Joint pain is discomfort or soreness in any joint in your body. Joints connect bones and provide support and help you move. Joint pain can result from aging, weight, injuries, and medical conditions. Hazlet joint pain can affect the functioning of your joint and limit you from doing basic tasks. The most affected joints include the shoulder, hip, elbow, knee, hand, and feet. Sometimes you can relieve joint pain with home remedies like an ice pack. Treatment for joint pain focuses on reducing pain and restoring joint functioning and mobility. People associate joint pain with various myths and misconceptions, including:
Exercise worsens joint pain
Exercise cannot worsen your joint pain. Your doctor may recommend specific exercises to strengthen your joints and help maintain your range of motion. Your specialist may refer you to a physical therapist to teach you the best practices for your joint pain. Avoid vigorous activities like running that may worsen your condition.
Heat relieves joint pain better than cold
Both heat and cold can relieve joint pain. Some patients get relief by alternating them. Doctors recommend you do not use heat or warm compresses the first few days after injury until your swelling vanishes. After swelling has ceased, you can switch the treatments. Cold minimizes swelling, while heat soothes pain. Do not use either of the therapies for more than twenty minutes at a time.
Arthritis is the only cause of joint pain
Arthritis is not the only cause of joint pain. Joint pain can result from tendonitis, bursitis, fractures, infections, gout, and injuries. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that causes joint pain. It mainly affects older adults due to the tear and wear of cartilage resulting from aging. Rheumatoid arthritis is less common.
There is no treatment for joint pain
There are various treatments for joint pain. The technique your healthcare provider suggests depends on your symptoms and the cause of your condition. Medications, injections, physical therapy, supportive aids, weight loss, and surgery can help treat joint pain. Specialists only recommend surgery if other treatments do not reduce your symptoms or you have persistent pain.
If you can move the injured joint, it is not broken
If you have a large fracture or dislocation, you may have severe pain moving your joint, or it might not move at all. You can move your joint in cases of minor fractures, like jamming your finger during basketball. Minor fractures affect a small region, so you may not feel severe pain, and you can move your joints.
Severe pain means you need emergency care
Joint pain can be mild, moderate, or severe. People assume severe joint pain means a serious condition. In some cases, severe pain can indicate a serious problem. For example, a complete fracture needs urgent medical care. Sometimes extreme pain can happen in less complicated issues like sudden twisting. Contact your doctor if your pain does not ease with home treatments after five days.
Joint pain is discomfort or soreness in any joint in your body and can result from arthritis, injuries, bursitis, and tendonitis. Your doctor can use medications, physical therapy, or surgery to treat joint pain. Schedule an appointment at Garden State Pain & Orthopedics for joint pain treatment to restore your movement.
