SEVA PAIN INSTITUTE

Monday - Thursday: 8:00am - 5:00pm

Friday - Sunday: Closed

JOINT PAIN

Your joints play an integral role in daily life but are often overlooked until an issue arises. Gurpreet Dhaliwal, MD, of SEVA Pain Institute provides joint pain diagnostic and treatment services to men and women from in and around Tracy, California. Whether your joint pain is the sudden result of an injury or something you’ve lived with for many years, Dr. Dhaliwal can help you find a path to pain-free, healthy joint function.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What causes joint pain?

You have 360 joints in your body. Think about the role your joints play in mobility and flexibility, and the forces they sustain during any given day. It’s a wonder that joint pain and problems aren’t more common.

Joint pain can arise from numerous conditions.

Arthritis

There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, including:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Psoriatic arthritis
  • Gout

Inflammatory conditions

Aside from arthritis, other inflammatory issues include:

  • Bursitis
  • Lupus
  • Tendinitis
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Bone infection

Degenerative conditions

  • Chondromalacia of the patella
  • Degenerative disc disease

Traumatic injury

  • Strains
  • Sprains
  • Muscle tears
  • Significant tearing of the ligaments or tendons

With any of these, the severity of the condition influences the degree of pain and functional limitations.

How is joint pain treated?

A successful treatment plan begins with a thorough diagnostic process. Dr. Dhaliwal gathers your health history, performs a physical exam, and discusses your joint symptoms in detail to determine the cause of your pain.

Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are available. Medication may play a role in treating joint pain and is sometimes used to help you tolerate pain while other treatments begin to take effect. For example, corticosteroid injections can ease joint pain while you complete a course of physical therapy. A good rehabilitation program can strengthen the muscles that support your joints and reduce pain.

Additional treatment options include biofeedback, acupuncture, relaxation techniques, and targeted exercise plans. Psychological counseling can also help address chronic joint pain.

Certain types of joint pain respond well to a treatment called radiofrequency ablation. The procedure used radiofrequency energy to create heat, which then destroys targeted nerves, interrupting pain signals.

Nerve blocks offer both diagnostic and treatment benefits. By interrupting the signal between body and brain, Dr. Dhaliwal can determine the source of your pain, and these injections also provide pain relief.

Neurostimulation is another pain treatment option. This approach uses an implanted electrical device to send impulses that alter the signals between your body and brain.

Can I prevent joint pain?

One of the most powerful ways to reduce or prevent joint pain is to reach and maintain a healthy weight. Carrying excess pounds places a great deal of stress on your joints, and can cause significant damage over time.

If you’re an athlete or fitness enthusiast, wearing proper protective gear can help prevent joint injury. Another important step involves increasing your training level gradually, which gives your body time to adapt and strengthen.

To learn more, schedule an appointment at SEVA Pain Institute today, online or by phone.