Joint problems From an Injury vs. Arthritis

May 5th, 2021

All around your body, joints form the connection points between your bones. Without your joints, you wouldn’t be able to move your skeleton! Many of your joints have to handle a lot of pressure daily, as they support your body weight and motion. That’s why joint pain is such a common complaint among adults. Around one in three adults in the United States report suffering from joint pain in the last 30 days.

Whether you’re experiencing joint pain in your knees, shoulders, hips, ankles, feet, hands, or anywhere else in your body, Dr. Dareld R. Morris II and his care team at Morris Medical Center can help. Dr. Morris provides spine and joint care services for patients from around the Fort Myers and LaBelle, Florida area.

One of the first things Dr. Morris does when a patient comes in with a complaint of joint pain is to determine the underlying cause. Your joint pain could be the result of an injury. You could also be experiencing joint pain as a symptom of a degenerative condition, such as arthritis.

Joint pain and injury

If one of your joints is damaged due to an injury, your pain is typically acute, beginning suddenly and strongly. You could have suffered a strain or sprain, bursitis, or, in joints in your feet, an attack of gout. Inflammation can also occur in joints due to traumatic injuries or simple overuse.

Many moderate-to-acute joint injuries can be effectively treated with simple remedies like rest, icing therapy, or physical therapy. Medication options are available to control pain and inflammation during your recovery from a joint injury. Conservative treatment options usually result in full healing after just a few weeks.

Joint pain and arthritis

The CDC estimates that more than 20% of adults in the US suffer from some form of arthritis. Types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, result in inflammation of the joints. Arthritis can leave you in chronic and often debilitating pain.

If you experience joint pain that doesn’t resolve after weeks or even months, you might be seeing signs of developing arthritis and joint damage. Other common arthritis symptoms include swelling, redness, and stiffness around affected joints. Arthritis is a chronic condition that needs to be managed long term.

Treatment options to resolve joint pain

Joint pain can severely hamper your quality of life, whether you’re dealing with acute short-term pain or chronic pain. To diagnose the root cause of your joint pain, Dr. Morris conducts a physical examination, and also reviews your personal and family medical history for risk factors for arthritis.

Once Dr. Morris determines your diagnosis, it’s possible to start your treatment plan and relieve your joint pain problems. Taking a multidisciplinary approach to spine and joint care, Dr. Morris focuses on relieving your symptoms and restoring your quality of life and full, free range of motion.

Your custom treatment plan may include:

• Interventional procedures like injection therapies
• Physical therapy exercises
• Alternative therapies
• Medication management for pain and inflammation

Dr. Morris emphasizes full healing and discourages his patients from relying on pills to address joint pain. With his therapeutic care, you can avoid surgery and drug dependency while still reclaiming your ease of motion and staying pain-free.

To learn more about resolving joint pain related to an injury or chronic condition, get in touch with Dr. Morris at Morris Medical Center today. Go online to book, or call now to schedule your appointment.