What is joint pain?
Joint pain is intense discomfort, shooting pain, aching, or stiffness in areas of your body where two or more bones meet. Your joints contain a network of bones, cartilage, muscles, ligaments, and tendons that work together to allow for smooth, uninhibited movement and flexibility. Some joints have a wide range of motions, while others have little.
Joint pain commonly arises in these joints:
- Shoulders
- Elbows
- Wrists
- Hips
- Knees
- Ankles
- Facet joints in your spine
You might feel a dull, constant ache, or your joint pain might flare up when you move. Joint pain can make it difficult for you to move and complete even simple daily tasks.
What causes joint pain?
There are many potential causes of joint pain, including overuse injuries, acute injuries, degenerative diseases, and general wear-and-tear that develops over time. Your joint pain might come from:
- Arthritis
- Bursitis (joint inflammation)
- Tendinitis (tendon inflammation)
- Bone fracture
- Dislocation
- Sprain
- Osteoporosis
- Fibromyalgia
The team at Athens Spine Center asks about your symptoms and the characteristics of your pain. They might also perform an X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to view the inside of your painful joint and identify an injury or areas of degeneration.
When should I make an appointment for joint pain?
Mild joint pain might go away over time, with little to no intervention. You can ease joint pain at home by resting the joint, applying ice, and using over-the-counter pain relievers according to their instructions.
You should make an appointment at Athens Spine Center for evaluation and treatment if your joint is swollen, tender, or warm, or if you can no longer use the joint.
How is joint pain treated?
Athens Spine Center provides nonsurgical treatments for joint pain. One effective minimally invasive treatment option for joint pain of all kinds is joint injections. Joint injections include a mixture of local anesthesia and a corticosteroid. The local anesthesia provides quick relief, while the corticosteroid reduces inflammation.
Corticosteroids don’t directly reduce pain. However, much of your joint pain comes from the inflammation around the joint. Reducing the inflammation can help reduce the pain over time. If joint injections successfully ease your joint pain, the team at Athens Spine Center might recommend getting more as part of an ongoing treatment plan.
Another treatment option for joint pain is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. PRP comes from your blood and uses your own growth factors to promote fast healing for injuries and pain relief as a result.
To find out what’s causing your joint pain and choose an effective treatment, call Athens Spine Center at (706) 425-2400 today.