For many of our patients, joint pain is a constant source of frustration that keeps them from enjoying their everyday lives. Between a variety of symptoms and conditions, it can be hard to determine what’s triggering your joint pain, let alone how to relieve it.
At InterveneMD, we’re dedicated to delivering compassionate, consistent, and high-quality care to help patients reach their functional goals. Whether we guide you through the steps of our Prolotherapy program or support you as you self-administer your Pentosan injections at home, we’ve made it our mission to get your joints feeling better.
Keep reading to learn more about the most common causes of joint pain and your options for pain relief in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Ready to speak to one of our joint experts? Head over to our website to schedule your consultation and begin your journey to joint pain relief.
What are joints?
A joint is any place in your body where two bones in your skeletal system meet. There are hundreds of joints throughout your body that are used as support when you sit, stand, and move.
Formally referred to as “articulations,” joints are made up of bones and other connective tissues, including cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and nerves.
Additionally, joints are classified into 3 categories depending on how much connective tissue they contain: fibrous, cartilaginous, and synovial joints.
Fibrous Joints
Fibrous joints are made up of thick connective tissues that are tightly woven together and contain a lot of collagen. These joints aren’t particularly flexible and are mainly used to hold bones together throughout the body.
An example of fibrous joints would be the bones found throughout your skull.
Cartilaginous Joints
Cartilaginous joints are cushioned by a layer of cartilage that joins the bones together. These joints have a very limited range of motion.
Common examples of cartilaginous joints include the rib joints or the intervertebral discs.
Synovial Joints
Synovial joints are made of a cavity in one bone that another bone fits into. The ends of these bones are covered by hyaline cartilage and lined by a synovial membrane to provide extra cushioning and minimize friction. These joints have the most freedom to move out of all joint types.
Examples of synovial joints include those found in the shoulder, hip, and knee.
What is joint pain?
Joint pain is a discomfort that affects one or more joints in the body. This pain can range from a constant, nagging pain to a mild ache that comes and goes.
Some forms of joint pain are characterized by stiff joints in the morning. This stiffness can typically be improved by movement and gentle stretching. Other forms of joint pain are worsened by activity and increased movement.
Joint pain varies from person to person and usually depends on the condition that causes it. Most forms of joint pain are triggered by a health condition or injuries.
Common Health Conditions Causing Joint Pain
There are a variety of health conditions and illnesses that can leave patients vulnerable to joint pain. Certain conditions, like arthritis, can be hereditary.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a condition characterized by joint swelling and tenderness, usually caused by inflammation and immune system impairment. This condition typically worsens with age and consists of symptoms like joint pain and stiffness.
There are multiple types of arthritis, including:
- Osteoarthritis – Occurs when the cartilage around your joint gradually wears away and causes your bones to grind together. Also referred to as degenerative joint disease, this condition most commonly affects joints in the hands, knees, hips, and neck.
- Rheumatoid arthritis – Occurs when your immune system attacks the tissue lining your joints, leading to joint fusion and a lack of mobility. This form of arthritis can be found all throughout the body, but is most common in the fingers, hands, knees, and ankles.
Common Injuries Causing Joint Pain
The causes of joint pain don’t stop at just health conditions and illnesses. Injuries can also lead to joint pain, resulting in different diagnoses.
Bursitis
Bursitis is characterized by a painful swelling in the bursa, which is a fluid-filled sac that cushions spaces around bones and tissues. The pain associated with this condition occurs when the bursa becomes inflamed, irritated, and swollen.
This condition most commonly affects the following areas:
- Shoulders
- Elbows
- Knees
- Feet
- Hips
This painful condition is often caused by repetitive motion and overuse, as well as spending too much time in positions that put pressure on the body, such as kneeling. Individuals with bursitis may feel pain when moving the affected area of the body, and they may have a limited range of motion.
Athletes, individuals who do manual labor in their line of work, and musicians are most likely to develop bursitis.
Tendonitis
Tendonitis is a condition that involves tendon inflammation and irritation.
This condition can be chronic or short-term after an overuse injury. It’s also most common among athletes or individuals whose jobs require extensive physical labor.
Tendonitis commonly impacts tendons in the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees, as well as the Achilles tendon.
Alleviate Joint Pain at InterveneMD
If joint pain plagues your day-to-day life, you need immediate options for pain relief in Mt. Pleasant, SC! Fortunately, InterveneMD has a variety of innovative joint pain treatments, backed by the latest research, to help you get back to your busy schedule without discomfort.
