Arthritis
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Kane Orthopedic Institute
Thomas J. Kane, III, MD
Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon & Adult Joint Reconstruction Surgeon located in Honolulu, HI
65% of adults in the U.S. will develop arthritis. Of these, 45% will need to limit their daily activity due to pain, stiffness, and fatigue. At Kane Orthopedic Institute in Honolulu, Hawaii, Thomas Kane, III, MD, has extensive experience providing comprehensive care for arthritis. Dr. Kane offers nonsurgical treatments that keep you moving and surgical options ranging from joint preservation to total joint replacement. Don’t wait to get help for joint pain and stiffness. Call the office or use online booking to schedule an appointment.
Arthritis Q & A
What causes arthritis?
Arthritis refers to many health conditions that all share one common symptom: joint inflammation. Of all the different types of arthritis, two account for most cases:
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis develops as cartilage covering the ends of the bones inside your joint begins to break down. As more cartilage deteriorates, the bone is exposed, creating friction between the bones as they move. Over time, cartilage disappears, the bones start to degenerate, and inflammation develops.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by an autoimmune disorder. Your immune system attacks the synovial tissues lining the joint, causing inflammation that eventually damages the bones and leads to joint deformities.
What symptoms develop due to arthritis?
Osteoarthritis often begins in large, weight-bearing joints like your knees and hips, while rheumatoid arthritis starts in small joints like your fingers and may spread to larger joints. Both conditions cause:
- Painful joints
- Stiff joints
- Limited movement
- Inflammation
- Swelling
Patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis may also experience fatigue and a fever. Additionally, the inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis can spread from the affected joint to other areas or organs in your body.
How is arthritis treated?
Dr. Kane provides comprehensive treatment for arthritis, including working closely with top rheumatologists to ensure that you receive thorough care. Your initial treatment may include physical therapy to improve joint movement, reduce inflammation, and strengthen the supporting muscles.
To relieve your pain and promote mobility, Dr. Kane provides viscosupplementation and steroid injections. Viscosupplementation is an injection of hyaluronic acid, a lubricating substance that’s naturally found in your joints. Steroids are potent anti-inflammatory agents.
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis receive medications called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). DMARDs protect your joints from damage by slowing down the progression of the disease.
If you reach an advanced stage when conservative treatment fails to relieve your pain, Dr. Kane will talk with you about surgical intervention. As a specialist in joint preservation, he first explores options such as removing bone spurs or damaged tissues, repairing tendons, or realigning bones.
Dr. Kane also has extensive experience performing joint replacement surgeries. Whether you need a partial or total joint replacement, you can depend on his expertise and a success rate that’s over 98%. The ultimate goal of Kane Orthopedic Institute is the relief of your pain and the restoration of your quality of life and activity.
If you develop stiff, painful joints, call Kane Orthopedic Institute or schedule an appointment online.
