Can You Reverse Arthritis if You Catch It Early Enough?

Arthritis refers to more than 100 different conditions that result in stiff, swollen, or painful joints. About one in five men and women in the United States — or just over 53 million American adults — has some form of doctor-diagnosed arthritis. 

The two of the most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). OA is a wear-and-tear condition that tends to occur as a result of aging and overuse injuries. RA is an autoimmune condition in which your body attacks the synovial tissues that line your joints.

While arthritis can’t be reversed, the earlier it’s caught, the greater your chances of slowing or stopping its progression. With lifestyle adjustments and, if necessary, medications, you may be able to keep your joints relatively pain-free and mobile for life. 

At McPhilamy Bone and Joint in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, our fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon Dr. Austin McPhilamy helps you keep your joints healthy with a comprehensive and fully customized care plan. If you’re in pain, he may also recommend joint injections or other medications.

How can you stop arthritis from progressing? Take the following steps to keep your joints fluid and free from discomfort.

Lose excess weight

The last thing stiff and inflamed joints need is extra weight to carry around. If you’re overweight or obese, the best first step to prevent your arthritis from getting worse is to attain a healthier weight. If you need help keeping the pounds off, we can refer you to a provider who specializes in medically supervised weight loss.

Luckily, the other adjustments you make to improve your arthritis promote weight loss and/or better weight management. Taking better care of your body overall should improve your joint mobility, too.

Get moving

You don’t necessarily have to join a gym, but do need to plan your days so that you get plenty of movement and exercise. Even just getting 30 minutes of joint-friendly exercise at least five times a week can help improve arthritis symptoms and slow disease progression. 

Choose from a variety of low-impact activities that strengthen and stretch your body, including your joints, such as:

• Walking
• Dancing
• Cycling
• Swimming
• Weight lifting
• Resistance bands
• Yoga
• Pilates

Movement activates the release of a natural joint lubricant called synovial fluid, which helps your joints move without friction or pain. If it’s been a while since you were active, we help you design a movement plan that meets you where you’re at, and helps you improve your fitness gradually.

Go fishing

The omega-3 fatty acids in fatty fish have substantial anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation is involved in most diseases and medical conditions, especially arthritis. If you have RA, in fact, inflammation is responsible for the attack on your synovia and your subsequent joint pain.

At least twice a week, fill your plate with fatty fish that are rich in omega-3s. Choices include salmon, trout, mackerel, and sardines. Sardines and salmon with bones are good for your bones, too. If you don’t like fish, you can also take omega-3 fatty acids in supplement form.  

Quit smoking

Smoking destroys more than your lungs. Smoking dehydrates your body, including the tissues that line your joints, such as cartilage, synovium, and bursa. If you need help kicking the habit for good, we can refer you to a smoking cessation program.

See a joint specialist

If you notice joint stiffness and pain, get an evaluation and diagnosis from a bone and joint specialist. Once you have an accurate diagnosis, it’s easier to devise a treatment plan that can help you manage the disease and its symptoms more effectively.

In addition to prescribing medications and therapies to help you now, our team is also aware of novel treatments in the pipeline that may soon be available to help halt arthritis progression. Taking charge of your disease now, in its earliest stages, may help you avoid joint replacement surgery in the future.

Whether you think you might have arthritis or you want to do what you can to reduce your risk of developing it, we’re here to help. Contact our friendly team at McPhilamy Bone and Joint in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, for an arthritis evaluation today. You can reach us via phone or with our easy online form.