Joint pain is a very broad category that can result from a number of different conditions and manifest in a number of different ways. If you have joint pain specific to a particular part of the body, or if you feel you may have a diagnosis of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, I encourage you to visit one of the links below for more specific information on your condition. If you're not sure what your diagnosis is and would like more general information on the various causes of joint pain, you're in the right place! So let's jump right into it!
Joint pain can be a sign of pretty much anything from a minor inflammation to a major concern such as cancer. Although the latter is significantly more rare, it is important to be evaluated by your doctor before self diagnosing and self treating any type of condition. Some of the most common causes of acute, temporary joint pain is an injury to the joint space which can result from a trauma such as a sports injury, or repetitive motions that cause the irritation to build up over time. An example of this would be knee pain in a marathon runner or wrist pain in a typist. These types of joint pain usually subside on their own once the painful activity has stopped.
Another very common reason for joint pain is osteoarthritis. This is a condition is a result of long-term or abnormal wear and tear on the joint space. Although this condition is typically more common in older patients, it can manifest itself in young individuals as well. In that case, it will usually start after a different injury to the same joint or a related joint in the body. The reason for this is that after a joint has been injured, it usually affects your "biomechanics" - the way you move or put weight on the joint changes. An example would be arthritis in the hip as a result of a knee injury. After injuring the knee, you may begin to favor it, or walk slightly differently; enough so that it causes your body to put uneven weight on your joint space in your hip.
Sprains (ligament injury) and strains (muscle/tendon injury) are also very common and are typically associated with an injury, often while performing physical activity like playing a sport. These types of injuries may also be associated with areas of joint fixation within the spine or extremities and can be treated very effectively with chiropractic care or with physical therapy.
Finally, there are several different inflammatory conditions that may cause joint pain. Some are autoimmune (lupus and rheumatoid arthritis) and others are lifestyle-related (gout and chronic/systemic inflammation). These types of joint pains can often be addressed using lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise programs.
Some of these conditions also respond well to chiropractic treatment and others may require more invasive intervention. To find out if chiropractic care could be a good treatment option for you, we invite you to contact our office to schedule your free initial consultation, and Dr. Fleming will be happy to speak with you.
Dr. Alesha Fleming
Natural Health and Wellness Chiropractic, LLC
Daytona Beach, FL
Dr. Fleming is a family chiropractor in Daytona Beach, Florida. She is passionate about preventative health care and nutrition and enjoys empowering her patients to improve their health and fitness, one day at a time!