We recommend requesting a consultation with one of our joint specialists to determine which treatments would be best for your unique health needs. In the meantime, here’s more information on InterveneMD treatments that can help you get rid of joint pain.
Hyalgan Injections
When osteoarthritis leaves you with knee pain and stiffness, Hyalgan injections can help! These injections deliver superior pain relief by targeting joint pain at its source without exposure to a steroid.
Hyalgan injections contain hyaluronate, which is a substance found naturally in the body that lubricates and cushions your knee joint. Once injected into the treatment area, Hyalgan serves as an additional source of knee joint lubrication to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
These injections are best suited for patients who have not been able to achieve pain reduction with steroid shots or pain pills.
During your Hyalgan treatment process at InterveneMD, we typically administer 3 injections on weekly intervals for optimal pain relief. We often combine Hyalgan injections with oral anti-inflammatory supplements like ibuprofen or topical anti-inflammatories like diclofenac gel.
After receiving your Hyalgan injections for pain relief in Mt. Pleasant, SC, we recommend avoiding strenuous activity for at least 24 hours. This will help avoid Hyalgan migration outside of the treated joint.
Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy injections are the ultimate alternative method for chronic pain relief in Mt. Pleasant, SC. These injections target pain caused by weakened connective tissues and musculoskeletal conditions.
Typically, prolotherapy injects irritants like saline or sugar directly into the joints in question to stimulate the body’s healing response. This reaction strengthens tissues so bones and joints can stay properly aligned for easier function.
We take it one step further at InterveneMD by instead injecting platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and human growth hormone (HGH) to stimulate a stronger response.
Prolotherapy is best at treating any condition caused by weakened, loose or damaged connective tissue, including:
- Arthritis
- Neck pain
- Degenerative disc disease
- Tendinopathy
- Lower back pain
- Joint pain
We recommend our patients undergo 1 to 5 prolotherapy procedures based on their pain levels and unique conditions. These injections can stay in your system anywhere from a few months to a few years.
Pentosan
At InterveneMD, we understand just how debilitating conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can be. We’re proud to offer pentosan injections to help our patients reduce bone-on-bone pain, decrease inflammation, and restore cartilage.
Consisting of a synthetic compound derived from beechwood trees, pentosan acts as a natural anti-inflammatory and stimulates blood flow. This injection also stops cartilage from being broken down by conditions like arthritis. Pentosan also has anti-viral properties and may help reduce heart disease, cancer, and degenerative disc disease.
Once injected into the affected area, pentosan can thicken joint fluid for better cushioning and easier movement. This treatment is great for individuals who have not been able to recover with other methods of pain relief in Mt. Pleasant, SC.
Your Pentosan injection process at InterveneMD will begin with a comprehensive consultation with one of our joint pain experts to create a plan of action.
If your provider decides that pentosan is your best option for relieving joint pain, you will be sent home with a set of pre-filled syringes to administer in the comfort of your own home. You will also receive subsequent syringe sets to continue your treatment in the following weeks.
Peptides
Peptides are chains of amino acids that occur naturally throughout the body and facilitate cell communication, which can be used for pain relief in Mt. Pleasant, SC. These amino acids stop pain at its source, helping you get back to moving around with ease.
Among other benefits, peptides can be used to improve:
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Arthritis pain
- Bursitis
- Immune system function
- Brain function
- Sleep
- Energy
- Gut health
- Sexual health
Peptides for pain relief in Mt. Pleasant, SC, can be administered via injections, oral capsules, creams, or nasal sprays. At InterveneMD, injections are the most popular form of peptide administration, as they allow for quicker and more effective absorption.
Each peptide prescription typically provides a 25-day supply. We recommend undergoing peptide treatment for 3 months for optimal pain relief.
Ozone Therapy
Ozone isn’t just for the atmosphere! Ozone therapy delivers a unique form of oxygen into the body for a variety of health benefits, including:
- Reduces oxidative stress on the body
- Slows down cellular aging
- Boosts the immune system
- Restores energy
We offer several different versions of ozone therapy at InterveneMD, including injections, intravenous solutions, and direct insufflation. You and your provider will discuss which method will best address your joint pain during your initial consultation.
Schedule Your Consultation
At InterveneMD, we believe no one should have to struggle with joint pain, regardless of the condition or injury causing it. With a variety of treatment methods for joint pain relief in Mt. Pleasant, SC, you can rest assured knowing chronic joint pain doesn’t have to be permanent.
To start alleviating your joint pain at InterveneMD, visit our website or give us a call to build your treatment plan.
Want to learn more about prolotherapy and other alternative methods of pain relief? Head over to our blog to read more.
