Joint pain - Vital Hormone Clinic

What is Joint Pain?

Joint pain refers to discomfort, aches, and soreness in any of the body's joints. This can range from mild to severe, acute to chronic pain. Some common causes include:

• Arthritis - inflammation of the joints from conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, etc. This leads to breakdown of joint cartilage and bones.
• Injuries and fractures - sprains, strains, dislocations, and fractures resulting from trauma or overuse. This can damage ligaments, tendons, and bones around joints.
• Tendonitis and bursitis - inflammation of tendons and bursae (fluid-filled sacs) around joints.
• Infections - bacterial, viral and even fungal joint infections.

Signs and Symptoms

People with joint pain may experience:

• Aching, soreness, stiffness, throbbing
• Swelling, redness, warmth around joints
• Decreased range of motion
• Crepitus - crunchy sensation inside joints
• Locking, clicking, or popping with movement

The specific location, pattern and timing of joint pain can help identify the cause:

• Osteoarthritis often affects hands, knees, hips and spine
• Rheumatoid arthritis impacts smaller joints - wrists, fingers, toes
• Overuse injuries depend on the repetitive activity

Diagnosis and Treatment

Seeing a doctor is important to determine the cause and best treatment plan. Evaluation will include a medical history, physical exam, potentially imaging tests like x-rays or MRI, or lab tests.

Treatment focuses on relieving pain, preserving joint mobility, preventing progression, and improving quality of life. This may involve medications, injections, surgery, bracing, physical therapy, lifestyle changes, complementary therapies, and more.

If you suffer from painful joints, reach out to the caring doctors at Vital Hormone Clinic. Our integrative treatments can help you achieve hormonal balance for reduced inflammation and joint pain relief. Schedule a consultation to get started on the path to wellness today!

When to Seek Care

You should seek prompt medical care if you experience:

• Sudden, severe joint pain
• Inability to bear weight or use the joint
• Signs of infection - fever, redness, warmth, drainage

Milder joint pain can initially be managed with rest, ice, compression, elevation and over-the-counter medications. But worsening or persistent symptoms should be evaluated by a doctor. Getting an accurate diagnosis and starting appropriate treatment earlier optimizes outcomes.

Don't resign yourself to living with joint pain - take steps to care for your joints and improve your comfort and quality of life. The compassionate professionals at Vital Hormone Clinic are here to help!