Arthritis Treatment: Relieving Joint Pain and Restoring Mobility
Arthritis affects over 50 million adults in the U.S., making it one of the leading causes of disability. Whether caused by wear and tear, autoimmune conditions, or chronic inflammation, its impact is both physical and emotional.
When it comes to arthritis treatment, the physicians at The Center for Healing and Regenerative Medicine take a different approach. Rather than relying on surgery or conventional and temporary symptom relief, our treatment focuses on identifying the root cause and restoring joint health through regenerative, non-surgical therapies.
What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is a broad term for conditions that cause inflammation and degeneration within the joints, leading to pain, stiffness, and loss of mobility. While there are many forms of arthritis, they generally fall into two main categories: osteoarthritis, which is caused by wear-and-tear damage over time, and inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, which involves the immune system attacking joint tissues.
In osteoarthritis, the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of bones gradually breaks down. As this cartilage erodes, joint space narrows, and bony growths called bone spurs (osteophytes) may develop, leading to mechanical pain and restricted movement.
Inflammatory types of arthritis, by contrast, are driven by immune dysfunction and can damage joint structures even without mechanical stress.
For either type, the most common symptoms include:
- Persistent joint pain or aching
- Stiffness, especially in the morning or after inactivity
- Swelling and tenderness around the joints
- Reduced range of motion or joint function
- Grinding, clicking, or catching sensations during movement
Areas of the Body Affected by Arthritis
Arthritis can impact nearly any joint in the body, but certain areas are more prone to degeneration and inflammation due to mechanical wear, repetitive use, or autoimmune activity. The areas most commonly affected include:
- Knees: The knees bear much of the body’s weight, making them especially vulnerable to cartilage loss and osteoarthritis.
- Hips: Hip arthritis often causes deep aching pain in the groin, outer thigh, or buttocks.
- Shoulders: Arthritis in the shoulder from joint degeneration can limit arm mobility and make overhead activities painful.
- Hands and Fingers: Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis frequently affect the small joints of the hands.
- Spine: Spinal arthritis—commonly seen in the neck and lower back—can lead to stiffness, localized pain, bone spurs, or nerve compression symptoms.
Causes and Risk Factors of Arthritis
While arthritis can affect anyone, certain underlying factors can increase a person’s likelihood of developing the condition.
Common causes and risk factors include:
- Age: Due to daily microtrauma, cartilage naturally wears down over time, making arthritis more common with aging.
- Joint overuse or injury: Repetitive motion or past injuries can result in joint instability that accelerates joint degeneration.
- Genetics: A family history of arthritis may predispose individuals to osteoarthritis and inflammatory types of arthritis.
- Obesity: Excess weight strains weight-bearing joints and connective tissue especially through the knees and hips.
- Autoimmune conditions: Rheumatoid arthritis and related disorders occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks joint tissues.
- Gender: Some forms of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, are more common in women.
- Occupation or lifestyle: Jobs or activities that involve heavy lifting, kneeling, or repetitive movements can increase joint stress over time.
CHARM’s Regenerative Approach to Arthritis Care
We believe arthritis care begins with a commitment to treating the root cause of joint pain, not just managing the symptoms. Rather than relying on short-term relief strategies, we focus on restoring joint health, improving mechanics, and slowing or even reversing degenerative changes where possible.
As part of our unique regenerative approach, each patient receives a comprehensive functional evaluation to assess joint structure, movement patterns, and overall biomechanics. Imaging of the joint structures is also extremely helpful in appreciating the level of tissue damage. This combination approach allows our team to identify the contributors to joint stress and degeneration.
From there, we develop a personalized, multimodal treatment plan that may include regenerative therapies such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), precision-guided injections, and targeted rehabilitation.
Care is delivered by a collaborative team of regenerative medicine physicians and physical therapists who work together to optimize tissue healing, enhance joint function, and help patients return to the activities that matter most.
Advanced Non-Surgical Therapies We Offer
At CHARM, we offer a range of advanced regenerative therapies designed to relieve pain and restore function from arthritis.
Our regenerative treatment options include:
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP): PRP uses the body’s own platelets to stimulate tissue repair, accelerate healing, and improve joint stability.
- Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC): BMAC delivers a rich source of healing cells from your own bone marrow to promote the repair of joint tissue, over time decreasing pain and inflammation through improved joint stability.
- Ultrasound-Guided Injections: These guided injections ensure precise, targeted treatment delivery to the exact source of pain for better results.
- Prolotherapy: This injection-based therapy uses a mild irritant (often dextrose) to stimulate the body’s healing response in ligaments and connective tissues.
- Trigger Point or Bursa Injections: These injections relieve muscle tension or inflammation in painful soft tissue “hot spots” to improve movement and comfort.
- Radiofrequency Neurotomy (RFN): RFN provides lasting pain relief in the low back due to arthritic joints in the spine.
- Redcord Neurac:®Uses suspension-based neuromuscular activation to retrain proper movement patterns, improve joint stability, and activate deep stabilizing muscles.
- Neufit:®Combines electrical stimulation with guided movement to re-educate muscle function, enhance circulation, reduce inflammation, and improve joint mobility.
When to Consider Treatment at CHARM
If joint pain limits your ability to walk, lift, or complete everyday tasks—or if you’re experiencing recurring stiffness or inflammation—it’s time to seek expert care. Whether you’re not ready for surgery, looking for alternatives to cortisone injections, or still dealing with pain after a prior procedure, CHARM offers advanced, non-surgical options designed to restore function and improve quality of life.
Our team takes a regenerative, whole-body approach, treating the root cause of joint pain through customized plans that combine targeted therapies, precise diagnostics, and functional rehabilitation.
If you’re ready to explore a more restorative path forward, schedule a consultation with our team today.