Want to get rid of joint pain?

Joint pain is quite common, especially as people get older. In a national study, almost a third of people reported having had joint pain in the past 30 days. The most common complaint was knee pain, followed by discomfort in the shoulders and hips. On the other hand, joint pain can strike anywhere on your body, from ankles and feet to shoulders and wrists.

A wide range of conditions can lead to joint pain:

• Osteoarthritis, a “wear and tear” disease, is the most common type of arthritis.

• Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that occurs when your body attacks its tissues.

• Bursitis occurs when the bags of fluid that help cushion your joints become inflamed.

• Gout is a form of arthritis that most commonly affects the big toe joint.

• Sprains, strains and other injuries.

Joint pain can range from mildly itchy to debilitating. It may go away after a few weeks (acute) or last for several weeks or months (chronic). However, even short-term pain and swelling in the joints can affect your quality of life. Whatever the cause of joint pain, you can usually manage it with medication, physical therapy, or alternative treatments.

Your doctor will first try to diagnose and treat the condition that is causing your joint pain. The goal is to reduce pain and inflammation and preserve joint function.

Treatment options include:

• For moderate to severe joint pain with swelling, the doctor has prescribed an over-the-counter or prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or topical medication.

• The doctor may try injections for people who cannot find relief from joint pain with oral or topical medications.

Steroid injections are most often used in patients with arthritis or tendonitis. The procedures are effective, but the effect can be temporary in many situations.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is made from your blood, injected into your painful joint. Your joint contains many platelets and proteins that have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.

Prolotherapy is a series of injections of an irritant (often a sugar solution) into the joints, ligaments and tendons. The theory is that the injections stimulate local healing of injured tissue.

• The muscles around the joint can be strengthened, stabilized, and your range of motion improved with a physiotherapist. The therapist can use ultrasound, heat, cold, electrical nerve stimulation, or manipulation.

Losing weight can help relieve painful joints if you are overweight. Weight loss is achieved through exercise and nutrition, but avoid high impact workouts that make the joint worse. One of the most acceptable activities for your joints is swimming or cycling. Swimming reduces joint tension due to the floating properties of water.

• A few basic home remedies can reduce short-term joint discomfort by resting the joint and avoiding painful activities, freezing the joint for 15 minutes every day, wrapping the joint with a rubber band, elevating the joint. ‘joint.

Whatever treatment you take, see a doctor immediately if the pain becomes severe, if your joint suddenly becomes inflamed or deformed, or if you cannot use it at all.

Source: WebMD