Joint Pain

Joint pain can show up in several different ways, such as:

• Inflammation, swelling, and stiffness
• A dull ache or throbbing
• Sharp or stabbing pain that only occurs with certain movements
• Numbness and weakness
• Burning or throbbing
• A rubbing or grating sensation

You may feel pain most severely when you first wake up or stand after a long period of sitting, but loosen up with activity. However, too much activity or the wrong types can make some types of joint pain worse.

Joint pain often starts mildly and then progresses over several months or years so that it becomes hard to get in and out of the car, shop, cook, exercise, and even walk. 

Joint pain may develop from a condition that runs in your family or an old injury. It’s also more likely to affect people who:

• Repeatedly overuse a muscle or joint
• Have chronic medical conditions
• Are overweight
• Suffer from depression, anxiety, or stress

People in overall poor health are more likely to develop joint pain, too. 

Many different health concerns cause joint pain. Some of the most common are:

• Joint diseases, such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
• Sports injuries
• Bursitis
• Tendonitis
• Fractures or dislocations
• Gout
• Lyme disease

Before treating your joint pain, the providers at Innovation Medical Group Southwest Territory consider all possible causes. An accurate diagnosis helps them formulate an effective treatment plan. 

Your treatment plan is customized to your joint pain diagnosis. Conservative, nonsurgical methods of pain relief and healing are usually tried before any recommendations for more invasive procedures.

Your provider may recommend movement modifications, over-the-counter or prescription medications, and physical therapy to help ease your joint pain. Corticosteroid and viscosupplementation injections can reduce pain, alleviate stiffness, and improve range of motion. Viscosupplementation injections contain hyaluronic acid, a gel-like substance that adds more lubrication to your joints.

If you have advanced joint pain that may require surgery, your provider can recommend you to a respected colleague specializing in surgical joint repair.