Osteoarthritis Specialist

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Even early symptoms can notably impact your daily life and activities. When facing this degenerative disease, finding the right osteoarthritis specialist in Los Angeles can make a world of difference. Dr. Sarkiss approaches each patient’s case with an open mind, building evidence-based treatment plans to provide relief and improve mobility.

Common Causes of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative condition affecting the cartilage between bones. There is no single factor that causes the condition, but a range of factors can contribute to developing the condition. These include:
  • Aging (the primary factor)
  • Joint overuse or repetitive stress
  • Previous joint injuries or surgeries
  • Genetic predisposition (e.g., family history of osteoarthritis)
  • Obesity (added stress on weight-bearing joints)
  • Poor joint alignment or biomechanics
  • Inflammatory joint conditions

Benefits of Treating Osteoarthritis

While there is no full cure for osteoarthritis, modern treatments can slow joint degeneration and help maintain your quality of life. Some key benefits patients see with effective treatment can include:
  • Symptom Relief: Experience relief from chronic joint pain.
  • Improved Joint Function: Improve the joint's range of motion and ease of movement.
  • Delay or Prevent Surgery: Starting treatment early can slow disease progress and reduce the need for eventual surgery.
  • Quality of Life Improvements: Increased comfort during physical activities and rest can lead to an overall better quality of life.

Osteoarthritis Treatment Options

Noninvasive and conservative care are the mainstays of early treatment. Dr. Sarkiss tailors treatment plans to your individual situation. He looks at the joints affected and your level of discomfort to provide a path forward. Treatment options can include:
Physical Therapy: Exercises designed to strengthen muscles can reduce strain on the joints themselves.
Lifestyle Modifications: Further improve joint function with changes like weight loss, improved posture, and joint-friendly movement strategies.
Medications: Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications can further improve comfort.
Joint Injections: Corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections can reduce pain and improve joint function.
Surgery: Usually reserved for severe cases, joint-preserving or joint-replacement surgery may offer lasting relief.

Osteoarthritis FAQs

What results can I expect?
Treatment is centered around slowing disease progress and improving comfort. Patients will typically notice improvements within weeks of treatment, but results can vary. Factors like your individual health and disease stage can influence the degree of relief. However, working with a skilled surgeon like Dr. Sarkiss is the best solution to see optimal results.

As this cartilage wears down, patients can experience increasingly severe symptoms, such as joint pain, swelling, and decreased mobility. Symptoms tend to appear gradually but then worsen over time. Indicators of osteoarthritis include:

  • Persistent joint pain during or after movement
  • Joint stiffness, especially in the morning or after inactivity
  • Swelling around joints
  • Loss of flexibility or range of motion
  • A grating or grinding sensation in the joint
  • Bone spurs or bony growths
Some patients will ultimately need surgery, but we always start with conservative options as first-line treatment. Many patients will see success in managing symptoms without resorting to surgery. However, surgery may prove the best option in severe or later-stage osteoarthritis.

The surgical approach will depend on the affected joints and their current state. Options available include:

  • Arthroscopy: A minimally invasive approach that cleans or smooths the joint.
  • Osteotomy: A procedure that realigns affected bones to reduce joint stress.
  • Joint Fusion (Arthrodesis): Fuses bones together to eliminate pain but reduces mobility.
  • Total Joint Replacement (Arthroplasty): Replace the damaged joint with a prosthetic to provide renewed function.

Schedule a Consultation

Work with Los Angeles’s leading osteoarthritis specialist to build a path back to renewed comfort, movement, and control over your life. Dr. Sarkiss specializes in compassionate care and advanced treatment strategies to help patients overcome even later-stage osteoarthritis in LA. Schedule your personalized consultation today and take the first step toward long-term relief.