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Do you live with joint pain? Are you a weekend warrior who overdoes it? Whatever your complaint, if it involves joints, ligaments or muscles, there’s a good chance a doctor specializing in orthopedics can help.
Head and Neck Pain
A stiff or painful neck may be a neck sprain, caused by anything from car accidents to simple falls when playing with children or grandchildren, and can lead to pain, muscle spasms, headache and even sore throat.
Your doctor will likely recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as treatment, along with ice and massage. More severe sprains may require a soft collar to support your neck while it heals.
Shoulder Pain
Are you active? If you’ve played sports at some point in your life, particularly those that require contact or overhead motion of the arm, you’ve probably done some damage to your labrum — the ring of cartilage that lines your shoulder joint. Symptoms include pain in the front of the shoulder and difficulty raising the arm overhead.
While it’s difficult to prevent, the good news is that not every labrum tear requires surgery. Many cases can be treated through physical therapy to strengthen the muscles surrounding the tear. If surgery is necessary, it may be minimally invasive and performed arthroscopically.
Knee Pain
Osteoarthritis of the knee can cause severe pain, interfering with daily life. NSAIDs and ice to reduce inflammation are typically the first line of treatment. Physical therapy is also used to strengthen the muscles around your knee and reduce stress on the joint.
On occasion, osteoarthritis pain may be severe enough to require injections to relieve pain and inflammation, or joint replacement surgery may be an option.
Taking a few simple steps to boost your joint health can reduce wear and tear, and leave you happier and pain-free down the road.
- Keep moving — Don’t sit or stand all day long. Switch back and forth between the two if you can to keep your joints from stiffening. Standing desks are great for this.
- Lower the impact — Exercising regularly is important, but certain forms of exercise are hard on your joints. Try incorporating swimming, yoga or biking into your routine.
- Boost bone strength — Make sure your diet is full of calcium, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids like those found in fish.
