The Best Ways to Manage Your Joint Pain

If you’re living with joint pain, you probably think about it throughout the day. It can be hard not to focus on how moving or putting weight on an affected joint brings you discomfort. When certain movements cause you pain, it’s tempting to reshape your life to avoid those things, even if it means giving up activities you used to love. But your joint pain doesn’t have to be a permanent condition.

At Healthy Life Family Medicine in Goodyear, Arizona, John Monroe, MD, and our team offer a wide range of joint pain treatment options to get you the relief you deserve. Let’s take a quick look at what could be causing your joint pain and the treatments that can help alleviate it. 

What is joint pain?

You rely on your joints to connect your bones and stabilize your body as you move. When your joint gets damaged through injury or disease, it can become inflamed. Discomfort can last anywhere from a few weeks to much and can be felt in any joint in your body, from the small joints in your fingers to large joints like your hips. 

Causes of joint pain

To give you the most effective treatment plan, Dr. Monroe first works with you to determine what’s causing your joint pain. Conditions that can lead to joint discomfort include: 

Osteoarthritis 

You develop osteoarthritis when the cartilage and bone in your joints wear down over time. Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. If you have this condition, your immune system attacks healthy tissue, leading to swelling and deformity in the joints. 

Bursitis

Bursitis occurs when the fluid-filled sacs in your joints become inflamed. 

Gout

Gout is another form of arthritis. It typically affects the big toe, rather than the entire body.

Injury

Joint pain can be caused by injuries or strains.

Some people think growing older means developing joint pain, but this isn’t necessarily true. No matter your age, joint pain isn’t something you should ignore. If you have pain and swelling in your joints, please contact Dr. Monroe to get started with treatment. 

How to find relief for your joint pain

While at-home care can help lessen your joint pain, you may need more support. Dr. Monroe offers many joint pain treatments to supplement what you’re doing at home and help you find more dramatic relief. 

Changes you can make to reduce joint pain

At home, you can lessen your pain by resting your joints and avoiding activities that trigger the pain. Ice the sore joint for 15 minutes a few times a day. Also, keep it elevated above your heart to keep the swelling to a minimum. Additionally, you can take over-the-counter or prescription medications for your joint pain.

Some effective joint pain medications include:

• Acetaminophen 
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 
• Topical patches, gels, or creams that relieve pain

Dr. Monroe can help you determine the right medication to use as part of your home care regimen. 

If you’re overweight, making healthy changes to your diet and exercising regularly can make a dramatic difference in your joint pain. Low-impact exercises like walking and biking are great options. Reducing your weight will take some pressure off your joints and, as a result, can reduce your discomfort. 

Treatment to reduce joint pain

At our Healthy Life Family Medicine office, Dr. Monroe offers treatment designed to bring you quick, effective joint pain relief, including:

• Anti-inflammatory medicine
• Corticosteroids and other joint injections
• Joint aspiration
• Topical pain relievers
• Joint splinting

Physical therapy is another option, as it is designed to strengthen your body, which helps stabilize and support your joints. 

For dedicated care that helps ease your joint pain, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with Dr. Monroe. Call Healthy Life Family Medicine today.