Treating Arthritis in Hawaii-A Conservative Approach Should Be Used

by | Jun 14, 2013 | Health

Arthritis can be debilitating. When evaluating treatment options, patients should choose a conservative approach whenever possible. Less invasive treatments come with fewer side effects so non-surgical pain relief should always be the goal. When visiting a doctor for the treatment of Arthritis Hawaii, what should you expect from the doctor and what should the doctor expect of you?

The initial visit to a doctor for Arthritis Hawaii will involve a complete evaluation of the symptoms you are experiencing along with when and how they started. If you can document the symptoms, their frequency and when they occur, this will be of great help to the doctor. He or she also needs to know how the symptoms of Arthritis Hawaii affect your everyday life.

The doctor conducts a physical exam as this helps him or her in making the correct diagnosis. The diagnosis documents the precise location of the arthritis, whether it be in a tendon, joint, disc, etc. Many patients are surprised to learn that the pain they are experiencing isn’t located where they believe it is. Questions will be asked, the exam will be conducted and tests may be ordered to better assess your condition. Tests your doctor may choose to use include MRIs, X-rays and ultrasound.

Once a diagnosis of Arthritis Hawaii has been arrived at, your doctor develops a treatment plan. The goal of treatment is to address the specific diagnosis along with any functional or movement issues that the arthritis is causing. A combination of treatments may be used to restore function in the affected area so you can move normally again. Discuss treatment options with your physician as he or she wants your input. When you have a say in which treatments are used, you are more likely to follow through and obtain the desired result.

Medication and physical therapy are often recommended for the treatment of arthritis. If, after using these treatments for a period of time, you find you aren’t obtaining the desired relief, your doctor may offer other options. Injections may be used along with treatments such as massage therapy, acupuncture and radiofrequency ablation. Surgery is always the last option when it comes to arthritis treatment due to the risks associated with this type of procedure. Most find relief from less invasive treatments which is why a conservative approach should be used whenever possible.

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