Pain or stiffness in your knee can make it difficult to walk or climb stairs. Your symptoms could be a sign of arthritis, a common condition. For an accurate diagnosis and relief from arthritis symptoms, you can rely on Family Care Specialists Medical Group, which is located in greater Los Angeles (Boyle Heights, Highland Park and Montebello, California). Our doctors and staff are fluent in English and Spanish and other languages. Take a step to put the symptoms of arthritis behind you by making an appointment today.
A common, treatable condition, arthritis is an inflammation of one joint or more. The surfaces of all the joints in your body are lined with cartilage, a smooth surface that cushions your bones and reduces friction. Arthritis most commonly occurs when the cartilage wears out. Your bones rub against each other causing pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Almost any joint in your body can be affected by arthritis. Common locations include:
If you have arthritis in your knee, for example, the condition can be painful and make it hard to do many simple activities, such as walking or climbing stairs.
While arthritis comes in more than 100 different types, the most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Your practitioner at Family Care Specialists Medical Group will determine which form of arthritis you have.
At Family Care Specialists Medical Group, your provider takes a thorough medical history and performs a physical exam, looking for signs of redness, swelling, and warmth in your joints. You could be asked to perform certain movements to assess your range of motion.
To complete your diagnosis, your provider can recommend testing your blood or urine, or conduct diagnostic imaging tests, including:
You might be asked to provide a sample of your joint fluid for testing. This involves numbing the area around your joint and withdrawing a small amount of fluid with a needle.
Depending on your form of arthritis and the location, your provider at Family Care Specialists Medical Group creates a treatment plan that’s right for your condition. Various forms of treatment can ease your painful symptoms so you can resume your normal activities. Your provider can recommend:
If you’re ready to explore the right arthritis treatment to help you enjoy a more active life, call and schedule a consultation today with the team of multilingual medical professionals at Family Care Specialists Medical Group.