Arthritis care in Summerland

What is arthritis?

Osteoarthritis is the wear and change a joint goes through over time.

It most often shows up in the spine, hips, knees and hands. The joint feels stiff after rest and sore when it takes load. Changes in a joint don't always cause pain. Osteoarthritis is long term, but it doesn't always get worse, and it sometimes eases gradually.

Where it can show up

• Knees and hips. Stairs, or getting out of a chair, take more effort than they used to.
• Hands. Hands that are slow to open in the morning, or sore after gripping.
• Back and neck. A back that is stiff more than sharp, or a neck that doesn't turn as far as it did. Read more on the back pain page and the neck pain page.
• Other kinds of arthritis. Inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, is different and is managed with your doctor. It's worth getting checked early. If I think yours is another kind, I tell you and point you to the right care.

Common signs

Osteoarthritis feels different in different joints. These are some common patterns.

• Morning stiffness that eases. Stiff when you get up, then looser once you have been moving for a while.
• Pain after sitting. A joint that complains after a long drive or a long sit, and takes a few steps to loosen up.
• Sore after a busy day. A joint that aches more after a day on your feet, in the garden or at work.
• Less range of movement. A joint that doesn't bend, straighten or turn as far as it did. Looking over your shoulder or checking a blind spot may be harder.
• Grating or creaking. A grating or crackling feeling as the joint moves.
• Some swelling or tenderness. A joint that's suddenly hot, red and swollen is different. See the warning signs below.

When to get help

How I assess arthritis

1. 1
   We talk first. You tell me which joints bother you, when they are worst, what makes them better or worse and what you want to keep doing.
2. 2
   I see how your joints move. I watch how you stand, walk, bend and turn, how far each joint goes and how it feels as it moves. I check the joint and the muscles around it with gentle pressure and movement.
3. 3
   I check for anything that needs a doctor first. A hot, swollen joint, a fever, sudden severe pain, or symptoms that don't match osteoarthritis. When something doesn't add up, I tell you and point you to the right person.
4. 4
   We agree on a plan. I walk you through what I found in plain words. If care makes sense and you agree, it can begin the same day.

A first visit for arthritis takes about 40 minutes, and a follow-up about 20. Ask anything as we go, and you can pause or say no to any technique.

Treatment options

Care doesn't change the arthritis itself. I aim at how your joints move, the muscles around them and keeping you doing what you enjoy. I may also give you advice for daily life. Your assessment and your comfort guide what I use.

What you can do at home

Keeping active matters with osteoarthritis. Before your visit and between visits:

• Stay active most days. Walking, swimming, cycling and gardening all count, at a pace your joints can manage.
• Expect some aching as you get going. A little discomfort with activity is common and doesn't usually mean harm. Ease off if a joint stays clearly worse afterwards.
• Use heat for stiffness, and cold if a joint is sore after use, wrapped in a towel.
• Pace yourself. Break big jobs, like gardening or housework, into shorter spells with rests.
• Ask a pharmacist or your doctor about pain medicine or gels, especially if you take other medicines.
• Include some strengthening. The exercises I give you are a place to start, and I email them after your visit.
• Let me know if a joint changes. Text me, keeping in mind that I'm often with patients. A joint that's suddenly hot, red and swollen needs medical help first, as listed above.

Common questions