Highlighted-Areas-of-Joint-Pain-on-male-body Joint pain can be a major challenge for people, especially as the years go on. Depending on the person, joint pain can be the source of frustration and discomfort, or something that is genuinely debilitating and negatively impacting their quality of life. Although this is a broad term, joint pain can describe pain, discomfort, or inflammation that arises from any part of a joint (cartilage, nerves, ligaments, tendons). Joint pain can occur in any joint, but is most commonly found in the knees, hips, shoulders, and elbows. Today, our healthcare providers wanted to discuss common causes of joint pain, as well as how this pain can be managed or treated.

Joint pain is most commonly caused by the following health conditions:

  • Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and the most common source of joint pain in adults. This condition occurs as a result of protective cartilage wearing away over time. Osteoarthritis causes the joints to become painful and stiff, and worsens over time if left untreated. In most cases, the condition develops after age 45.
     
  • Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition that causes swelling and pain in the joints. This is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system mistakenly begins to attack its own tissue. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause the bones to erode and joints to deform, especially in the fingers and wrists.
     
  • Bursitis is a painful condition that causes the small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion bones, tendons, and muscles (known as bursae) to become inflamed. It most commonly affects the hips, shoulders, and elbows, but can also occur in the knees or heels. Bursitis most often occurs as a repetitive stress injury in joints that perform frequent repetitive motion.
     
  • Tendinopathy causes joint pain when the tendons that connect bone and muscle become dysfunctional. Like bursitis, tendinopathy is commonly the result of overuse of a specific joint over time. It is most commonly seen in the elbows, heels, or shoulders.

Treating joint pain depends on the specific cause of your issue, and it’s important to speak with your healthcare provider to determine the specific cause of your pain. We may recommend certain lifestyle changes like losing weight that can help put less stress on certain joints. Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (the RICE method) can also be highly beneficial. Exercising regularly and making sure to warm up properly before and to stretch after your workout can also be very helpful. For conditions like bursitis and arthritis, certain anti-inflammatory medications may be able to provide relief for a short period of time. In more severe cases, we may recommend physical therapy or surgery to repair or even replace a specific joint.

Here at Family practice Center, we work with our patients to nail down the root cause of their pain issues. Once this is done, we will be able to determine the most appropriate and helpful course of treatment. For more information or to schedule an appointment at one of our now nine Atlanta area locations (including our newest locations in Buford and Braselton), contact Family Practice Center today.