Joint Pain Specialist

What causes joint pain?

Your joints are made up of bones, muscles, and other soft tissues that give you the ability to sit, stand, walk, and run. While you have many joints in your body, your major joints include your hips, knees, elbows, and shoulders.

These joints are susceptible to aches and stiffness because of everyday physical activity. You might also develop joint pain because of age-related changes in the structures of your joints or a joint injury.

Other possible causes of chronic joint pain include:

• Arthritis
• Lupus
• Tendinitis
• Bursitis
• Fibromyalgia
• Osteoporosis

Some people develop chronic joint pain because of repetitive use of their joints from their jobs or sports participation.

How is joint pain diagnosed?

Diagnosing the underlying cause of joint pain typically involves a comprehensive review of your medical history, your specific history of joint injuries, and a physical exam.

The team at Advanced Pain Management checks your painful joint for signs of swelling and tenderness. They also evaluate the range of motion you have in your joint.

To get a better look at the inner structures of your joint, you might need X-rays or other imaging tests. Based on the results of your evaluation, the pain management specialists customize a treatment plan to your needs.

It’s important that you seek medical treatment for joint pain that lasts for six months or longer because, without treatment, the pain can worsen and lead to a disability.

How is joint pain treated?

The team at Advanced Pain Management has a variety of ways to help you manage persistent joint pain. If over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers aren’t effective, you might benefit from joint injections that deliver medications directly into your joint.

The team also uses trigger point injections to address joint pain. Trigger point injections involve the insertion of a dry needle into areas of overly tight muscles (trigger points) that can radiate pain into your joints.

Other options for managing joint pain include:

• Chiropractic care
• Acupuncture
• Physical therapy
• Medication management

If you have chronic back or neck pain due to nerve damage in the joints of your spine, you might be a candidate for radiofrequency ablation. This procedure involves destroying the nerves in your joint responsible for your pain. 

The team uses radiofrequency energy to burn the nerves and disrupt the transmission of pain signals from the nerve to your brain.

Don’t delay an evaluation for persistent joint pain. You can schedule a diagnostic evaluation online or by calling the Advanced Pain Management office nearest you today.