typically experience stiffness after long periods of rest and pain during more active periods. If left untreated, inflammation continues and cartilage continues to decrease, often resulting in permanent bone damage and joint immobility.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease most common in patients between the ages of 40 and 60, particularly middle-aged women and those with a family history of the condition. Unlike osteoarthritis, which typically affects larger weight-bearing joints, rheumatoid arthritis most often affects the smaller joints in the body such as the hands and feet. It characteristically affects the same joint on both sides of the body, such as both the left and right hands.

Yes. While rheumatoid arthritis is commonly found in the smaller joints, it can also develop in the larger weight-bearing joints. As the disease progresses, patients will often experience increasing pain, stiffness, swelling, decreasing range of motion, and numbness in the affected joint.

For patients suffering from advanced arthritis or significant loss of joint mobility, total joint replacement surgery is often recommended. It is typically considered when arthritis has progressed to the point that everyday tasks become difficult and other treatment approaches are no longer providing adequate relief.

Total hip replacement surgery involves the complete removal of damaged bone and cartilage on both the ball and socket of the hip joint. An artificial implant is then secured to the ends of the bones to replicate the natural movement of the hip joint.

Total knee replacement is a surgical procedure in which the entire knee joint is removed and replaced with a metal and plastic prosthetic joint. It is one of the most common joint replacement procedures performed for patients with advanced knee arthritis.

Dr. Craig C. Greene is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee replacement. He provides treatment to patients throughout South Central Louisiana, including Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Lafayette, through his practice at the Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic.

To set up an appointment with Dr. Greene, patients can contact the Baton Rouge, LA office at (225) 800-4640 or use the appointment request form.