Joint Pain
Joint pain is a very common problem with many possible causes. Joint pain can be caused by an injury affecting any of the ligaments, bursae, or tendons surrounding the joint. An injury can also affect the ligaments, cartilage, and bones within the joint. However, most joint pain problems are usually a result of an injury or arthritis.
Joint pain refers to discomfort, aches, and soreness in any of the body’s joints. Joint pain is a common complaint and It doesn’t typically require a hospital visit. Sometimes, joint pain is the result of an illness or injury. Arthritis is also a common cause of joint pain. However, it can also be due to other conditions or factors.
Joint redness
Swelling in the joint
Joint tenderness
Joint warmth
Limping
Locking of the joint
Loss of range of motion of the joint
Stiffness
Weakness
One of the most common causes of joint pain is arthritis. The two main forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
OA is most common in adults over the age of 40. It progresses slowly and tends to affect commonly used joints like the:
Wrists, Hands, Hips, Knees
Joint pain due to OA results from a breakdown of the cartilage that serves as a cushion and shock absorber for the joints.
The second form of arthritis is RA. It more commonly affects women than men. It can deform and debilitate the joints over time. RA causes pain, inflammation, and fluid build-up in the joints as the body’s immune system attacks the membrane that lines the joints.
Joint pain can be caused by:
Bursitis, or inflammation of the cushioning pads around joints
Lupus
Gout
Certain infectious diseases, such as mumps, influenza, and hepatitis
Chondromalacia of the patella, or a breakdown of the cartilage in the kneecap
An injury
Tendinitis, or inflammation of the tendon
An infection of the bone
Overuse of a joint
Cancer
Fibromyalgia
Osteoporosis
Sarcoidosis
Rickets
Most joint problems can be assessed and diagnosed by a Physiotherapist.
However, a joint x-ray maybe necessary to identify arthritis-related joint damage.
Doctors consider both OA and RA to be chronic conditions. Nothing can eliminate the joint pain associated with arthritis or keep it from returning. However, there are ways to manage the pain:
It may help to use topical pain relievers or take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation.
Stay physically active and follow a fitness program focusing on moderate exercise.
Stretch before exercising to maintain a good range of motion in your joints.
Keep your body weight within a healthy range. This will lessen stress on the joints.
If your pain isn’t due to arthritis, you can try taking a non-prescription, anti-inflammatory drug, getting a massage, taking a warm bath, stretching frequently, and getting adequate rest.
Medical Treatment
Your treatment options will depend on the cause of the pain. In some cases, your doctor will need to draw out accumulated fluid in the joint area. They might also recommend surgery to replace the joint.
Other nonsurgical treatment methods could include lifestyle changes or medications that can potentially cause your RA to go into remission. In the case of RA, your doctor will first address inflammation. Once the RA goes into remission, your medical treatment will focus on keeping a tight rein on your condition so that you avoid flare-ups.
At Comfort Health we offer a range of treatments from sports massage, physiotherapy and acupuncture, along with a variety of other services to help relieve joint pain. For chronic joint and tendon issues such as an Achilles Tendinopathy and Patellar Tendinopathy, shockwave therapy can be highly beneficial.
If you feel like you could benefit from a treatment from one of our practitioners – Click Here and book in today.