going deeper
Joint Pain: When to treat at home, when to see a doctor
We’ve all experienced a sore back or achy knees from time to time. It can be mild and uncomfortable, or it can be severe enough to keep you off your feet and away from your favorite activities.
Most of the time, joint pain is felt after certain activities. Maybe you overdid it working around the house or played a little too hard in that pickup basketball game. Other times, joint pain is chronic and felt almost every day during daily activities.
There are many causes of joint pain. The most common include
· Sprains
· Tendinitis
· Osteoarthritis
· Psoriatic arthritis
· Rheumatoid arthritis
· Bursitis
· Gout
· Broken bone
· Dislocation
Joint pain can often be relieved at home. If you’re starting to feel sore,
· Take a break from strenuous activities
· Use ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen sodium (Aleve) to help reduce inflammation and relieve pain
· Ice the joint for 15 to 20 minutes, a few times each day
· Use a heating pad or a warm bath to help relax muscles
Struggling with joint pain that’s keeping you from your daily activities? Take Adventist HealthCare’s fast, FREE knee & hip pain assessment to learn what treatment is right for you.