Joint Pain's Effect on Your Body

Nicholas Anastasio, M.D., a Board Certified physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Orthopedics and Joint Replacement at Mercy, recently responded to questions from Consumer Health Digest regarding joint pain and its effect on the body.

What are the common types of joint pain?

Joint pain can be inflammatory, mechanical, due to a focal injury, or due to overuse.

What are the signs and symptoms of joint, shoulder and muscle pain?

Signs of joint pain can include swelling of the joint, stiffness, diffuse pain throughout a joint, or tenderness along the joint. Muscle pain can radiate along the muscle group affected, can feel like a focal pain or a diffuse ache. Weakness can be associated with muscle pain.

What is the best way to deal with joint and muscle pain? Are home treatments an option?

Joint and muscle pain tends to respond to analgesics such as acetaminophen or anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. These are a good starting place for treatment if there are no medical contraindications to their use. Other home treatments that can be effective are topical ice or heat. Ice should be used when things are inflamed (ex. Swollen or acute pain). Heat can be useful for chronic pain or chronic conditions (ex. Arthritis). Range of motion and gentle exercise can sometimes be beneficial, as long as the joint is stable. It is always recommended to see a healthcare specialist if symptoms are prolonged, there is large swelling, the joint feels unstable or your pain is not responding to short courses of over the counter medication.

Dr. Anastasio treats muscle, bone, joint and nerve conditions to maximize function and improve quality of life through non-surgical techniques, such as percutaneous tenotomy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), nerve conduction studies and ultrasound-guided injections. Recognized as a "Top Doctor" by Baltimore magazine, he provides non-surgical diagnosis and treatment for patients with a wide range of orthopedic and musculoskeletal conditions affecting the muscles, bones and joints, as well as nerve-related conditions. Dr. Anastasio sees patients at Orthopedics and Joint Replacement at Mercy in Downtown Baltimore, and at Mercy Personal Physicians at Glen Burnie and Ellicott City.