3 Tips for Jumping Into the New Year with Less Joint Pain

With each passing year, your joint pain continues to transition from an occasional, but most unwelcome, guest to a mostly constant companion. Instead of facing yet another year during which the joint pain only worsens, why not make this the year you swing the discomfort in the other direction? 

We assure you it’s possible, and we can help.

Our team here at Pain Medicine Consultants understands the magnitude of the joint pain problem in the United States — more than 92 million people report joint pain and inflammation. 

Most of this problem is related to arthritis, which is simply a catchall term for any disease that leads to the aforementioned joint pain and inflammation — and there are more than 100 types of diseases that do. 

No matter what’s behind your joint discomfort, these three recommendations can help you move with less pain in the new year.

Tackle the pain first

As obvious as this may sound, the first step toward pain-free movement comes with relieving your pain. As pain management specialists, this is our area of expertise, and we can help you find ways to manage the pain, which might include:

• Medications for pain relief
• Corticosteroid joint injections that tackle pain and inflammation
• Regenerative therapies, such as platelet-rich plasma or stem cell injections
• Trigger point therapy
• Nerve blocks
• Viscosupplementation therapy for knee pain
• Ketamine infusions
• Neuromodulation

As you can see, we certainly don’t lack pain management options when it comes to joint discomfort, and we’re sure to find one that can help you move more freely.

Move for better joint health

With your joint pain under control, take advantage of this time and get moving to promote longer-term joint health.

Joints are designed to move, which accomplishes many objectives, including:

• Promoting blood flow (and healing resources) to your joints
• Preventing stiffness
• Reducing inflammation

One of the best ways to get started is to embark on a good physical therapy program, which focuses on flexibility, range of motion, and strengthening. This initial work with a physical therapist can support your joint health and pave the way forward for a good exercise regimen that will keep your joints healthy.

This exercise regimen may be different from your usual activities, such as swapping out joint-pounding activities like running in favor of swimming, cycling, or yoga. Whatever activities we find for you, getting your joints to move in a way that supports their health is paramount.

Keep your weight in check

If you’re carrying excess weight, this burden falls to your musculoskeletal system, including your joints. For example, if you’re carrying 10 pounds too many, the force on your knees increases by about 30-60 pounds with each step.

The bottom line is that being overweight or having obesity is one of the primary risk factors for osteoarthritis, which is the most common form of arthritis.

One of the most effective avenues to happy joints is losing excess weight to relieve the extra burden and to prevent premature breakdown of the joint.

To get started on making the new year one in which your joints don’t stand between you and an active and happy life,  contact one of our offices in Pleasanton, Pleasant Hill, or Corte Madera, California, to schedule an appointment.