When to worry about joint pains?

Most of us get joint pains. When should one be concerned and when to identify a potential underlying disease?

• Waking stiffness lasting >4 hours consistently
• Swollen joint(s) with warmth (heat)
• Joint instability (locking, collapsing, clicking, grinding)
• Other associated symptoms (i.e., fever, fatigue)

Strains and sprains are common, particularly if you play sports or do extraneous work (i.e., yard work). These are typically short-lived and are resolved with rest. If the symptoms are localized and recur consistently, check your workstation posture.

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And lifting technique.

https://www.osha.com/blog/proper-lifting-techniques

Osteoarthritis (OA) through aging and overuse are common, and typically minor therapies like RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) can resolve it. At times, we use NSAIDs (Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) like ibuprofen or naproxen to treat pain and inflammation. Acetaminophen helps with pain but is not an anti-inflammatory.

OA should be evaluated when it's

• Consistently daily and limits your function
• Localized joint showing evidence of damage, as noted above

Working professionals commonly do repetitive tasks like typing, so it wouldn't hurt to make your typing more efficient to reduce errors. A 10-minute daily practice at https://www.keybr.com/ can shorten your daily workflow.

Do you find these tips helpful? Follow this page to get more preventive health insights.

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