Did you know there are over 100 different types of arthritis? Collectively, arthritis affects over 50 million adults and 300,000 children in the United States. The exact symptoms vary depending on what type you have, but in general, arthritis is characterized by joint inflammation and pain.
Although it can be tempting to “power through” joint pain, Dr. Benjamin Taimoorazy and our team here at Beverly Hills Migraine and Pain Management Institute encourage you to visit our Beverly Hills or Northridge, California, location to explore your arthritis treatment options.
Below, we discuss four complications of untreated arthritis and how treatment can help you find relief.
Untreated arthritis causes pain and discomfort, but it can also limit your ability to perform daily activities and care for yourself. Depending on which joints are affected, untreated arthritis can make it more difficult to:
You may find that some aids and devices (such as pre-threaded flossers and shoe horns) make simple tasks much easier.
Untreated arthritis is much more than a nuisance. It can cause serious and permanent damage to your body. Untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA), for example, can lead to permanent joint deformity as well as cardiovascular disease, skin problems (rashes), lung problems, vision problems, and eye inflammation.
It might seem odd to learn that a type of arthritis can affect more than just your joints, but rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation in many parts of the body, not just the joints. This is how RA can lead to issues with organs like your heart, lungs, and skin.
When you’re in pain, it’s hard to sleep. Arthritis pain can make it difficult to get comfortable in bed, fall asleep, and stay asleep. Unfortunately, a chronic lack of sleep can take a toll on your physical and mental wellness.
Getting an adequate amount of sleep is essential for healthy immune function, weight management, stress management, and mental clarity. Without enough sleep, your body isn’t well equipped to handle illness, stress, or daily tasks.
Arthritis 一 no matter which type you have 一 can cause debilitating pain and discomfort, and that can snowball into depression and/or anxiety. According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis and depression/anxiety have a complex relationship. Those with untreated arthritis and high pain are at an increased risk of developing depression, and those with depression feel pain more intensely.
Bottom line: untreated depression can increase your discomfort, which can have a negative impact on your mental well-being.
The good news is that you don’t have to go through life with untreated arthritis. Depending on which type of arthritis you have and how severe it is, you have many different arthritis treatments available to you. Your personalized arthritis management plan may include:
If you spot the early signs of arthritis, don’t wait until your symptoms spiral. Schedule an arthritis consultation with Dr. Taimoorazy at Beverly Hills Migraine and Pain Management Institute today. You can reach us via our online booking tool or by calling 424-302-0289.
