Arthritis Care & Treatment

What We Treat

Clancy Medical Group provides arthritis testing and counseling. We also offer tools and training to help you manage your arthritis. If you receive an arthritis diagnosis, we guide you through lifestyle changes that help you manage pain, safely increase physical activity, and improve quality of life.

Important Arthritis Facts

According to the CDC, over 52 million Americans currently have some form of arthritis, with that number expected to grow as the population ages.

Arthritis simply means “joint inflammation,” but has become a catch-all term for dozens of rheumatic conditions affecting joints and their surrounding tissues. You may develop symptoms over time, or rather suddenly.

Lifestyle changes mitigate some of the risk factors of arthritis, but not all. As with many diseases and disorders, the number one risk factor over which patients have no control is age, while the top risk factor under patients’ control is weight.

Why Should I Choose Clancy Medical Group for Arthritis Care?

Clancy Medical Group’s holistic approach to medicine is especially important in arthritis care. This is because treating arthritis requires a well-rounded approach that involves the patient monitoring and managing his or her condition, and we support you each step of the way. We work with you to implement sustainable lifestyle changes, such as adopting healthier diet and exercise habits.

Arthritis Frequently Asked Questions

What causes arthritis?

There are many forms of arthritis – over 100 – and researchers are still studying the disease to determine cause. Specifically, scientists look at the role of genetics, environment, and lifestyle in the disease. Certain infections have been found to cause arthritis, and elevated uric acid levels may cause gout (one of the more common types of arthritis).

How can I manage my arthritis pain?

The team at Clancy Medical Group helps patients manage chronic illness. To help manage arthritis pain, patients are encouraged to implement a moderate exercise program to safely increase physical activity. Moderate exercise is that which the patient’s heart rate and breathing increase slightly, meaning that you may comfortably carry on a conversation while exercising.

Low-impact activities performed at a moderate pace, five days per week, help relieve joint pain and stiffness. This can include walking, swimming, and bicycling. You may also include daily activities such as gardening and dancing, so long as the increases in heart rate and breathing remain slight.

If you experience an acute flare-up, restrict activity to range-of-motion exercises in which you carefully move the joint as far as it can go.

What are arthritis’ symptoms?

Symptoms vary depending on the type of arthritis, but typically express as a feeling of pain and/or stiffness around one or more joints. Symptoms may persist over time, or come and go.

Is there a cure for arthritis?

No, there is no cure for arthritis. Patients may manage the disease with lifestyle changes to lose weight, moderate exercise, medications, and surgery.

What are the most common types of arthritis?

The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, gout, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis.

What are the risk factors for arthritis?

Arthritis has a number of risk factors. Some of these are preventable and some are not.

The most common preventable risk factors include:

• Excess weight, which may contribute to knee osteoarthritis
• Infection, which may cause certain forms of arthritis
• Joint injuries, which may cause osteoarthritis
• Occupations requiring repetitive bending and squatting, which may cause knee osteoarthritis

The most common non-preventable risk factors include:

• Age, which increases arthritis risk
• Gender, as 60 percent of arthritis sufferers overall are women
• Genetics, with certain traits demonstrating higher risk of arthritis

How is arthritis diagnosed?

Your physician takes a complete medical history, including current and past symptoms. You also undergo a physical examination, blood work, and x-rays.

Is it normal to have pain while exercising?

Yes, to a certain extent. Mild pain, such as soreness or aching joints, is common both during and after exercise, especially in the first month or so. Patients typically find that, if they continue their exercise program, pain during exercise not only lessens, but they experience long-term pain relief, as well.

You can often manage this pain by modifying your workout, such as exercising less frequently or for shorter durations, until the pain improves. You may also choose to change the type of exercise, such as swimming or water aerobics instead of walking. Always remember that moderation is key.

Stop exercising immediately and see your physician if any of the following occur:

• Sharp, stabbing, constant pain
• Pain lasting two or more hours, or that worsens at night
• You do not experience pain relief from hot/cold packs, rest, or medication
• Pain that causes you to limp
• Increases in swelling or joints that feel (or appear) red