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Tired of living with joint pain? It can slow you down and steal your quality of life, but you don’t have to let it. Get a customized treatment plan that lets you get back to your favorite activities with less pain. Learn your options here.
Human body contains nearly between 250 and 350 individual joints. These joints connect our bones together and give us the ability to move through life — but unfortunately, they’re also a major source of chronic pain.
About 70% of people over age 50 report joint pain, and it can hit at any age. Whether it’s sudden and sharp or dull and chronic, joint pain can slow you down and limit your quality of life.
Joint pain stems from a wide range of factors, including injury, arthritis, and other chronic conditions. Fortunately, you have ways to manage it. Dr. Maher Ibrahim and our team at Interventional Pain Management Associates provide personalized joint care.
If you're experiencing joint pain, here are five things to try that could alleviate your symptoms:
1. Exercise and physical therapy
Regular physical activity strengthens the muscles around your joints, which can improve your range of motion and reduce joint pain. Choose exercises that are appropriate for your fitness level and avoid high-impact activities that put too much strain on your joints.
Dr. Ibrahim can help you develop an exercise program that’s right for you. Some good options for people with joint pain include swimming, cycling, and gentle stretching. If you have an injury or a chronic condition like arthritis, physical therapy can help you get active safely and build your stamina.
2. Hot and cold therapy
Swelling often exacerbates joint pain and stiffness. If you have joint swelling, Dr. Ibrahim may recommend trying hot and cold therapy. Apply heat for up to 20 minutes and cold for up to 10 minutes several times a day.
Applying heat or cold to your joints can help to reduce pain and swelling. Heat therapy can be especially helpful for chronic pain, because it increases blood flow to the affected area and relaxes tight muscles. Cold therapy, on the other hand, can numb the area and reduce inflammation.
3. Medication
Medications can reduce inflammation and pain to help you stay active. Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, are often effective for mild or acute joint pain.
If your pain is severe or persistent, Dr. Ibrahim may prescribe stronger pain medication or cortisone joint injections. Be sure to follow the doctor's dosage instructions, and never take more medication than recommended.
4. Assistive devices
Assistive devices can take pressure off painful joints and provide extra stability as you move through your day. The devices that will be most helpful for you depend on the type of joint pain you have, and Dr. Ibrahim can make personalized recommendations.
A cane or walker can help people with pain in their hips, legs, or feet. A brace can stabilize joints like elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles. For more help navigating daily tasks, ask Dr. Ibrahim and our team about the benefits of working with an occupational therapist.
5. Complementary therapies
There are a number of complementary therapies that may help alleviate joint pain. Dr. Ibrahim may recommend therapies, such as acupuncture, massage, hyaluronic acid injections, or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.
These therapies are generally considered safe, and they can be combined with more traditional treatments like medication and physical therapy for more complete pain relief.
Stop letting joint pain slow you down. Call Interventional Pain Management Associates in Hamilton, New Jersey, at 609-757-9860 or request an appointment online now.