What Causes Joint Pain, How Can You Treat it?

Joint pain is a problem for many individuals, especially in older patients. The problem can be severe, affecting your work performance, limiting mobility, and disrupting your health. When left untreated, joint pain may develop to cause serious health issues.

If joint pain interferes with your daily activities, the Mason joint pain specialists can help. The highly experienced professionals specialize in advanced joint care and treatment services to relieve your pain and better your life. Contact the Elite Physical Medicine office today for your consultation.

What Is Joint Pain?

Usually, the joint consists of bone, ligaments, cartilage, tendons, and muscles, Joint pain involves any pain, discomfort, or inflammation arising from these parts. However, joint pain also refers to arthritis which involves the pain or the inflammation of the joint.

The pain varies from mild to severe, causing soreness, limited movement, and severe pain.

What Are the Causes of Joint Pain?

Typically the body consists of more than 200 bones, which coordinate together to enhance movement. A joint is where the bones connect.

Connective tissue within the joint protects the bones from rubbing each other. The tissue also enhances movement within the joint, where it stretches as the joint bends. Joint pain occurs when the joint becomes stiff, weak, wears down, or becomes inflamed.

The most common cause of joint pain is arthritis causing the inflammation of the joint’s connective tissues. Osteoarthritis occurs due to the damage of the joints caused by age, improper joint use, or injuries. In addition, rheumatoid arthritis also causes joint pain.

Other causes of joint pain include:

• Osteoporosis.
• Bursitis.
• Tendinitis.
• Joint or bone infections.
• Sprains.
• Joint or bone infections.
• Dislocation.
• Broken bone.
• Bone cancer.
• Gout.
• Leukemia.
• Rickets.

It is advisable to seek medical attention when you develop other symptoms on your joints such as swelling, tenderness, stiffness, or limited movement. You may also experience fatigue when having joint pain.

Diagnosis

During your consultation at Elite Physical Medicine, your provider conducts a thorough examination to determine the cause of your joint pain. The exam also involves the medical history review, evaluation of the symptoms, lifestyle habits, and diet.

Your doctor also checks your posture, muscle strength, and reflexes. Besides, the doctor may also request an X-ray to allow accurate diagnosis.

What Are the Treatments?

After finding the cause of your joint pain, your provider develops a personalized treatment plan to address your specific issues. based on the cause, the treatment may include:

• Nerve blocks.
• Chiropractic adjustments.
• Joint injections.
• Therapeutic exercise.
• Massage therapy.
• Pain medications.

Your provider usually performs the treatment in three parts which involve:

• The first step is to alleviate your pain.
• Then enhancing structural healing exercises.
• The last stage is to maintain your health pain-free.

The Bottom Line

Joint pain results from various issues, including injuries, arthritis, and other diseases, joint breakdown due to age, and viral infections. Joint pain symptoms are usually mild but, when not treated, may become severe. Hence the need to seek medical attention immediately when you notice the symptoms.

Contact a joint pain specialist at Elite Physical Medicine today for comprehensive and ultimate care.