The most important joints are the hips, knees, elbows, and shoulders. Many suffer from joint pain, which can badly affect their ability to perform daily activities. Most of the pain clinics in OKC treat joint pain. Joint pain refers to any joint discomfort or distress and can arise for several reasons.
Common Causes of Joint Pain
Arthritis
In most cases, arthritis is the cause of joint pain. There are two types of arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. About one-third of adults have osteoarthritis. This type usually occurs in the hips, knees, hands, fingers, and backbone. The more common effects of rheumatoid arthritis are seen in women, and it causes chronic inflammation of the joints, especially the hands and feet.
Injury to Joints
The structural components of the affected joint may be compromised or weakened. Joint injury can increase the risk of painful arthritis even after it has healed, even years later. Common causes include:
- Broken bones
- Avascular necrosis
- Strains
- Dislocations
- Sprains
Tumors
Tumors rarely affect joints, but this can occur when the joint lies near a tumor of bone or soft tissue. However, two types of tumors develop in the joints (villonodular synovitis and synovial enchondromatosis). These tumors are usually benign, but their locations make them painful. A joint is usually affected and painful until synovectomy eliminates the tumor.
Weather Change
Our bodies may be affected by the weather. There may be pain as barometric pressure drops. Often, before a serious storm, this drop happens. With lower air pressure, the tissue in the body expands, and the joints get more stressed.
Excess Weight
Roughly 25% of America’s adult population lives with obesity, which comes with a whole host of health problems beyond high blood pressure. Without proper treatment, your joints will begin to pay the price, as a dangerous amount of pressure is placed directly onto the bones and joints. This extra load eventually causes the joints to start breaking down at a much faster rate than normal.
Aging
Although recent advances in medicine have allowed seniors to experience comfort and mobility for much longer than once thought possible, there is no way to truly prevent aging. Our bodies inevitably start to break down under the strain of time, which is why about 75% of individuals aged 65 and older struggle with at least two chronic conditions.
Chronic pain is among the most common ailments treated by healthcare practitioners today. Osteoarthritis, which erodes joint tissue and causes unpleasant bone-on-bone contact, is one of the most common causes of chronic joint pain.
Time to See a Doctor
People should immediately go to a medical clinic in OKC with warning signs of joint pain.
The options for treatment vary according to the cause of pain. Sometimes, you have a doctor who removes fluid from your joints, decreases the pressure, and relieves the pain. Other times, they recommend changes to lifestyle or prescribe certain types of medicines. Your doctor may recommend joint replacement operations in more severe cases.
Do you have joint pain? It’s a nuisance that we understand and want to provide relief. Contact our medical clinic in OKC for Joint Pain.
How Can I Combat Chronic Pain?
While medication is an option for getting pain under control, prescription drugs only provide effective relief for about 60 percent of individuals struggling with a chronic pain condition. Some patients use regular low-impact exercise like bicycling or swimming as a way to fortify the body against further regression. Others turn to surgery, though this is not always guaranteed to provide relief. In fact, many people experience pain-related side effects as a direct result of their surgical procedure.
For long-lasting relief and mobility without significant risk, we recommend selecting a treatment. Dr. Robinson has been helping OKC fight back against various pain syndromes for nearly 20 years. In order to optimize clinical outcomes and improve patient quality of life, we incorporate the principles of functional medicine into your patient experience.
Are you ready to manage your pain and return to a greater quality of health and wellness with a pain management clinic? Give us a call today at 405-703-4950 to schedule your evaluation.
**Disclaimer: This content should not be considered medical advice and does not imply a doctor-patient relationship.
