Joint Pain Specialist

What causes joint pain?

Joint pain is a symptom of an underlying health problem, so there can be a number of possible causes of your discomfort. The most common causes of joint pain include:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Strains
• Sprains
• Gout
• Bursitis
• Accidents
• Repetitive strain injuries

If you have joint pain, the first stage in finding pain relief is an accurate diagnosis from the team at Advantage Spinal Dynamics & Innovative Medicine.

How is joint pain diagnosed?

At your first appointment, your practitioner goes over your medical history and asks about your current symptoms. Then they examine you to see precisely where the pain is and check if there are any clear signs of a specific health condition.

Following your examination, your practitioner orders any tests that could help with a diagnosis. Diagnostic tests can include:

• X-rays
• Blood tests
• Ultrasound

Once the results are back, your practitioner discusses the findings with you and their recommendations for treatment.

What treatments are available for joint pain?

There’s a range of effective treatment options available for joint pain at Advantage Spinal Dynamics & Innovative Medicine, including:

Red light laser therapy

Infrared light is targeted on the painful joint, creating a therapeutic heating effect. The laser is adjustable, so your practitioner sets it to the most appropriate level to promote healing in the joint. For example, at one setting it stimulates hemoglobin molecules in your blood, and at another, it stimulates the microcirculation of fluids in your tissues.

Decompression

A safe and gentle way of mechanically stretching your joints to relieve the effects of compression.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

A low-voltage electrical current passes through electrodes attached to your skin on the affected joints. The current inhibits nerves in the painful region and interrupts the normal perception of pain. TENS is painless and noninvasive.

Hyaluronic injections

Synovial fluid keeps joints lubricated, but in conditions like osteoarthritis, the synovial fluid levels decrease such that the ends of your bones start rubbing together, causing pain. Hyaluronic acid injections help restore the lubrication between bones and reduce pain.

Trigger point injections

Trigger points are nerve endings that cause redundant pain messages and referred pain. Injecting the trigger point with local anesthetic or corticosteroid inhibits the nerve ending and reduces pain.

To learn more about available treatments for joint pain, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.