Could I Have Arthritis At 30?

Arthritis is a common cause of chronic joint pain in older individuals, but it is on the rise among people in their 20s and 30s. In fact, an estimated 15% of Americans over 30 have a degenerative type of arthritis known as osteoarthritis.

At AABP Integrative Pain Care, our pain management physicians specialize in diagnosing and treating arthritis in adults of all ages. 

We provide a range of non-surgical treatments to ease your persistent joint pain so you can continue to lead a physically active life.

What to know about early onset arthritis

Early-onset arthritis describes a joint disease that occurs in people of a younger age. What’s considered early depends on the type of arthritis you have.

For instance, if you develop rheumatoid arthritis, a type of inflammatory arthritis, before the age of 30, it’s considered to be early onset. Developing osteoarthritis before age 50 is also a form of early-onset arthritis.

While adults from all walks of life are susceptible to early-onset arthritis, the condition can also affect young children and adolescents, a disease referred to as juvenile arthritis. Risk factors for premature joint inflammation or degeneration can include:

• Genetics
• Obesity
• Infections
• Smoking

You might also be at increased risk for early onset arthritis if you experience joint injuries from falls or other unexpected accidents, manual labor jobs, or sports participation.

Why a prompt arthritis diagnosis is vital

Prompt identification of early-onset arthritis is important to prevent severe joint deformities and other complications. With an effective treatment plan, you can learn strategies to protect your joint health and preserve their functionality for as long as possible.

Our providers at AABP Integrative Pain Care offer comprehensive exams, X-rays, and other diagnostic imaging tests to diagnose arthritis as the cause of your joint pain. You should schedule an appointment with our team if you experience persistent pain and symptoms like:

• Redness
• Tenderness
• Swelling
• Warmth
• Reduced range of joint motion

Based on the type of early-onset arthritis you have, our providers customize a treatment plan to manage the condition in the long term.

Exploring options for early onset arthritis treatment

The goals of treating arthritis are to manage joint pain and other symptoms and slow the disease's progression. Our providers also focus their efforts on reducing your risk for joint replacement surgery in the future.

The nonsurgical treatments we offer include:

• Physical therapy
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Cortisone injections
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
• Bone marrow aspirate injections
• Nerve blocks

Our providers also recommend diet changes and activity modifications that you can make to keep your joints flexible and pain-free.

We also offer viscosupplementation, a minimally invasive procedure to inject lubricating fluids into the joints of your knees to ease pain and enhance mobility. Additionally, our providers use Iovera® freezing technology to joint-related pain signals from traveling to the brain.

With ongoing care, you can learn how to keep your joints healthy so you can thrive physically. We also provide referrals to orthopedic surgeons if your arthritis is disabling and you’re a candidate for joint replacement surgery.

Call AABP Integrative Pain Care today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for early-onset arthritis or book an appointment online.