Joint and Muscle Pain Treatments in Fargo

Example Causes

Joint Pain is extremely common, especially as you age. The most common causes of chronic pain in joints are:

• Rheumatoid arthritis is thought to be an autoimmune disease, where the immune system attacks healthy tissue.
• Gout is a form of arthritis that most often affects your big toe joint
• Osteoarthritis, a "wear and tear”, disease is the most common type of arthritis
• Bursitis is when the sacs of fluid that help cushion your joints get inflamed
• Tendonitis can be caused by strains and overuse

Muscle Pain. Many things can cause muscle pain, including:

• Autoimmune diseases
• Viral Infections
• Injuries
• Medications
• Overuse injuries
• Neuromuscular disorders

Signs & Symptoms 

Muscle and joint pain symptoms can range from mild to sharp stabbing pain that comes and goes.

Note: If you have red and swollen joints, fever, chest pain, numbness or tingling in your limbs, or a loss of appetite, you should seek medical attention right away.

Symptoms of joint pain include:

• Swelling: Swelling of the joint after an injury may indicate that you have a injury to the bone, muscle, tendon, or ligament.
• Stiff or enlarged joint: A chronic ailment like osteoarthritis begins due to stiff or degenerating joints. Numbness: Inflammation from injury can put pressure on nerves and cause numbness throughout the affected area.  Noisy joints: Any popping sounds in the joint could be caused due to motion of the body, which is usually okay. Crepitus (noisy joint) is most frequently felt in the knees and other joints, such as the neck, shoulder, or elbow.
• Loss of motion: Arthritis-related stiffness, discomfort, and swelling can significantly restrict the range of motion in joints.
• Painful movement

Symptoms of muscle pain include:

• Pain or tenderness
• Limited motion
• Muscle spasms
• Swelling
• Muscle weakness
• Redness or bruising

How to Limit Symptoms of Joint & Muscle Pain

• Manage your pain:   You may find that ice after exercise and a compression sleeve is enough to keep joint or muscle pain at bay. If it persists, over-the-counter anti-inflammatories and pain relievers can help.
• Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water also helps flush inflammatory toxins out of the body and prevents injury to other areas that work in tandem with the joints.
• Maintain a healthy weight: According to studies, losing one pound of body weight reduces the load on the knees by four pounds. Furthermore, fat tissue produces proteins that can cause inflammation in and around your joints, which is why losing weight can help with joint pain.
• Stay physically active: Exercise strengthens the muscles around the joints, helping to take pressure off them.
• Maintain a healthy diet: Hand in hand with weight management is a healthy diet. Stay clear of empty calories and have a well-balanced diet.

Joint pain is often a result of the damage that occurs through normal wear and tear.  However, it can also be a sign of an infection or potentially debilitating RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis). If rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis is not treated early or is not well controlled, inflammation in your joints could lead to significant and permanent damage.  Arthritis will not kill you, but it can cause serious pain and discomfort in your life.

The team of professionals  at Altaire Clinic will be able to answer any unexplained joint or muscle pain questions you may have, especially if it doesn't go away on its own after a few days. 

It can be difficult to determine the cause of your muscle or joint pain. Our expert medical providers take the time to understand the possible causes and develop a targeted treatment plan to address the cause and minimize symptoms. 

Most patients find relief through conservative treatment options. These may include:

• Over-the-counter pain medications
• Indirect ice and heat therapy
• Exercise 
• Physical therapy

Injections, nerve blocks, or surgery may be considered if other options are not successful. Based on the practitioner's examination, they may prescribe a treatment plan that will eliminate or cure your muscle or joint pain, but results vary from person to person. The only way to find out is to come in for an appointment.  

Your insurance plan may cover the cost of treatment. Please contact us if you have any questions or to verify if we accept your insurance.

Below is a list of the accepted insurance providers at Altaire Clinic.

• Aetna
• BCBS of MN
• BCBS of ND
• Cigna
• Health Partners
• Humana
• Medica
• Medicare
• ND Medicaid
• Preferred One
• Sanford
• Tricare/Health Net Federal Services
• United Health Care
• VA PC3 (Optum)

Our licensed healthcare staff have over 60 years of combined expertise to help you feel your best. We will have your best interest at the heart of everything we do. We treat every person with the compassionate, quality medical care they deserve — whether they’re seeking preventive care, or they need urgent care services.