The joints form connections between your bones, and it may be impossible to move around if your joints are damaged. Joint pain can be very painful, especially among older adults. Unfortunately, a third of adults in Hazlet report having some joint pain at least once every year. Knee pain is the most common issue, followed by hip and shoulder joint pain. Injuries and illnesses are the biggest causes of Hazlet joint pain.
What Causes Joint Pain?
There are plenty of conditions that can trigger joint pain. They include:
Rheumatoid Arthritis and OsteoarthritisRheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that can happen when your body starts attacking its tissues. On the other hand, osteoarthritis is a wear and tear disease. It is the most prevalent kind of arthritis in Hazlet. Both conditions can trigger extreme joint pain.
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Gout
It is a type of arthritis. It targets your big toe joint and can cause severe pain.
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Bursitis
It happens when the sacs of fluid responsible for cushioning your joints become inflamed.
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Sprains, strains, and other injury types
When you have joint pain, you are also likely to experience swelling, inflammation, and reduced range of motion.
How to Treat Joint Pain
Since joint pain may have various causes, the kind of treatment you receive depends on the specifics of your situation. The pain can range from mild and barely noticeable to debilitating. It could go away in a few days or persist for several months.
The first step towards treatment is for your doctor to diagnose the cause of your pain. Here are the possible treatment options for your diagnosis:
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Medication
Medication is appropriate when treating moderate-to-severe pain with some swelling. Your doctor may prescribe NSAIDs like ibuprofen and aspirin. Some over-the-counter medications may be helpful as well. If you have some pain but no swelling, acetaminophen may be effective. This medication should be taken in moderation as high doses can increase your risk of liver damage.
Opioid medication is typically prescribed for severe pain. It can cause constipation, drowsiness, and other side effects.
You should only take opioids under the supervision of a doctor.
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Injections
Injections may be appropriate if the medication doesn’t work. Your doctor may administer the following injections:
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Steroids
They may inject a steroid medication into your joints every three or four months. These injections are mostly used on patients with tendinitis or arthritis. However, it would be best if you were careful not to overwork the affected joint. Steroids can mask an injury-causing you to overexert the affected joints.
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Prolotherapy
This treatment option involves a series of irritant injections into the painful joint. The irritant is usually a sugar solution, and the theory is that these injections can stimulate the local healing of affected tissues. You may need up to 20 shots for three to four months.
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Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy(PRP)
PRP is made with your blood and injected into your joint. Your joint has many proteins and platelets with immune-modulating and anti-inflammatory effects.
Treating joint pain can be difficult, but it isn’t a hopeless situation. Contact your doctor as soon as possible, and they will issue a prescription that matches your needs.