Why Does Joint Pain Happen?
The cause of joint pain, also known as arthralgia, can be varied. Many different kinds of conditions and injuries may result in joint pain. The most common causes include:
- Overuse of joints, including excessive exercise
- Trauma to the joints - falls, auto accidents, or any other type of accident
- Arthritis - particularly osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
- Excess weight - putting more stress on the joints
- The natural aging process
What Other Effects Can Joint Pain Have?
In addition to pain, there may also be:
- Inflammation
- Stiffness
- A feeling of soreness
- A sense of overall discomfort
Joint pain can become serious enough to significantly interfere in daily life, sometimes even interfering with work or preventing a patient from spending time with family and friends.
Why Does Arthritis Happen?
Arthritis happens most often with age. The average age of onset for osteoarthritis is 60 plus. Osteoarthritis is most often the result of joint wear and tear that happens over time. Rheumatoid arthritis typically starts between the ages of 30 and 60. It happens when the body's immune system essentially turns on itself and starts attacking the healthy tissue around the joints.
What are the Treatments for Arthritis or Joint Pain?
Joint pain, whether caused by arthritis or something else, can be managed quite effectively with a variety of treatments, including:
- Oral medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs
- Topical prescription creams
- Joint injections
- Trigger point injections
- Physical therapy
How Often is Treatment Needed?
Treatment for joint pain or arthritis is different for every patient.
Joint injections, trigger point injections, and other types of injectable treatments are limited. It's generally recommended that a maximum of four injections are done in a specific joint, but this does vary according to the individual patient and their specific needs.
Other types of medication, including daily oral medication, are used on an as-needed basis in most cases. Dr. Anil Kumar at Advanced Pain Management Center will work with each patient to determine the right dosage.
While arthritis and joint pain can be frustrating conditions, there are effective and long lasting treatments available for patients who are willing to reach out for help.
