Your body’s joints are where your bones meet, allowing your skeleton to move. These include your shoulders, ankles, elbows, feet, wrists, and knees. Joint pain – the discomfort, aches, and soreness you may feel in any of these areas – is a common complaint that usually doesn’t require a hospital visit.

While chronic joint pain can stem from an illness or injury, arthritis is a common culprit. But it can also arise from other conditions or factors. Overall, your joints play a crucial role in your body’s mobility, so it’s important to take care of them.

One of the most common causes of joint pain is arthritis. The two main forms of this condition are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

According to the American College of Rheumatology, OA is most common in adults over age 40. This type of arthritis progresses slowly and tends to affect commonly used joints like the wrists, hands, hips, and knees. OA results from a breakdown of the cartilage that serves as a cushion and shock absorber for the joints.

The second form, RA, affects about 1.5 million Americans according to the Arthritis Foundation. RA more commonly affects women than men, and it can deform and debilitate the joints over time. This type of arthritis causes pain, inflammation, and fluid buildup in the joints as the body’s immune system attacks the membrane that lines them.

Joint pain can be caused by a variety of conditions, including:

• Bursitis: Inflammation of the cushioning pads around joints
• Lupus: An autoimmune disease that can affect the joints
• Gout: A type of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid
• Certain infectious diseases like mumps, influenza, and hepatitis
• Chondromalacia of the patella: A breakdown of the cartilage in the kneecap
• Injuries to the joint
• Tendinitis: Inflammation of the tendon
• Infections in the bone or joint
• Overuse of a joint
• Certain types of cancer
• Fibromyalgia: A condition causing widespread muscle pain
• Osteoporosis: Weakening of the bones
• Sarcoidosis: An inflammatory disease that can affect the joints
• Rickets: A vitamin D deficiency that can impact bone and joint health

If you’re experiencing joint pain, it’s a good idea to see a doctor, especially if you don’t know the cause or are having other unexplained symptoms. Make an appointment if:

• The area around the joint is swollen, red, tender, or warm to the touch
• The pain lasts for three days or more
• You have a fever but no other signs of the flu

You should also go to the emergency room right away if:

• You’ve experienced a serious injury
• The joint appears deformed
• Swelling of the joint occurs suddenly
• The joint is completely immobile
• You have severe joint pain

The key is to get checked out, whether it’s making an appointment or heading to the ER, to determine the cause and get the right treatment. Don’t hesitate to see a doctor if you’re dealing with persistent or worrisome joint issues.

Your medical provider will likely perform a physical exam to assess your joint pain. They’ll also ask you a series of questions to help narrow down the potential causes.

If needed, they may order a joint X-ray to identify any arthritis-related damage.

Additionally, if they suspect another underlying condition, they may request blood tests to screen for autoimmune disorders. This could include a sedimentation rate test to measure inflammation or a complete blood count.

Medical providers consider both osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to be chronic conditions. Unfortunately, there is no treatment that can completely eliminate the joint pain associated with arthritis or prevent it from returning. However, there are effective ways to manage the pain and discomfort:

• Using topical pain relievers or taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can help reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation.
• Staying physically active and following a fitness program focused on moderate exercise can be very beneficial.
• Stretching before exercising helps maintain a good range of motion in your joints.
• Keeping your body weight within a healthy range lessens the stress on your joints.

If your pain isn’t due to arthritis, you can try taking a nonprescription anti-inflammatory, getting a massage, taking a warm bath, stretching frequently, and getting adequate rest.

By following these tips, you can effectively manage your joint pain and maintain an active, healthy lifestyle.

At Bion Healthcare, we actively blend prescription medications with holistic therapies – such as genetic testing, vitamin nutrition therapy, and advanced joint injections – to create a truly comprehensive approach to pain management.

Prescription medications provide critical relief by directly targeting inflammation, calming nerve irritation, or relaxing muscle tension. To further personalize care, we incorporate functional genetic testing.

Gene mutations can impact how a person feels pain and responds to treatment. Some variations affect pain sensitivity, inflammation, nerve function, and how the body processes medications like opioids or anti-inflammatories. Personalized care based on genetic insights is key to more effective pain management.

Next, we address common nutritional deficiencies through vitamin repletion therapy. Nutrient deficiencies can significantly worsen pain symptoms and reduce the effectiveness of treatment. Essential nutrients like omega-3s, vitamins D, B, C, and E, magnesium, calcium, and potassium help regulate inflammation, support nerve and muscle function, and promote healing. When these nutrients are lacking, people may face increased inflammation, nerve pain, muscle cramps, slower recovery, and mood disturbances, all of which can heighten pain perception. These deficiencies can also interfere with how the body processes medications, making it harder to achieve lasting relief.

In addition, we use advanced joint injections that contain healing components derived from your own blood. These injections target the source of joint discomfort by reducing inflammation and promoting tissue repair – offering a more natural, restorative alternative to conventional steroid treatments.

When combined, these therapies form a fully integrated, whole-body pain management plan. This personalized approach not only relieves symptoms but also speeds recovery and helps you regain lasting comfort, mobility, and quality of life.