What Is Joint Pain & Degeneration?
Joints are what enable our bodies to move the way that they do – from bending, stretching and grabbing: our joints are crucial in most daily movements. The pain comes in when the cartilage around them, protecting them, wears away over time causing pain, stiffness and – in some cases – a loss of mobility.
While it’s typically something we see in older patients that have had many years using their joints, it can happen to anybody at any age. If allowed to progress, this kind of condition can make it near impossible to move using the affected joints, and can lead to severe pain.
What Are The Symptoms of Joint Pain & Degeneration?
Because joint pain can mean a range of things, depending on severity and cause, the symptoms can be different per patient. More often than not these symptoms will include pain, tenderness, swelling, and a popping noise when using the joint. All joint pain needs to be seen by a medical professional to limit damage.
What Causes Joint Pain & Degeneration?
As we said above, osteoarthritis is the most common cause of joint pain and cartilage breakdown, but there are some alternative causes. The ones we typically see are:
- Repetitive motion
- Post-injury joint trauma
- Osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease)
- Degenerative discs
What Are My Treatment Options for Joint Pain & Degeneration?
To maintain the movement and ability to independently complete your day-to-day tasks, it’s paramount that you not only have your pain diagnosed properly but you also treat it properly.
This kind of pain requires proper care and pain management to maintain your ease of movement, and it will worsen if left untreated.
Some of the ways your doctor might treat you include:
1. Rehab Therapy – Rehab is a great option for some foot and ankle pains. It retrains your body into normal movement, while stretching the ligaments and encouraging healing.
2. Chiropractic care – Depending on the underlying cause of your pain, you may find relief in chiropractic adjustment. This consists of our chiropractors repositioning any spinal abnormalities that may be pinching nerves and causing your pain.
3. Infrared Light Therapy – This kind of light therapy is the application of light to an injury to promote an increase of circulation and relieve pain.
4. Biologic Injectables – This treatment involves a special kind of injection that has anti-inflammatory properties helping to relieve pain.
5. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) – this may be used when your joint degeneration has already reached a severe stage. An electrical current is used to decrease pain signals sent by nerves, preventing your brain from creating a pain reaction.
Frequently Asked Questions about Joint Pain & Degeneration
1. What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a common type of arthritis that happens when your cartilage wears down with normal aging, causing pain.
2. What is the best treatment for Osteoarthritis?
The best treatment for osteoarthritis will depend on the severity, duration and location of your pain. To find out what would be most effective for you, schedule a free consultation.
