Your Doctor Can Diagnose a Joint Pain Treatment

Whether mild or severe, joint pain can hold you back from doing the things that are important to you. Daily necessities like cooking, writing or even getting dressed can be like torture if your joints are bothering you. Many people put off seeing a doctor because they assume that their joint pains are not significant enough to bother with or because they accept joint pain as 'the way it is.' However, seeing a physician can be a valuable experience for you if you have moderate to severe joint pain. A doctor may be able to diagnose you if you have an underlying cause of joint pain, and can suggest what you can do for joint pain treatment.

Since many things can cause joint pain, such as injury, repetitive use, arthritis, tendonitis, gout or even viral infections, it's important to rule out anything more serious. At the doctor's office, expect her to ask you several questions about your joint pain to determine whether or not your pain is the result of arthritis. Expect to explain about the location, severity and duration of your joint pain. Also expect her to ask about what aggravates your joint pains and what you use to treat it. Your doctor will want to know if it hurts more when you move or when you hold it still, so before going to the doctor try to take mental notes of your symptoms. If it helps, write down what times of day or what activities you were doing when your joint pain occurred. Be sure also to mention to the doctor any other symptoms that may be bothering you, as they may be related.

The doctors will sometimes have tests that document your joint pains. X-rays, for example, are useful but the doctor may also want a blood sample to test. Both of these procedures allow doctors to get a closer look at your symptoms, enabling them to make a more precise diagnosis.

If it's determined that your joint pains are not caused by arthritis, some things you can do for treatment is to rest your joints as much as possible. Heat can help alleviate pain, as well as an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory to reduce soreness. If your symptoms persist or get worse, or if they are accompanied by fever or unexplained weight loss go back to your doctor right away.

If you have been diagnosed with arthritis, there are several things you can try, but no one solution will be effective for everybody. Your doctor will work out a joint pain treatment plan with you, based on your individual pain and severity of arthritis. Physical therapy may be prescribed or joint health supplements suggested. If yours is a chronic condition you can work on ways to manage your arthritis pain. Some treatments include massage, warm therapeutic tubs, exercise, relaxations techniques, res, and proper diet. Medications can also be prescribed to help manage the pain. Many people who suffer from severe joint pain swear by supplements and topical creams for temporary relief. Talk with your doctor to find out which joint pain treatment is the right one for you.