Finding Relief and a Better Quality of Life for Patients
If you suffer from arthritis, or think you might, you are certainly not alone. According to the Arthritis Foundation, nearly 53 million adults and 300,000 children have some type of the disease. The good news there are steps you can take to relieve pain, increase mobility, and improve your overall quality of life.
Arthritis is a general way of categorizing more than 100 different types of joint pain or related conditions. Osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis are two different types of the disease that have different causes and symptoms, and require different treatments. Osteoarthritis is defined by structural damage to the joints caused by mechanical wear and tear usually occurring later in life. Inflammatory arthritis—which can occur at any age—is characterized by inflammation of the joints and tissue surrounding the joint. Many forms of inflammatory arthritis—including rheumatoid arthritis—are actually autoimmune diseases which cause the body to “cross signals” and attack healthy cells. Both forms of the disease lead to acute and long-term pain and in some cases permanent disability.
Relief is Right Around the Corner
The Backus Arthritis and Rheumatology Center—located in Backus Outpatient Care Center at 111 Salem Turnpike, in Norwich—helps patients identify the exact cause of their arthritic pain and creates an individualized care plan based on the patient’s diagnosis and medical history. With a plan in place, patients begin their journey to relief and a better quality of life.
Led by Medical Director Sandeep Varma, MD, the Backus Arthritis Center treats a large variety of joint diseases and provides many different treatments including:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Lupus
- Polymyalgia Rheumatica
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Gout
- Joint Injections
The Center also offers convenience with lab and imaging services right on site, coordination with primary care providers, and plenty of parking adjacent to the building.