Tuesday, February 3, 2009

The Origins of Joint Pain and the Many Treatments Available

By Frank Rodriguez

Joint pain can be a minor discomfort or a major disabling pain. Knowing the cause is the first element of finding a way to treat it. There are many different causes of joint pain injury, over use, infection, and arthritis, are just a few of the possible causes.

Joint pain is quite common among adults particularly in people that are in their mid 40s and over. There are a lot of people that have creaking in their knees or hips and other joints. This may not necessarily be a result of growing older, but it could be arthritis or another cause. The best known treatment for joint pain is exercise, believe it or not. It helps to limber the joints and keep them flexible. Medications like ibuprophen or aspirin are also often prescribed.

For instance, the joint pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis is a function of the immune system destroying the cartilage in the joints affected. This will not be treated in the same way as pain due to Fibromyalgia. Both will be treated with pain medicines, but physical therapy, steroids or other medications might be used as well.

Most treatments will include something to reduce your pain. Antibiotic therapy will be included if you have an infection, physical therapy may also be a part of your treatment plan, as well as exercise to keep your joint limber. There are other medications that might be used as well depending on the cause of your pain.

Joint pains can be attributed to a serious problem or be a symptom of a serious disease such as gout, tendinitis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or an infection. Taking over the counter medications like pain relievers are usually not enough to cure the pain, because it can become a chronic pain over time. This is why seeking out a physicians help is important.

If an infection is present then you will probably be put on antibiotics, and other medications to treat this. You will also be given pain medications to help you with the pain until the infection subsides. If it is due to a disease, the disease will be treated with medications and you will be given something to help with the pain as well. If you have an injury, that will be treated and physical therapy will also possibly be ordered to help you to gain back your range of motion.

Do not ignore joint pain, as it can become chronic pain, and the longer it goes on the worse a treatable condition can become. This can also mean more joint damage, or even a disease that can spread throughout the body. It can also mean total loss of you use of that joint. Keep your independence by being diligent about any unusual pains that you have and reporting them to your physician for treatment. - 15438

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