Many patients think of arthritis as one condition. In reality, you can have more than one type at the same time. It’s especially common for someone with an inflammatory condition like ankylosing spondylitis to also develop degenerative “wear-and-tear” arthritis.
The good news is that both can be treated. The key is making sure neither one gets overlooked.
What’s the Difference Between Inflammatory and Degenerative Arthritis?
Inflammatory Arthritis
Inflammatory arthritis is driven by the immune system. Conditions like ankylosing spondylitis cause ongoing inflammation that can lead to pain, stiffness and joint damage. These conditions usually need autoimmune disease treatment from a rheumatology specialist.
Degenerative Arthritis (Osteoarthritis)
Degenerative arthritis, often called osteoarthritis or wear-and-tear arthritis, develops as joints break down over time. It often involves joint instability, cartilage loss and chronic pain.
Why Do So Many People Have Both?
There are two main reasons inflammatory and degenerative arthritis often show up together.
1. Inflammation Can Leave Lasting Damage
Even after inflammation has been brought under control, years of chronic inflammation can leave damage behind in the joint. That damage can hurt and behave just like wear-and-tear arthritis.
2. Wear-and-Tear Arthritis Is Simply Common
Degenerative arthritis is far more common than inflammatory arthritis. So if you have ankylosing spondylitis, it’s very possible you’ll also develop wear-and-tear arthritis over time, just like many other adults.
Why You Shouldn’t Neglect Either Condition
If only one type of arthritis is treated, the other can keep causing pain and limiting your daily life. A good rheumatologist will:
- Work out which condition is most active right now
- Treat the primary problem first
- Keep a close eye on the second condition
- Build a plan that addresses every source of pain
Sometimes one issue needs to be handled first. But at every stage, the goal is to consider and address everything that’s causing your symptoms.
Treating the Inflammatory Side
Disease-Modifying and Biologic Medications
For ankylosing spondylitis, research shows that disease-modifying and biologic treatments can still significantly reduce inflammation and improve pain and function, even in advanced cases where some damage has already happened.
That means it’s never “too late” to get inflammation under control.
Treating the Degenerative Side
Once inflammation has calmed down, remaining pain may come from joint instability caused by degenerative arthritis. This is where a combined approach with regenerative medicine can help.
Strengthening Exercises
Targeted strengthening supports unstable joints and helps improve movement and function.
Orthobiologic Treatments
Orthobiologic treatments are designed to address the instability seen in wear-and-tear arthritis. For the spine, options may include:
- Dextrose prolotherapy: injections intended to support and strengthen weakened ligaments
- PRP therapy (platelet-rich plasma): uses concentrated platelets from your own blood to support healing in damaged tissue
These options can be part of a well-rounded osteoarthritis treatment and chronic pain management plan.
The Bottom Line: Address All Sources of Pain
If you have both inflammatory and degenerative arthritis, you deserve a treatment plan that covers both. Controlling inflammation is important, but so is treating the joint damage and instability that may remain.
The right arthritis care looks at the whole picture, not just one diagnosis.
Find Arthritis Treatment in Chicago
At Chicago Arthritis and Regenerative Medicine, our team combines rheumatology expertise with regenerative medicine to treat both inflammatory and degenerative joint conditions. Whether you’re managing ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis or both, we’re here to help you find lasting joint pain relief.
Learn more or schedule a consultation at ChicagoArthritis.com.
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