Joint Pain – All About Achy Joint

Regardless of age or reason, achy joints can be not only painful, but debilitating. For some, it can be so bad as to impair their mobility and interfere with their ability to perform their daily functions. Not only is this an irritation, it can really decrease one’s quality of life, and it may be difficult to know when you should try at home remedies and when you should seek professional health. Achy joints are a common complaint, and it is associated with a whole host of potential conditions and problems, some of which are easily treated, others may be indicative of a long-term, chronic condition that will require management and lifestyle change.

Whatever the source, it is important to know the joint pain facts. There are a whole host of things, from injury to the development of forms of arthritis, that may result in general or localized joint pain. If you are suffering from unexplained joint pain that persists longer than a day or so, it may be time to take notice and try to pinpoint the cause of the pain and seek joint pain treatments if necessary to fix the problem. There are a wide range of reasons that someone might suffer from joint pain, from injury or an inflammation problem, or something more severe and chronic like arthritis. The treatments that are suitable for these problems will depend on the type of problem as well as the severity of the pain being suffered.

Possible Causes

There are countless joints in our bodies, but the most commonly affected joints are those in the feet, hips, and shoulder. Due to a large number of different joints in the body and the commonality of joint pain, there are a huge number of potential causes of said pain. As noted above, the pain may be as a result of a strain or sprain, whether from overexertion or injury. There is a chance that you are suffering from some for of joint inflammation, which is a common culprit for mild to moderate joint pain.

For those who exercise chronic joint pain that can even be severe, this might be a symptom of the development of arthritis. There are many different forms of arthritis, but joint pain is a common first symptom as well as complaint of those suffering from arthritis. If you think you may be developing arthritis, it is advised to see your doctor to get joint pain relief.

Treatment Options

For general aches and pains that are a result of overexertion or injury, rest and taking something like an NSAID, which is an anti-inflammatory pain reliever, is a good course of action. For those who deal with more chronic joint pain issues, certain exercise regimens, like yoga or other stretching routines, are highly advised to help reduce pain. For those who suffer from severe pain associated with arthritis or other chronic diseases, more intensive and invasive treatment may be necessary.

Joint pain can cause more than discomfort. It can make it impossible for you to do some of the things you used to be able to do. It can limit one’s mobility and even interfere with one’s well being and quality of life. There are many different reasons that one might experience joint pain. If you have recently started a new exercise routine or you know that you injured yourself in some physical endeavor, it is advised to try the traditional course of treatment, such as hot and cold, and if the problem persists beyond a few days to seek medical attention.

For those who’s joint pain is indicative of a more chronic problem, such as arthritis or inflammation of the joints in the feet, there are a number of different things that can be done to help correct or at least reduce the pain associated with these problems. Your doctor may recommend a daily regiment of an over-the-counter NSAID pain reliever as these will not only provide pain relief for mild to moderate joint pain, it also acts as an anti-inflammatory, which is the root cause of joint pain.

If you are dealing with more severe issues, other measures may need to be taken. A lot of people who suffer from chronic joint pain have found relief through the integration of certain stretching routines into their regular routine. Activities such as yoga and pilates are low impact core stretching exercises that can be modified to suit even older people or those with limited physical abilities. These exercises can work wonders on reducing joint pain. In more severe cases, shots or other medications may be recommended as the appropriated course of action. But for all but the most severe cases, something like a regular NSAID routine and a stretching regimen provides at least a modicum of relief.

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Feature image credit: chronicpainscotland.org