Joint Pain

Joint Pain Specialist in The Woodlands and HoustonLaser therapy

Millions of Americans live with joint pain that interferes with their mobility and quality of life. If you have joint pain, contact the team at Houston Spine & Rehabilitation Centers Joint Pain Specialist in The Woodlands and Houston, Texas.

We offer expert diagnosis and customized treatment plans to reduce your pain and address the underlying cause. Call Houston Spine & Rehabilitation Centers or schedule a consultation online today for expert joint pain treatments.

What Causes Joint Pain?

Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of joint pain. This degenerative condition wears away your cartilage, leaving your joints unprotected. As a result, when you move, your bones rub together, creating friction that irritates your joint, causing pain and stiffness.

Other causes of joint pain include:

• Bursitis is the inflammation of small, fluid-filled sacs called bursae that cushion the bones, tendons, and muscles near the joints. Inflammation of these sacs can cause joint pain, stiffness, and tenderness.
• Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of a tendon, which is the fibrous tissue that connects muscle to bone. It can cause pain and tenderness around the joint, especially during movement.
• Ligament injuries: Ligaments are strong, fibrous tissues that connect bones to each other and provide stability to the joints. Ligament injuries can cause pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the affected joint.
• Tendon injuries: Tendons can become damaged or torn due to overuse, injury, or aging, causing pain and weakness in the affected joint.
• Labral tears: The labrum is the cartilage that lines the rim of the shoulder, hip, or knee joint. A tear in the labrum can cause pain and discomfort in the affected joint.
• Overuse: Repeated use of a joint can lead to overuse injuries, such as tendinitis or stress fractures. These injuries can cause joint pain and stiffness.
• Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain, fatigue, and tenderness in the muscles, tendons, and joints.
• Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can cause joint pain, stiffness, and swelling as the body's immune system attacks its own tissues.
• Gout is a type of arthritis that occurs when there is a buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints. This can cause sudden and intense pain, swelling, and redness in the affected joint.
• Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the joints, leading to pain, stiffness, and joint damage over time.
• Certain infections like the flu: Infections can cause joint pain and inflammation as the body's immune system fights off the infection.
• Bone or joint infections: Infections in the bones or joints can cause severe pain, swelling, and tenderness in the affected area. In some cases, they can even lead to joint damage or disability if left untreated.

With so many potential causes of joint pain, it’s critical that your provider diagnose the specific condition causing your pain. The team at Houston Spine & Rehabilitation Centers provides thorough exams to identify the cause of your joint pain.

Your provider reviews your medical history, symptoms, and lifestyle. They examine your painful joints, feeling them for signs of inflammation, injury, or deformity. Your provider might also ask you to perform a few movements or stretches so they can see how your pain affects your mobility and range of motion.

When necessary, they order blood tests, X-rays, and MRIs to learn more about your condition.

Symptoms of Joint Pain

Joint pain can refer to discomfort, aches, and soreness in the joints of the body. Common symptoms of joint pain may include:

• Pain: Joint pain can manifest as a dull, achy sensation or as sharp, as shooting pains that can be felt in the affected joint or throughout the body.
• Joint stiffness can make it difficult to move the affected joint and may be worse in the morning or after periods of inactivity.
• Swelling in the affected joint can be caused by inflammation or fluid buildup and can make the joint appear larger than normal.
• Redness around the affected joint may be a sign of inflammation or infection.
• Warmth around the affected joint may be a sign of inflammation or infection.
• Weakness in the affected joint or surrounding muscles can make it difficult to perform everyday tasks.
• Reduced range of motion in the affected joint can make it difficult to move or perform certain activities.
• Clicking or popping sounds or sensations in the affected joint may be a sign of a joint injury or underlying condition.
• Numbness or tingling in the affected joint or surrounding area may be a sign of nerve damage or compression.
• Fatigue: Joint pain can cause fatigue and make it difficult to perform everyday activities.

It is important to note that these symptoms may vary depending on the underlying cause of the joint pain, and may also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever, chills, or weight loss, depending on the underlying condition. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to consult with a professional joint pain doctor for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Joint Pain

The team at Houston Spine & Rehabilitation Centers creates customized joint pain treatment programs to address the condition causing your joint pain and reduce your discomfort. Your treatment plan could include:

• Physical therapy helps patients with joint pain through exercises, stretches, and other techniques to improve the range of motion, reduce pain and swelling, and increase strength and flexibility.
• Aquatic therapy involves exercises and movements performed in a pool to reduce the impact on the joints and promote healing and mobility.
• Chiropractic care involves the manipulation of the spine and other joints to reduce pain, improve the range of motion, and promote healing.
• Spinal decompression is a non-invasive treatment that involves stretching the spine to relieve pressure and reduce pain in the joints.
• Laser therapy uses light energy to penetrate the skin and stimulate healing in the affected area, reducing pain, inflammation, and swelling.

At Houston Spine and Rehabilitation Centers, we create personalized treatment plans for each patient based on their individual needs, medical history, and lifestyle. Our team of specialists works together to provide comprehensive care for joint pain, including physical therapy, chiropractic care, and other treatments as needed.

We also offer patient education and support to help patients manage their pain and improve their quality of life. Our goal is to help patients achieve optimal health and wellness, and we strive to provide compassionate, personalized care to each and every patient we serve.

Advantages of Non-Surgical Treatment

Non-surgical treatments for joint pain offer several benefits over surgical interventions, including:

• Less invasive and painful compared to surgery: Non-surgical treatments are generally less invasive and less painful than surgical procedures. This is because non-surgical treatments often involve less cutting and trauma to the body.
• Lower risk of complications and infections: Non-surgical treatments carry a lower risk of complications and infections than surgical procedures. This is because non-surgical treatments do not require incisions or openings of the body, which can increase the risk of infection and other complications.
• Shorter recovery time: Non-surgical treatments typically have a shorter recovery time than surgical interventions. This is because non-surgical treatments do not require a lengthy hospital stay or rehabilitation period.
• Cost-effective: Non-surgical treatments are generally more cost-effective than surgical procedures. This is because non-surgical treatments often do not require expensive hospital stays or lengthy rehabilitation periods.
• Potential to avoid surgery altogether: Non-surgical treatments can often provide long-term relief from joint pain without the need for surgery. This is especially true for patients with mild to moderate joint pain, as non-surgical treatments can often effectively manage symptoms and prevent the need for surgery.

Let The Houston Spine & Rehabilitation Centers Help Ease Your Joint Pain

If you are experiencing joint pain, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with Houston Spine and Rehabilitation Centers. Our expert joint pain doctors will work with you to diagnose the underlying cause of your pain and develop a customized treatment plan to help you achieve optimal health and wellness.

Our goal is to help you manage your pain, improve your joint function, and enhance your overall quality of life. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and take the first step toward a pain-free life.