1115 S. Union St. - Traverse City, MI 49684
Phone: 231.935.0550

Arthritis & Osteoporosis

An integral part of Traverse City's medical community, AOC specializes in the treatment of rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.

Arthritis & Osteoporosis

Do You Have Arthritis?
Chances are you or someone you know does. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis. Arthritis can cause significant pain, stiffness and loss of joint function. Simple activities of everyday living can frequently be excruciatingly painful, leading to depression, disability and sometimes loss of independence.

"If someone would have told me 5 years ago that it was possible to feel this good I would have told them they were nuts! My only regret is not starting treatment earlier because now I'm virtually pain free."
Rodney ~ South Boardman, MI

Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease affecting the joints but can also affect several other organs of the body such as the lungs, heart, eyes and skin. It is an inflammatory disease that can cause destruction of the joints leading to deformities, disability and decreased quality of life. Although there is currently no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, there are phenomenal 'wonder' drugs that can stop the disease from progressing and frequently put the disease in remission.

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease, is the most common form of arthritis and is characterized by a breakdown or wearing out of the cartilage in the joints. Most commonly affecting the middle-aged and elderly, it can cause significant pain and is a leading cause of disability. Osteoarthritis typically affects the hands, knees, hips, feet and spine.

Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is characterized by a loss of bone mass that can cause bones to become weak, brittle and more likely to fracture. It is a silent disease, in that symptoms do not occur until late in the disease process. The first signs usually are a broken bone, curvature of the spine and loss of height. Bone Mineral Density (BMD) testing is the best way to find out if you have osteoporosis and predict your risk for fractures. As bone density decreases, the risk of fracture increases.

Dr. Mawby has a state of-the-art bone densitometer providing patients with the most comprehensive bone density test in the area.

For more information about Arthritis & Osteoporosis visit arthritis.org or noarthritis.com.

"Arthritis and osteoporosis are conditions that can seriously affect day-to-day activities. We pride ourselves on being able to help give our patients their lives back."
- Michael L. Mawby, M.D.