If you suffer from joint pain, you’re not alone. More than 15 million Americans also suffer from this condition every year. And many people with joint pain don’t even realize there are treatment options.
At the interventional pain management practice of David Wu, MD, in Torrance, California, we’re here to provide you with lasting options for pain relief. That’s why we’ve compiled this helpful guide on the causes of joint pain and how you can get relief.
The cartilage in your joints is the cushiony, connective tissue that keeps your bones from grinding against each other. These connective tissues can become damaged due to injuries, wear and tear, and illness.
Joint pain is often caused by arthritis, which is an umbrella term for a number of diseases. The two most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. With rheumatoid arthritis, your body attacks your joints and causes them to break down over time. With osteoarthritis, the cartilage breaks down due to years of wear and tear. With either kind of arthritis, symptoms can include inflammation, pain, and stiffness.
One of the best things you can do to manage joint pain is exercise. This may seem counterintuitive, but exercise can help keep your joints pliable and lubricated, and it can also help keep inflammation at bay. And less inflammation means less pain.
When thinking about how to exercise, consider low-impact activities that are safe on your joints, such as swimming, cycling, and walking. Health experts recommend that you get at least 150 minutes of exercise a week for the best results.
When it comes to joint pain, you have a few treatment options. We can also combine treatments to see what works best for relieving your pain. Options include the following:
Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, can help reduce inflammation. However, you’ll want to take caution, as long-term use of these medications can lead to liver damage. There are also many prescription medications that can help reduce joint inflammation and pain. We can help you with your medication options.
This type of therapy works by using radio waves to heat up a targeted area of your nerve tissue. Doing so can reduce pain signals from this specific area. This therapy is often effective when used to treat joints affected by arthritis.
Platelet-rich plasma therapy has gained quite a bit of popularity in recent years. Platelets are tiny blood cells that help with healing and clotting. The treatment consists of drawing some of your blood, spinning it in a centrifuge to separate the platelets from the rest of your blood’s components, and then injecting the platelet serum into your joints. The healing properties of the platelets then work to repair injuries in your joints.
We can provide steroid injections in your affected joint. This option, which has helped many patients, can relieve joint pain for 6-12 months.
If you have joint pain and want to learn more about your treatment options, book an appointment online or over the phone with the office of David Wu, MD, today.
