How Can a Doctor Treat Joint Pain?

Joint pain in Reston can be troubling, your daily activities can be disturbed, you feel a lot of discomfort while performing basic daily tasks, and in severe cases, the joint becomes frozen, and you cannot move it. 

To treat joint pain, it is essential to find out the cause of the pain. Depending upon the cause, the doctor prescribes the line of treatment. Joint pain caused due to overuse or inflammation can be treated using RICE therapy (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). In some cases, a complete joint replacement may be required to treat the pain. 

To have a better knowledge of joint pain and its treatment, keep reading. 

Methods to Treat Joint Pain: 

Home remedies- Before suggesting surgery or medication, doctors try to treat joint pain with simple exercises or refer to a physiotherapist. For instance, a person is having pain in the ankle joint, just keeping the foot in hot water with some amount of Epsom salt helps reduce joint pain. 

Moreover, swimming or other low-intensity exercises have been shown to reduce joint pain. Along with these methods, weight loss is also suggested to reduce the pressure on the joint. 

Medication- These include anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and acetaminophen like paracetamol. Both of these medicines are available in the pharmacy without prescription, but in case of severe pain, the patient may require higher doses which require a prescription from a doctor. Paracetamol and ibuprofen help reduce pain and fever. 

• Ointments and gels applied to the skin help ease the pain. 

• Some patients face difficulty in falling asleep; in such cases, a doctor may prescribe an antidepressant. 

• In severe cases, steroidal injections are directly into the joint, reducing pain and inflammation (short-term relief). 

Medicines available over the counter can lead to side effects or complications; make sure to consult your doctor before going ahead with any medications. 

Surgical Options 

If the above-mentioned home remedies, exercises, and medications have failed to result, this might be the last option. Two types of surgeries are considered for joint pain: 

• Arthroscopy- The surgeon enters the joint using an arthroscope, repairs any damaged cartilages, or removes bone chips. 

• Joint replacement- If none of those mentioned above options are possible, then the surgeon implants an artificial joint using screws and plates made up of metal or plastic. 

• Surgical treatments- Offer long-lasting relief from joint pain, but these can also have severe complications, or postoperative care can be worse than the joint pain itself. 

Joint pain can go away on its own, but if you have been facing persistent pain in the joints, then you may consult your doctor for help and guidance.