Joint pain - Rejuvenate Clinic

What is Joint Pain?

Joint pain refers to discomfort, aches, and soreness felt in the body's joints. Joints are the connections between bones that provide support and help the body move. Any joint can be affected by joint pain, but it is most common in the knees, hips, back, hands, and shoulders.

What causes joint pain?

There are several potential causes of joint pain:

• Arthritis: Joint inflammation that causes stiffness, pain, and swelling. The two most common types that cause joint pain are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Injuries: Sprains, fractures, dislocations, and trauma can injure structures like ligaments, bones, and tendons around joints leading to pain.
• Overuse: Repeated movements or overexertion, often from sports or occupations, can irritate joints.
• Infection: Viruses, bacteria, and fungi can infect joints and the fluid that surrounds them.
• Autoimmune disorders: Diseases caused by the immune system attacking healthy cells, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, can affect joints.

What are the symptoms?

The main symptom is achy, stiff, sore, throbbing, or swollen joints. The intensity, timing, triggers, and location of pain can depend on the underlying cause:

• Osteoarthritis pain tends to worsen slowly over years and feel better with rest.
• Rheumatoid arthritis causes morning joint stiffness that can last over an hour.
• Overuse pain only occurs during or after certain activities and improves with rest.

How is joint pain diagnosed?

To determine the cause of joint pain, doctors consider symptoms, medical history, do a physical exam of the painful joint, and order imaging tests like x-rays or MRI scans. They may also analyze joint fluid or blood samples. Comparing symptoms in multiple joints helps guide the diagnosis.

How can I manage joint pain at home?

Certain home remedies and lifestyle changes help relieve joint pain:

• Apply hot and cold compresses
• Try pain relievers like NSAIDs, acetaminophen, topicals
• Exercise to build strength and flexibility
• Use joint braces or splints
• Manage a healthy body weight
• Quit smoking
• Adopt good posture and joint protection techniques

Seeking treatment early maximizes quality of life. If home remedies do not ease joint pain, visit Rejuvenate Clinic to explore medications, physical therapy, injections, or surgery. Tracking symptoms helps the doctor tailor the treatment plan. While joint pain is common, controlling symptoms makes daily activities easier.