Take steps to ease joint pain
Because we rely on our bodies to carry us everywhere, it’s easy to take daily mobility for granted. Our major joints, the hip, knee, shoulder, and elbow, enable our bodies to move in many ways. Some joints bend and extend like a hinge, such as knees and elbows, whereas other joints allow for more complex movements, like the shoulder and hip which are ball and socket joints. The ball and socket joints allow for movement in multiple directions including rotation.
When joint pain develops, it can limit the function of the joint and a person’s ability to participate in normal activities of daily living. Joint pain can adversely affect quality of life. This pain can limit simple activities such as walking, standing, sitting, and using stairs which can be due to inflammation arising from any part of a joint—including cartilage, bone, ligaments, tendons or muscles. Joint pain can be mild such as a dull ache that can occur after certain activities, or can be severe, making even the simplest activities such as bearing weight extremely challenging.
Chronic joint pain can be caused from wear and tear to the joint, such as arthritis, previous injuries, overuse, certain medical conditions, being overweight, or muscle weakness and inactivity. Unfortunately, age and years of use and the wear and tear of everyday life can result in stiff, painful worn out joints. Wearing out of joints typically occurs in the middle-aged or older adults but is not uncommon in the younger patient population.
Although there may not be a cure for an arthritic joint, there are non-surgical options that can provide relief. Many times, the pain can be treated successfully with conservative measures such as over-the-counter medication, therapy, bracing, simple daily exercises, injections, and weight loss. However, if the pain continues despite these conservative measures, surgery may have to be considered.
Don’t let pain stand in the way of living your active life. Take steps to ease the aches and maintain healthy, functioning joints.
Shoulder Pain Webinar- Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Don’t let shoulder pain interfere with your quality of life. Join Timothy Amann, DO, orthopedic surgeon, to discover the common causes and latest treatments for shoulder pain, and how to improve the function of your shoulder.
Connect to mobility with help from Premier Orthopaedic specialist at Chestnut Hill Hospital and learn how to manage your joint pain. Register today, visit: CHWellnessEvents.com.
Located in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia and a member of Tower Health, Chestnut Hill Hospital is a 148-bed, community-based, university-affiliated, teaching hospital committed to excellent patient-centered care. Chestnut Hill Hospital provides a full range of inpatient and outpatient, diagnostic and treatment services for people in northwest Philadelphia and eastern Montgomery County. With more than 300 board-certified physicians, Chestnut Hill Hospital’s specialties include minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic surgery, cardiology, gynecology, oncology, orthopedics, urology, family practice and internal medicine. Chestnut Hill Hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission and is affiliated with university-hospitals in Philadelphia for heart and stroke care and residency programs. For more information, visit www.towerhealth.org