No pain is considered “normal,” and living with pain can impact your health in body, mind and spirit. After all, it’s challenging to live your best life if you’re silently suffering. Some people think pain is just a normal part of aging, but you don’t have to accept pain as part of your life. You can get help to safely treat and manage it.
"Taking care of your joints can have a big impact on your quality of life,” said Vincent Colin, MD, orthopedic surgeon with AdventHealth Medical Group. “Working with your primary care provider and an orthopedic specialist can help prevent or lessen long-term damage.”
Here are some of the most common sources of pain with some tips on how to find the relief you need.
Shoulder Pain
What we call the shoulder joint is actually three bones, which combine with tendons and muscles to allow for a wide range of motion. But shoulders can also be unstable, leaving them open to many types of injury and pain.
If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, it may be caused by one of the following issues:
- Tendon inflammation, which include tendinitis, bursitis, or tears
- Dislocation, which happens when the upper arm bone is forced out of the shoulder socket
- Arthritis, which can develop slowly as a cause of wear and tear
- A broken bone, which can affect any of the shoulder’s many bones
Hip Pain
Three common causes of hip pain are osteoarthritis, tendinitis and bursitis. They all have different causes and treatments, and it is best to talk with your doctor when you can’t manage the pain on your own.
- Tendinitis: This tissue inflammation may cause pain and swelling just outside your hip joint.
- Bursitis: This inflammation of the sacs of fluid that cushion your tendons can cause burning or pain on the side of your hip.
“A lot of times, over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, combined with alternating heat and ice applied to the affected area can relieve joint pain,” said Colin. “However, if the pain persists for longer than a week, it might be time to talk to your doctor.”
Other Joint or Bone Pain
Sometimes experiencing pain in your joints or bones can mean you have a more serious condition that affects your body. These include:
- Osteoarthritis: This degenerative disease becomes more common with age and usually develops in the hands, neck, lower back, knees and hips. It can be treated with everything from drugs to creams to joint replacement surgery.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: This autoimmune disease causes pain, stiffness, swelling and reduced movement. It often develops in middle age and is most common among older adults, but teenagers and young adults can get it, too. Talk with your doctor about treatment options.
- Paget’s disease: This disease causes bones to grow too large and weak, and to break more easily. It is more common in older adults. If Paget’s disease runs in your family, doctors recommend you have routine lab work to screen for the disease starting at age 40.
- Bone cancer: Primary bone cancer is uncommon, but cancers from organs like the breast or prostate gland can spread to the bones and can be a cause of bone pain.
“The bottom line when dealing with joint pain is to listen to your body,” said Colin. “If you have persistent pain, talk to your doctor. If something more serious is going on, we can work with you to come up with a treatment plan that will help you get back to living your best life.”
If you are living with pain, know that we are here to help guide you to finding comfort and relief. Explore our website for more information. You can request an appointment online or call us at
Call254-206-2517.
