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Osteoarthritis

Senior woman suffering from backache

Relieving the pain of osteoarthritis in Encinitas, ca

Osteoarthritis is a painful joint condition that detracts from the quality of life of many Encinitas, CA men and women. Here at Seaside Rheumatology and Wellness Center, we provide state-of-the-art treatment options to help you find real relief.

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis, also known a degenerative joint disease, is a slowly progressive, noninflammatory condition that typically affects the joins of the hands, hips, knees, and spine. It is characterized by joint pain that is usually worsened after activity, joint stiffness, bony enlargement, joint instability, crepitus (joint creaking) and loss of range of motion.

Osteoarthritis is a result of one’s genetic predisposition and environmental exposures. For example, excessive loads due to increased weight or trauma results in damage to the joint cartilage and bone just beneath this cartilage. A small percentage of osteoarthritis can be more aggressive and is thought to have a more inflammatory component.

Symptoms and risk factors

Radiographic (x-ray) changes seen in osteoarthritis include; bone spurs, joint space narrowing and subchondral cysts. Osteoarthritis is more common in men than in women and associated with increased age. Inflammatory osteoarthritis is more common in women. There are several risk factors for osteoarthritis including:

  • Age
  • Family risk
  • Gender
  • Obesity
  • History of trauma
  • Repetitive injuries
  • Smoking

How osteoarthritis is treated

Osteoarthritis is treated with a combination of lifestyle modifications, weight loss, physical therapy, occupational therapy, strength and range of motion exercises, bracing, medications, joint injections (steroids and viscosupplementation), and as a last resort, surgical intervention.

All injection procedures done at the Seaside Rheumatology and Wellness Center are done with ultrasound guidance to improve accuracy and patient comfort. Viscosupplementation treatments may require a one-time injection, while others require one injection per week for up to three to five weeks. The type of viscosupplementation used will be decided by your physician based on symptoms and the joint affected.

The viscosupplementation injections can then be repeated on an as needed basis. Steroid injections can be done for both acute and chronic arthritic pain. It is recommended not to have more than three injections per year. All injection procedures have both risks and benefits, which your physician will discuss with you during your visit.

All you need to know about Osteoarthritis at Seaside Rheumatology and Wellness Center

All you need to know about Osteoarthritis at Seaside Rheumatology and Wellness Center
Do you suffer from joint pains or joint swellings? Then you must be having Osteoarthritis. What is Osteoarthritis? Watch this video to learn more as Dr. Peter Lloyd from Seaside Rheumatology and Wellness Center near Encinitas, CA explains.

What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis typically we see as we get older. It is an age-related, wear and tear Arthritis. There is an inflammatory component to Osteoarthritis, that is less understood.

What are the symptoms of Osteoarthritis?
Typical symptoms for Osteoarthritis include joint pain, joint swelling, and joint stiffness. Most of the time, this is on weight-bearing joints like the knees or the hips. A lot of patients will also experience pain in the finger joints.

What are the treatments available for Osteoarthritis?
Once diagnosed with Osteoarthritis, the treatments include oral medications and oral natural supplements. There are several types of injections, depending on the joint involved that can be very helpful and relieving the symptoms.

The goal of therapy is to reduce inflammation, reduce pain, get the patients moving again, get them on a regular exercise routine, and living a healthy lifestyle.

How does your practice treat Osteoarthritis?
All of the procedures done for patients with Osteoarthritis are ultrasound-guided at Seaside Rheumatology and Wellness Center. This provides a more precise and accurate procedure while making it pain-free for the patient. I’ve had a lot of success with ultrasound-guided injections and aspirations of joints.


Let us help you live a life of less pain. Call Seaside Rheumatology and Wellness Center at 760-509-2429 and schedule your appointment today.

Dr. Peter Lloyd

Dr. Peter Lloyd

Dr. Peter Lloyd is a board-certified rheumatologist with exceptional expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and other rheumatologic diseases. He earned his medical degree at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Chicago. He completed his rheumatology fellowship training at the prestigious David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA. At his facility Seaside Rheumatology, he treats his patients using the latest technology and medical developments. Due to his impeccable academic records, modern approach to treatments and compassionate patient care, he is valued as one of the best rheumatologists in the Rheumatology field.

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