How Can I Manage Chronic Bone & Joint Pain?

At some point in life, most Americans will experience some sort of bone or joint pain. Depending on your level of daily physical activity, repetitive motions and other factors, this pain can range from consistent discomfort to chronic, serious pain. In some cases, the pain stems from certain deteriorative conditions of the joints or bones and individuals need to undergo procedures such as shoulder or knee replacements.

Individuals can, however, take measures to both prevent or relieve this sort of pain or discomfort. Here are some methods to consider if you struggle with orthopaedic-related pain:

 

Don’t Instigate Pain & Take Precautions

If you know that you get a lot of pain in your lower back, then don’t perform actions that put excessive amounts of stress on that area of your body. Granted, in many cases we have to perform certain motions in order to do our jobs or work around the house. In that case, take necessary precautions, such as wearing a back brace. As another example, you should consider a carpal tunnel bracelet on your wrist if you must type at work.

 

Yoga & Stretching

Yoga and stretching in general work very well both as preventative measures for joint pain, but also for relieving pain as it comes. Of course, you will want to avoid any poses that place undue stress on affected areas.

For example, if you experience pain in your knees, shy away from poses that require you to bear weight on your knees. In contrast, movements that incorporate knee and leg stretches can offer relief. In other words, feel free to stretch affected areas, but avoid bearing too much of a load with the affected areas.

 

Rest

Often times, chronic pain or discomfort stems from a lack of consistent rest. If you haven’t been getting enough sleep due to working too much, both at your place of employment or at home, or for any other reason, then your muscles, joints, etc. don’t have time to recuperate.

Therefore, take proactive measures to get more sleep and you will most likely start to feel better in a lot of ways. That being said, a lack of sleep might not be the only reason for your pain—it may not even be the primary reason. However, more sleep can help to relieve pain while your doctors work to identify the actual source.

 

Notify and Work with Your Physician

This should go without saying: your physician should know of any ongoing pain that you experience. The symptoms might indicate a more pressing problem, including tumors and joint deterioration. In the case of the latter, you might require partial or total joint replacement.

No matter the cause, it’s best to catch the problem as early as possible. An early diagnosis can result in less drastic measures to fix the issue. Therefore, don’t wait to contact your physician and figure out the issue early on.