Experiencing joint pain can be a huge hassle, especially if the pain levels rise to the point where it can hugely affect your mobility and quality of life. The good news is that you can take some steps to reduce the inflammation in your joints and minimize the pain and discomfort that you feel. One of your options is to get ultrasound guided injections, which involve injecting steroid medications into the affected joints to bring down the levels of swelling and inflammation on the site. You can also do the following:
Apply ice on the joint
Cold packs can help reduce swelling in the affected area and minimize your pain levels. You can ice the joint several times a day, but limit each session to 15 minutes to avoid irritating your skin and causing tissue damage.
Rest when needed
“No pain, no gain.” This has become the adage of many athletes and fitness enthusiasts, but remember that it’s not applicable if you’re experiencing joint pain inflammation. Pushing through the pain will only worsen the swelling and discomfort, and you might even damage your joint to the point where healing becomes difficult or even impossible. So, instead of gritting your teeth and ignoring the pain, you must learn to listen to your body and know when to stop moving. Of course, give yourself enough time to rest and sleep so your joint (and the rest of your body) will have enough time to heal.
Consider alternative treatments
There’s nothing wrong with using traditional medicine, but remember that there are many other options outside of it. As mentioned above, you can give ultrasound guided injections a try and use them to reduce the inflammation level in the affected joint. You can also opt for radiofrequency ablation, which helps in reducing the pain signal transmission from the affected area to the brain. Another option is to take chondroitin and glucosamine supplements, which are said to help with improving joint function.
Use these tips to reduce joint pain and inflammation! If you’d like to get more advice, reach out to 417 Sports Medicine and Orthopedics: Eric M Gifford, MD today. We are based in Springfield, MO, and we specialize in non-surgical treatments for joint pain relief. Call us now at (417) 771-3147!
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