Joint Pain (Knee, Hip, Shoulder)
Pain ConditionsJoint pain is a common complaint, often prompting patients to seek medical care. When joints, the places where bones meet in order to facilitate movement, get out of alignment, several painful conditions can result. Joint misalignment affects both muscles and nerves, often resulting not only in localized pain, but in radicular pain, pain that runs down the adjacent limb. Although any joint can move out of its correct position, the joints that most often bring patients in for treatment are the facet joints of the back, the sacroiliac (SI) joints, and the temporomandibular joints (TMJ).
Treating Facet Joint Pain
Each vertebra has four facet joints connecting it to the vertebrae above and below it that allow the spine to move smoothly. When the facet joints are subluxated, or misaligned, perhaps due to spinal stenosis or arthritis, compression of adjacent spinal nerves can result in severe pain. Depending on the location of the facet joint, pain may occur in the cervical region (neck), the lumbar (lower back) or may radiate down the arm or leg.
Doctors use a few different approaches in order to treat facet joint pain. Oral medications, steroid injections, and other treatments can relieve pain, ease nerve compression, and allow blood and oxygen to flow more freely. For patients with chronic problems, they will also take a whole-body approach to healing. In addition to the medical care described above, they might also prescribe certain exercises, advise the patient to get supportive orthotics, or even suggest replacing a worn-out mattress.
Sacroiliac Joint Pain
The sacroiliac joint may subluxate for a number of reasons, including sports injuries, falls, and other accidents. Pregnancy or menstruation can make an individual more susceptible to such injury, as can bending or standing in one position for a prolonged period. Pain caused by misalignment of the SI joint may be felt in the lower back, the buttocks and down the leg (sciatic pain), the groin or hip, and may be accompanied by numbness or tingling.
There are various ways doctors can treat SI pain. The method chosen depends on the nature of the injury and the age and condition of the patient. Our practitioners work with each patient on an individual basis, ensuring that every person receives the best pain solution for their body.
Temporomandibular Joint Pain
The temporomandibular joints are the joints that hinge the jaw. These joints can dislocate because of an underlying disease or condition, a traumatic injury, or the grinding or clenching of the teeth. Stress is often a contributing cause of this disorder. TMJ, the initials that refer to the condition as well as to the joint itself, can result in tenderness in the face, neck, ear, head, jaw, neck or shoulders. It can also make it difficult to open the mouth widely, cause odd sounds when the jaw opens or closes, or result in difficulty chewing.
Genesis Pain Clinic offers a variety of TMJ treatments, including first ice and then heat therapy and lifestyle instructions to prevent actions that may worsen the condition. These actions can include opening the mouth too widely or crunching hard foods. Stretching and strengthening exercises may be recommended as well. In some cases, the patient may be advised to get a mouthguard to prevent teeth grinding during sleep.
Other Treatments For Joint Pain
We take a comprehensive approach to pain management. In addition to traditional medical treatments and lifestyle advice, we also treat joint pain using the following:
- Steroidal Injections
- Regenerative Medicine Techniques
- Trigger Point Therapy
- Electrical Stimulation