I’ve Been Diagnosed with Arthritis… Now What?

Danielle Ivie, DPT, CSCS | Founder of Powered by Movement Physical Therapy

Arthritis has long been the talk of the town. It’s a diagnosis everyone knows about, but what exactly is it?

And what does it mean for you if you have been diagnosed with it?

In the simplest terms, arthritis is inflammation (“itis”) of a joint (“arth”). If you Google search “what is arthritis?” the People also ask section says things like:

  • At what age does arthritis start?
  • What foods should you avoid if you have arthritis?
  • Will my arthritis ever go away?  What are the first signs of arthritis?These questions point to a common theme of thinking in our society: we will all get arthritis, it will cause us pain, and it may never go away. But that’s not the truth. Let’s get to the bottom of what arthritis actually is, what it does (and does not) mean, and what to do if you have been diagnosed with arthritis.The Disconnect Between Imaging and PainAt PXM, it is very common for our clients to come in with an image (X-ray or MRI) that displays arthritis or some degenerative changes and assume these findings are the source of their symptoms. But recent research tells us that imaging results of degenerative changes, joint narrowing and osteoarthritis consistently show up in people with no pain at all.A 2015 systematic review published in The American Journal of Neuroradiology analyzed image findings of thousands of people without low back pain. Here is what they found:
  •  Disc degeneration found in 37% of 20 year olds and 96% of 80 year olds
  •  Disc bulges in 30% of 20 year olds and up to 84% of 80 year olds
  •  Facet joint osteoarthritis in 50% of people over 60
  • And all of these people had NO pain.There are similar studies on knee and hip arthritis that show osteoarthritis is present in many individuals without symptoms or mobility issues. This has huge implications for how we think about arthritis and managing pain. Arthritis ≠ Pain.Degenerative changes, or even arthritis, can be findings similar to gray hair or wrinkles. They prove that you have lived life and moved your body. While a diagnosis of arthritis can be correlated with pain in some individuals, it is not always the cause of pain.So, you’ve been diagnosed with arthritis, now what?At PXM, we look at the entire clinical picture to help you manage your arthritis diagnosis and pain. We learn about your history, lifestyle, symptoms and exercise routines in a thorough subjective exam. Then, we assess full body movement, range of motion, strength, and function to create an individualized treatment plan that helps you reach your goals pain free. Imaging alone should never be the sole determinant of your treatment plan, and neither should a diagnosis of arthritis.

If you have received this diagnosis, we want you to know:

  •  It does not necessarily mean this is the cause of your pain
  •  You are not doomed forever
  •  You can get out of pain and live your healthiest, fittest life
  •  Getting a physical therapy evaluation can give you clarity and confidence in your next stepsArthritis is the buzz word of the century, but don’t let it scare you. At PXM, we firmly believe the human body is powered by movement and yours is no exception. Let’s get you moving pain free again!
  • Reference:

1. Brinjikji et al. (2015). Systematic literature review of imaging features of spinal degeneration in asymptomatic populations. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2015 Apr;36(4):811-6. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A4173. Epub 2014 Nov 27. PMID: 25430861; PMCID: PMC4464797.

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At PXM, we help active people in St. Louis recover from injury, optimize movement, and stay out of pain for the long term while reaching their health & fitness goals. With our unique approach to physical therapy, our top priority is to provide you with holistic, fitness forward healthcare that emphasizes your goals.

We get you back to thriving in the activities you love with our 3 step process: 

POWER UP: Diagnose and understand the root cause of your problem.
POWER BOOST: Create a custom plan for you to restore function & get back to what you love. POWER PEAK: Optimize performance to keep pain away for good & get stronger than ever.

Not sure if PXM is right for you? Have more questions? Schedule a Free Consultation today.

Dr. Danielle Ivie, DPT, CSCS
Powered by Movement, LLC
567 Hanley Industrial Ct., Brentwood, MO 63144 314-252-0504 | www.poweredxmovement.com

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