Sunday, December 28, 2008

The Origins of Joint Pain and the Many Treatments Available

By Frank Rodriguez

Joint pain can be caused by several types of diseases, injuries or other conditions. No matter the cause, joint pain can cause you a lot of pain, and even take away your independence. The pain can cause you to limit your mobility. If you lose your mobility this is what will take away your independence.

Joint pain can be due to an injury or overuse of the joint. The first thing you need to do when you have joint pain for over a week or accompanied by a fever is to consult your a doctor If the joint pain is accompanied by a fever, the consult with your doctor can be urgent, as this can be caused by an infection. You need to tell your doctor when the pain first started, any other injuries you may have received. Your doctor will determine what the pain is caused by and the best type of treatment.

For instance, the joint pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis is a function of the immune system destroying the cartilage in the joints affected. This will not be treated in the same way as pain due to Fibromyalgia. Both will be treated with pain medicines, but physical therapy, steroids or other medications might be used as well.

This is why the underlying cause must be found and treated in order to treat the pain. Each cause will be treated differently, and with some similar treatments. You should consult a physician for any abnormal joint pain that lasts for more than a week, or is accompanied by a fever.

Joint pains can be attributed to a serious problem or be a symptom of a serious disease such as gout, tendinitis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or an infection. Taking over the counter medications like pain relievers are usually not enough to cure the pain, because it can become a chronic pain over time. This is why seeking out a physicians help is important.

Some of the most beneficial medications being prescribed by doctors today for different forms of arthritis are natural food supplements that are not medications at all. One called collagen type II, is often being used. When his is used, it product can stop pain by stopping the immune system's fight against your joints. It also helps to repair damage to the joint from degenerative diseases.

Do not ignore joint pain, as it can become chronic pain, and the longer it goes on the worse a treatable condition can become. This can also mean more joint damage, or even a disease that can spread throughout the body. It can also mean total loss of you use of that joint. Keep your independence by being diligent about any unusual pains that you have and reporting them to your physician for treatment. - 16083

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