Joint Pain Management
In addition to injury prevention, MyMichigan’s WellSport Program is specifically designed to assess and provide non-surgical treatment to patients of all ages suffering from strains, sprains, contusions, fractures and joint pain. Treatments are designed to help patients maintain an active, healthy and happy lifestyle. If surgery is required, WellSport can also help expedite the referral to an orthopedic or specialized surgeon. Whether it’s pain originating from the knee, elbow, wrist, shoulder, ankle or hip, joint pain can severely limit daily activity and diminish quality of life.
Common Causes of Joint Pain
Whether it’s pain originating from the knee, elbow, wrist, shoulder, ankle or hip, joint pain can severely limit daily activity and diminish quality of life. The most common causes of joint pain are:
- Injuries such as sprains, strains, fractures and ligament tears
- Arthritis – usually osteoarthritis but, more rarely, rheumatoid arthritis
- Cartilage damage and other degeneration
- Excess body weight that puts undue stress on the joint
- Muscle imbalance
- Referred pain (i.e., pain in the foot that affects how you walk, causing pain in the knee)
Getting to the Root Cause of Your Joint Pain
Because there are many causes of joint pain, the following evaluation methods may be used to properly diagnose the root cause.
- Physical examination
- Ultrasound
- X-ray
- MRI
- Blood test for rheumatoid arthritis
Treatment Options
Treatment options vary depending on the root cause of your pain and may include one or more of the following.
- Medication – typically oral anti-inflammatories
- Activity modification or rest
- Injections – cortisone or a hyaluronic acid
- Physical therapy
- Assistive devices
- Weight management
- Surgery – if required, WellSport will refer you to an orthopedic surgeon
