How we treat pain associated with osteoarthritis
Living with osteoarthritis often feels like a slow, relentless tightening of your world. Activities you once loved—gardening, walking the dog or simply climbing the stairs—become calculations of pain versus necessity. It's the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide, yet many resign themselves to the idea that "getting older just hurts."
But living with pain is not your only option. While osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease, the pain associated with it can be managed effectively. At DFW Interventional Pain Institute, we believe in a proactive, comprehensive approach to treating osteoarthritis pain. Instead of masking symptoms, we focus on restoring function and improving your quality of life through a combination of traditional therapies and innovative interventional procedures.
Understanding osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down over time. Although osteoarthritis can damage any joint, the disorder most commonly affects joints in your hands, knees, hips and spine.
As the cartilage wears away, it becomes frayed and rough, and the protective space between the bones decreases. This can result in bone rubbing on bone. To make matters worse, your body may create bone spurs in an attempt to repair the damage, which often contributes to further pain and inflammation.
Common symptoms and pain triggers
The symptoms of osteoarthritis often develop slowly and worsen over time. Understanding these signs is crucial for seeking early treatment. Common indicators include:
Pain: Affected joints might hurt during or after movement.
Stiffness: Joint stiffness might be most noticeable upon awakening or after being inactive.
Tenderness: Your joint might feel tender when you apply light pressure to or near it.
Loss of flexibility: You might not be able to move your joint through its full range of motion.
Grating sensation: You might feel a grating sensation when you use the joint, and you might hear popping or crackling.
Our comprehensive evaluation process
Effective treatment starts with an accurate diagnosis. At DFW Interventional Pain Institute, Dr. Edrick Lopez and our staff take the time to listen to you. We know that pain is subjective and personal; what feels like a dull ache to one person might be debilitating to another.
Our evaluation process is thorough. We review your medical records and prior imaging, perform a detailed physical exam and order any new required tests—such as X-rays or MRIs—to come up with the most accurate diagnosis possible. This isn't just about identifying that you have arthritis; it's about pinpointing exactly which structures are causing your pain and how it's affecting your daily life.
Multimodal treatment approaches
Once we have a clear picture of your condition, we develop a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your lifestyle and desired outcomes. We rarely rely on a single method. Instead, we use a multimodal approach, combining different therapies to attack pain from multiple angles.
Physical therapy
Movement is medicine for arthritic joints. Physical therapy is often the first line of defense. A customized program can help strengthen the muscles around your joints, increasing stability and decreasing pain. It also helps maintain range of motion, preventing the stiffness that often accompanies osteoarthritis.
Psychological therapy
Chronic pain takes a mental toll. It can lead to anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances, which in turn can make the pain feel worse. Psychological therapy, including cognitive-behavioral strategies, helps patients develop coping mechanisms, manage stress and break the cycle of pain and distress. We can suggest a therapist that can help you work through the additional hardships that chronic pain brings into your life.
Occupational therapy
Sometimes, relief comes from changing how you do things. Occupational therapy helps you discover new ways to perform everyday tasks without putting extra stress on your painful joints. This might involve using assistive devices or modifying your workspace to protect your body.
Medications
Medication management is a key component of treating osteoarthritis pain. We carefully select medications based on the severity of your pain and your overall health profile.
Analgesics: These are pain relievers that can help with mild to moderate pain.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These reduce both pain and inflammation.
Topical agents: Creams and gels can provide localized relief for joints close to the skin surface, like knees and hands.
Procedures and injections
When conservative measures aren't providing enough relief, interventional procedures can be a game-changer. Dr. Lopez specializes in these minimally invasive techniques.
Corticosteroid injections
Corticosteroid injections can offer rapid relief for inflamed joints. By delivering powerful anti-inflammatory medication directly into the joint, we can reduce swelling and pain, often providing relief that lasts for several months.
Viscosupplementation
For knee osteoarthritis, we may use hyaluronic acid injections. This substance mimics the natural fluid that lubricates your joints. Injecting it into the knee can improve gliding motion and reduce pain, acting like oil for a squeaky hinge.
Radiofrequency ablation
For patients with arthritis in the spine (facet joint arthritis) or knees (geniculate nerves), radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a powerful option. This procedure uses heat generated by radio waves to target specific nerves and temporarily turn off their ability to send pain signals. RFA can provide significant pain relief lasting six to twelve months, or even longer.
Innovative treatment options: Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
We are proud to offer cutting-edge regenerative medicine treatments like Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections. PRP therapy uses a concentration of a patient's own platelets to accelerate the healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints.
In this procedure, we draw a small amount of your blood and spin it in a centrifuge to separate the platelets. These platelets are packed with growth factors that are injected directly into the arthritic joint. This can stimulate the body's natural healing processes, potentially reducing pain and improving function without the risks associated with major surgery.
Surgical referrals
While our goal is to manage pain non-surgically, there are times when joint damage is too severe, and joint replacement surgery becomes the best option. If we exhaust conservative and interventional options, Dr. Lopez will refer you to a trusted orthopedic surgeon to discuss the next steps. We remain part of your care team, helping manage pain before and after surgery to ensure the best possible recovery.
Why choose DFW Interventional Pain Institute?
Choosing the right provider matters. Dr. Edrick Lopez is a double board-certified, Harvard-trained, bilingual interventional pain management physician. His unique background—holding both an M.D. and a J.D.—reflects a rigorous dedication to excellence and advocacy for his patients.
We don't just treat symptoms; we treat people. Our practice is built on the belief that through advances in medication and therapeutic practices, we can help you live your best life. Whether you're dealing with chronic knee pain or spinal arthritis, our team is equipped to guide you toward relief.
Schedule a consultation with DFW Interventional Pain Institute
Ready to take the first step toward pain relief? Contact us at DFW Interventional Pain Institute today. Dr. Lopez and our team are ready to listen to your story, evaluate your condition and create a personalized plan to help you get back to living your life.
