Chronic Care Management for Your Arthritis

Persistent pain and illness can take a toll on your mental, emotional, and physical health. That’s why it’s important to have a healthcare provider who’s familiar with your condition and listens to your needs. If you’re struggling to accomplish tasks due to chronic arthritis, a management plan can help you find ways to simplify your routine, find relief, and lead a happy life. 

At Indus Healthcare, with offices located in Pomona, West Covina, and Montclair, California, Dr. Amit Paliwal delivers chronic care management for ailments like arthritis to provide better quality of life. He helps you figure out how to live with arthritis and improve your overall outlook.

Chronic arthritis 101 

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, the two most common types of arthritis, are both chronic and degenerative. This means there’s no cure, and symptoms can persist and worsen over time. While this sounds like a bleak diagnosis, advancements in medicine allow you to manage your condition and remain active. 

Osteoarthritis is caused by general wear-and-tear on your joints. The damage can be exacerbated by infection or injury, but most people experience some form of degenerative joint disease as they get older. Chronic pain is common with osteoarthritis, and can become worse due to cold or hot weather, unusual activity, or immobility.

Rheumatoid arthritis tends to be more aggressive. It’s caused by an autoimmune disease that attacks the synovial membrane lining your joints. Over time, your immune system will slowly break down the cartilage within a joint, causing stiffness, deformities, inflammation, and chronic pain.  

Managing your condition 

Managing your condition is extremely important. Living with chronic pain can sap your energy, leaving you tired, hopeless, and depressed. Many studies show that those with the highest pain levels tend to experience the highest levels of depression and anxiety. 

Chronic care management is about more than treating your arthritis; it’s about teaching you how to live with your condition. Self-management and coping skills are important, especially if you want to maintain an active, independent lifestyle. 

The first step to managing your condition is finding a doctor you can rely on. At Indus Healthcare, our team is dedicated to helping patients understand their situation. Once you know what your symptoms mean, we can work together to create a treatment plan to improve your health. 

Struggling with chronic pain? Need help managing your arthritis? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Paliwal and his team by calling the location closest to you, or visit the contact page for more information.