Joint pain

What is Joint Pain?

Joint pain refers to discomfort, aches, and soreness in any of the body's joints. This common problem can range from mild to severe, coming and going or being constant. Some key points about joint pain:

• Causes - Joint pain has many potential causes including injury, osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear), rheumatoid arthritis (autoimmune disorder), gout, strains, sprains, bursitis, and infection


• Locations - Pain can occur in any joints but most often affects the knees, hips, hands, back, neck, and shoulders


• Symptoms - In addition to pain, joint inflammation, stiffness, redness, swelling, difficulty moving the joint, tenderness, and warmth may occur


• Diagnosis - Doctors diagnose the cause of joint pain based on medical history, description of symptoms, physical exam, and tests like imaging scans, blood work, fluid sample analysis

Treatment options aim to relieve pain, improve joint function, slow disease progression, and prevent disability. They may include:

• Pain medications like acetaminophen, NSAIDs, opioids


• Supportive treatments - braces, taping, assisted devices


• Alternative therapies - heat/ice, massage, acupuncture


• Joint injections - corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, platelet-rich plasma


• Surgery - joint repair, fusion, or replacement


• Lifestyle changes - exercise, diet, daily activities, stopping smoking

The experienced physicians at HormoneHealth Clinic also highlight the vital role hormones play in musculoskeletal health. Declining hormones associated with aging and menopause are strongly linked to increased joint pain and osteoarthritis incidence in both women and men. Their cutting-edge bioidentical hormone replacement protocols can safely and effectively optimize critical hormone levels. Many patients find this dramatically improves joint pain, mobility, overall vitality, and quality of life.

What questions do you still have about joint pain causes, symptoms, diagnosis or treatments? Have you explored hormone balance as an option? Please share your experiences and advice managing this frustrating problem so we can all benefit!