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BACK TO: Diseases and Treatments page Arthritis is a general term that is characterized by discomfort and pain in the joints. There are numerous forms of the ailment, but the most common two are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is by far the most common form of arthritis and is generally caused by wear and tear on your joints, tendons and ligaments. As the cartilage that lines the surfaces of the joints wears away, you are left with rough surfaces. As a result, your joints become stiff and painful. Osteoarthritis primarily affects the weight-bearing joints such as hips, knees and back, as well as the hands and wrists. On the other hand, rheumatoid arthritis more commonly involves inflammation and swelling of the joints rather than a wearing away of the cartilage. Treatment Options, Including Prolotherapy While most physicians feel that there is no cure for arthritis and that there is not a lot that can be done for this problem, the treatments are primarily focused on reducing the symptoms of painful and aching joints. The most frequent conventional treatments to help control the symptoms of arthritis involve the use of nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These medications do not stop the progression of arthritis, but simply reduce the symptoms. NSAIDs have been associated with significant side effects such as bleeding in the digestive tract, liver damage, or kidney impairment. At the Magaziner Center for Wellness and Anti-Aging Medicine, we provide a comprehensive arthritis program aimed at both reducing pain and restoring function. It includes nutritional supplements prescribed to support joint function and individual dietary and lifestyle recommendations made by our physicians. We also specialize in curing arthritis pain using prolotherapy, a treatment which rebuilds ligaments and tendons. The technique has proven approximately 80% effective in curing patients of pain.
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