What is joint pain?
Joint pain is an uncomfortable feeling in your joints, parts of your body that connect two bones. Joints are made up of bones, ligaments, muscles, tendons, and cartilage. Examples of joints include your hips, knees, ankles, toes, fingers, shoulders, elbows, and wrists.
Joint pain might present as:
- Dull, aching joint pain
- Sharp discomfort
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- Redness
- Decreased range of motion
- Reduced mobility
In some cases, your joints can become disfigured due to conditions related to joint pain. Treatments at Modern Wellness Clinic can offer you relief.
What causes joint pain?
Joint pain can happen to anyone, but some factors boost your risk of experiencing it. Examples include:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Gout
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Cancer
- Joint inflammation
- Fractures
- Dislocations
- Fibromyalgia
- Tendon or ligament damage
- Tendinitis
- Sprains or strains
You might injure your joints playing sports, overtraining, not getting proper nutrition, falling, being in a car accident, or developing a chronic disease.
How does my doctor find the root cause of joint pain?
To discover the cause of your joint pain, the experts at Modern Wellness Clinic check your vital signs, discuss your symptoms, and review your medical history. They complete a physical examination, paying particular attention to your joints.
Providers may recommend you undergo blood tests, urine tests, joint fluid testing, X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds, or other imaging procedures to make a final diagnosis and develop an effective joint pain treatment.
What are common joint pain treatments?
Common treatments for joint pain include:
Lifestyle changes
Things you can do at home to reduce joint discomfort include icing affected joints, taking over-the-counter pain relievers, resting your joints, and wearing a brace, cast, or athletic tape until a joint heals.
Maintaining a healthy weight, eating nutritious foods, getting regular exercise, and taking dietary supplements can reduce your risk of joint problems.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy stretches and exercises help strengthen your joints to speed up healing and lower the risk of future joint problems.
Injections
Hyaluronic acid, cortisone, and other joint injections can reduce inflammation, friction, and pain linked with joint problems.
Regenerative medicine
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), stem cell therapy, and other types of regenerative medicine injections enhance your body’s ability to heal, regenerate cells, and reduce pain.
Prescription medications
If you have severe pain or joint problems linked with a chronic disease, experts at Modern Wellness Clinic may suggest you take prescription medications to reduce discomfort or slow joint disease progression.
Surgery
If you have a severe joint injury, surgery might be the best way to repair damaged tissues and fully restore your joint’s function and structure.
To learn more about joint pain treatments available at Modern Wellness Clinic, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.
