Conditions like arthritis can cause steadily worsening, incurable joint pain and other problems like weakness and stiffness in your joints. If you have chronic joint pain, interventional pain specialist Dilangani Ratnayake, MD, of Ratnayake Pain Management in Palm Desert, California, can help. Dr. Ratnayake uses advanced treatments such as peripheral nerve stimulation to relieve joint pain and other symptoms. Call Ratnayake Pain Management today to find out more or schedule your appointment using the online form.
Acute joint pain can develop if you injure a joint, for example, a sprain or dislocation. Bursitis — inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs in your joints called bursae — is also a common cause of joint pain.
Two of the main causes of chronic joint pain are:
Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that affects many people as they get older and is the most common form of the condition by far. It develops as a consequence of the deterioration of the cartilage on the ends of the bones in your joints.
Cartilage is a tough, slippery material that stops your bones from creating friction when they touch. When you lose cartilage because of years of wear-and-tear, the result is joint inflammation, pain, and stiffness.
Rheumatoid arthritis is more likely to affect younger people, as it's a type of autoimmune disease. That means it develops when your body's automatic defense mechanisms go wrong, resulting in the destruction of important cells in your body.
In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, your body attacks cells in the joint linings, and your joints become stiff, swollen, and uncomfortable.
Acute injuries like sprains, fractures, and dislocations require immediate attention to prevent further damage and ensure the tissues or bones heal properly. Conditions that often develop more slowly, like bursitis, usually respond well to rest and anti-inflammatory treatments.
If these injuries heal incorrectly or the wear-and-tear that caused them continues, they can develop into a chronic problem that causes persistent joint pain and loss of function.
Physical therapy is an important part of any treatment plan for joint pain, helping to prevent stiffness and rebuild strength in the joint. Other treatments that can help include:
Being overweight or obese puts a tremendous amount of strain on your joints, especially your knees, hips, and ankles. You can, therefore, help ease joint pain by losing any excess weight.
If these approaches don't provide sufficient relief, Dr. Ratnayake specializes in using peripheral nerve stimulation to treat chronic joint pain.
Peripheral nerve stimulation uses electrical impulses to disrupt the pain signals going from your joints to your brain.
Dr. Ratnayake uses ultrasound imaging to guide the placement of one or two wires onto the nerve responsible for your pain. The leads connect to a small stimulator device. You control the level of stimulation yourself using Bluetooth technology.
To find out more about treating chronic joint pain effectively and see if you're a good candidate for peripheral nerve stimulation, call Ratnayake Pain Management today or book an appointment online.
