Joint Injuries & Joint Pain

Joint injuries and pain are common occurrences that can significantly impact your day-to-day life and activities. These conditions can cause discomfort, limit your range of motion, and, in severe cases, lead to substantial damage and long-term consequences. 

Joint issues can result from various causes, including sudden injuries, repetitive stress injuries, or underlying health conditions. At Kimball Health Services, our orthopedic team conducts thorough evaluations of your joint-related concerns to provide appropriate treatment tailored to your needs. 

We address a wide range of conditions, from those that can be managed with non-surgical approaches to more severe cases that require surgical intervention.

Joint injuries and pain can arise from acute or sudden injuries and overuse. Moreover, many health conditions can also affect your joint health and contribute to joint issues.

Common health conditions related to joint injuries and pain include:

• Bursitis: It is a condition in which your bursae become inflamed. Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones, tendons, and muscles near your joints. Inflammation in your bursae can cause pain and limit joint movement. 
• Osteoarthritis: It is a degenerative joint disease in which your cartilage breaks down over time. Cartilage acts as a cushion and shock absorber for your bones. 
• Dislocations: A joint dislocation injury occurs when bones in the joint are forced out of their normal position. This can happen due to severe trauma or a sudden impactful force. 
• Fractures: High-impact falls and injuries can cause breaks or cracks in bones within or around a joint, leading to fractures. This can damage the cartilage, ends of the bones, and other tissues surrounding the joint. 
• Rheumatoid arthritis: It is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system starts attacking the lining tissues of the joints. 
• Gout: It is a type of arthritis that occurs due to the accumulation of uric acid in your joints. Gout can cause sudden and intense pain and swelling in the affected joint. 
• Sprains & strains: These injuries affect different parts of the joint and can cause pain and swelling in the affected joint. Sprains occur when you stretch or tear your ligaments, while strains occur when the muscles or tendons tear. 
• Tendonitis: It is a condition in which tendons, the thick cords that attach your muscles to bones, are inflamed. Tendonitis is caused by overuse of the joint and can cause severe pain.

Common causes of joint injury and pain include:

• Trauma: Direct impact or force on your joints can cause painful injuries, such as fractures, dislocations, or sprains and strains.
• Overuse: Repetitive motions and overuse of a particular joint can wear and tear the joint and lead to painful conditions like tendinitis or bursitis.
• Degenerative diseases: Osteoarthritis can lead to stiffness in your joints, which can reduce mobility and cause pain. 
• Inflammatory conditions: Rheumatoid arthritis and gout can cause chronic inflammation in your joints. Inflammation can damage your cartilage and cause joint deformity, leading to pain. 

The primary symptom of injuries and conditions related to joints is pain. Other symptoms include: 

• Acute or chronic pain in the affected joint
• Swelling in the area of injury
• Joint stiffness, especially after periods of inactivity
• Redness and tenderness in the affected area
• Difficulty in joint movement and motion
• Weakness in the affected joint

The diagnosis of joint injuries and painful conditions involves a combination of tests along with a physical examination to confirm the cause and extent of damage. The diagnostic process usually involves:

• Physical examination of the affected joint. This involves assessing the joint movement and the swelling and tenderness in the joint. 
• Imaging tests, such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans of your affected joint. These tests help visualize the joint structure and show the extent of damage.
• Lab work, such as blood tests, will be required to check for signs of inflammation and infection.

The treatment of joint injuries and conditions focuses on addressing the underlying cause, easing pain, preserving joint motion, and promoting recovery. Proper rest is essential for effective healing.

Based on the type and severity of your joint issue, both surgical and non-surgical approaches may be used for treatment.

• Home treatment: Certain joint injuries, such as grade I sprains, can be managed at home with proper rest. Using hot and cold therapy and pain relief medications can help in recovery.
• Medications: Pain relief and anti-inflammatory medications can be prescribed to manage symptoms of various joint injuries and conditions. The dosage of these medications can be tailored based on the intensity of your symptoms.  
• Physical therapy: Targeted exercises can help strengthen muscles and joints, relieve pain, and improve joint mobility. Moreover, supportive aids, such as braces or splints, can provide stability to the joint, helping in the recovery process. 
• Corticosteroid injections: Steroid injections are administered in and around the affected area to help reduce the inflammation and pain in your joints.   
• Surgical treatment: In cases of severe injuries, such as tendon ruptures or fractures, or when other treatments are ineffective, surgical intervention may be required. Surgery can help restore joint function and movement and relieve pain. 

Joint injuries and pain can significantly impact your life, but with proper treatment, you maintain an active lifestyle. At Kimball Health Services, we provide personalized care and expert treatment for a range of joint-related conditions. 

As one of the top critical access hospitals in the nation, we pride ourselves on delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. 

In case of an emergency, call 911 or walk into our emergency department anytime. For appointments, call us at 308-235-1966 or fill out our online form. We're here for you whenever you need us.