Arthritis Specialist
-
- Tweet
Ariel D. Teitel, M.D.
Rheumatologist & Board Certified Internal Medicine Physician located in Columbus circle, New York, NY
One in four adults has some type of doctor-diagnosed arthritis, a progressive disease that represents the third-leading cause of disability. Early and ongoing treatment with an experienced rheumatologist like Ariel D. Teitel, MD, can make a difference. Dr. Teitel creates comprehensive treatment plans designed to help you maintain optimum function so you can stay active and enjoy life. If you need help with any type of arthritis, call the office near Columbus Circle in Manhattan, New York City, or book an appointment online today.
Arthritis Q & A
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is a general term referring to joint inflammation, a problem that accounts for more than 100 different conditions. Of all the different types of arthritis, the most common include:
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis develops over years of using your joints, leading to the gradual breakdown of cartilage. As more cartilage wears away, the underlying bone is damaged, bone spurs develop, and the joint becomes inflamed. This type of arthritis most often affects weight-bearing joints like your knees.
Rheumatoid arthritis
As an autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis develops when your immune system attacks the synovial tissues lining your joints. The tissues become inflamed, and ongoing inflammation causes bone erosion and joint deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis typically begins in the small joints of your hands and feet.
Gout
Gout begins as a sudden, severe attack of joint inflammation that continues to flare up. The flares most often occur in your big toe joint, but they may appear in other joints near your feet and hands. You develop gout when uric acid crystals accumulate in the joint.
Psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is inflammatory arthritis that can appear in anyone, but it most often affects people who have psoriasis. Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes patches of thickened, scaly skin.
What symptoms develop if I have arthritis?
The classic symptoms of arthritis include joint pain, stiffness, and limited movement. Inflammatory types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and psoriatic arthritis, also cause swelling, tenderness, and fatigue.
In some types of inflammatory arthritis, the inflammation affects other parts of your body. For example, rheumatoid arthritis can cause problems in your eyes, blood vessels, lungs, and blood.
Other types cause inflammation between joints in your spine and swelling at the areas where ligaments and tendons attach to bones.
In most types of arthritis, the disease can progress to cause permanent joint damage. Your symptoms may range from an increasing inability to use the joint to deformities and joint fusions.
How is arthritis treated?
Dr. Teitel carefully evaluates the cause of your joint pain and develops a treatment plan that relieves your symptoms and helps you regain normal function. The treatment you need depends on the underlying type of arthritis.
Though you can take pain relievers for osteoarthritis, this type doesn’t have other medications. By comparison, Dr. Teitel prescribes specialized medications for inflammatory arthritis that stop progressive joint damage and keep the disease in remission.
As a general guideline, it’s important to keep moving and using the joint in all types of arthritis. Getting exercise and participating in physical therapy improve the joint’s mobility and diminish inflammation and pain.
No matter what type of arthritis you have, you receive comprehensive care from Ariel D. Teitel, MD. To schedule an appointment, call or use the online booking feature today.
