Joint pain

What is Joint Pain?

Joint pain refers to discomfort, aches, and soreness in any of the body's joints. This symptom can range from mild to severe, coming and going or being constant. There are various potential causes of joint pain.

Some common causes include:

• Arthritis - inflammation and swelling of joints from conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout


• Injuries - sprains, fractures, and dislocations can all lead to acute joint pain


• Overuse - repetitive movements and overexertion may irritate joints


• Infections - viruses, bacteria, and fungi can infect joints and the fluid inside


• Autoimmune disorders - diseases like lupus cause joint pain and stiffness

When should you see a doctor about joint pain? If the pain interferes with sleep or daily activities, lasts more than a week, or is accompanied by other symptoms like rash or swelling, see your physician. They can help correctly diagnose and properly treat the underlying condition.

What are the treatment options? Treatment depends on the cause but may include rest, splinting the joint, medications like NSAIDs and steroids to relieve inflammation, physical therapy, injections, or even surgery. Lifestyle measures like exercise, diet, and weight loss also help reduce joint pain symptoms.

"If you're suffering from ongoing joint discomfort, the specialists at Renew Hormone Clinic may be able to help. Our integrative treatments combine bioidentical hormone therapy with customized nutrition and fitness regimens to reduce inflammation and promote joint health from the inside out. (/joint-pain)"

Diagnosing Joint Pain

Determining the cause of joint pain requires an evaluation of the person's symptoms and medical history. Doctors use various tests to aid diagnosis:

• Physical examination - checking range of motion, swelling, tenderness


• Imaging - x-rays, MRI scans to visualize joint structures


• Lab tests - bloodwork looking for inflammation and autoantibodies

What are the risk factors for joint pain? Factors that can increase risk include age (overuse with time), excess weight, injury, repetitive motions, genetics, and various medical conditions. Staying active and maintaining a healthy body weight are important for reducing risk.

Treating Joint Discomfort

The goals of joint pain treatment are to reduce inflammation, relieve discomfort, improve/maintain joint function, and address the root cause:

• Rest and immobilization may be needed to allow injuries to heal


• Medications like acetaminophen, NSAIDs, steroids, hyaluronic acid injections


• Assistive devices - splints, braces, crutches, cane if needed


• Physical therapy to improve mobility and strength


• Surgery - joint repair or replacement for severe/chronic cases

Making certain lifestyle adjustments can also help minimize joint pain episodes:
- Apply icing and heat
- Gentle ranges of motion stretching exercises
- Balancing activity with rest
- Maintain healthy diet and weight
- Wear supportive footwear
- Modify movements causing pain

Managing joint discomfort requires determining the source and addressing it through comprehensive treatment. With an integrative approach combining therapy, lifestyle changes, pain management, hormone optimization, and nutrition - lasting relief is possible.