This is Booster Shot, your monthly look at personal health. On this show, we talk to Vijay Borra, an orthopedic surgeon at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa, about arthritis.
Arthritis is actually a catch-all for more than 100 different diseases and conditions. The two most common are osteoarthritis - caused by wear-and-tear or an injury to your joints - and rheumatoid arthritis - when your body’s immune system attacks the lining around your joints.
Surgery is the last option but for mild cases, over the counter drugs can help with pain and inflammation. Even though it sounds simple, weight loss and regular exercise are recommended to improve flexibility and reduce pain.