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Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad March 31, 2006 For Your Health Good joint pain? There’s no such thing Chris Foster “No Pain, No Gain” does not apply to joint structures. It really only applies to muscles and the psychological aspect of exercise and competition. Muscle burning fatigued pain from the built-up muscle waste and from the deprivation of oxygen and energy stores to the muscles is an acceptable pain. So is delayed muscle soreness that usually occurs 1-3 days after a vigorous activity. Muscle pain is usually felt in the muscle belly, away from joints. The muscle is sore as the muscle contracts and when passively shaken. But, pain in and around joint structures especially with accompanied swelling is never good. Healthy joints that function well are priceless. We are only issued one set of joints when we are born. And only a few joints have a good success rate in being replaced surgically with artificial surfaces. Joint replacement is major surgery with long recoveries that may come with risk and complications associated with major surgery. These surgeries are usually indicated when we are senior citizens and may not be in the best health to have major surgery and cope adequately with the recovery. These artificial joints have limitations and certain life spans before they, too, need revisions. Joint-replacement surgeries can be a heaven-sent procedure that may greatly improve function and the quality of life while diminishing or eliminating the pain associated with degenerated joints. But I would not deliberately abuse my joints now banking on future joint replacement surgeries as a remedy. Our bodies are mortal, and thus our joints are aging with time. The speed of this aging process is greatly determined upon our heredity. Some people are blessed with strong joints that age slowly. Systemic diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, etc., may greatly speed up the aging process. Our general health is another factor that can help speed up or slow down our joint aging process. Eating well and maintaining your proper body weight, not smoking and avoiding other bad habits, and in general keeping yourself physically fit and mentally awake helps avoid pitfalls that lead to early aging of your joints. When our joints are aging faster than what is considered normal, the medical field calls that Degenerative Joint Disease. We are all driving down that aging/joint degeneration/ osteoarthritis road at different speeds. I’d personally would rather be going down that road at 25 mph rather than getting a speeding ticket at 85 mph. So let us carefully consider the risks we take that deliberately speed up how fast we travel down that road of joint degeneration. Obviously, traumatic joint injuries immediately send us spiraling down that road of Degenerative Joint Disease. Proper conditioning, equipment and skill level are vital when participating in sporting, recreational, work and daily living activities to minimize risk of joint injuries. Let us curb our reckless behavior in recreation and other activities like driving to protect ourselves and others. Let us consciously make better decisions in keeping ourselves healthier and avoid indulging in unhealthy lifestyles. Joint injury can occur traumatically with a specific injury or develop chronically over time with repetitive stress. Any pain that is persistent with activity greater than a few days is suspicious for overuse joint injury. Joints that are painful to move, especially passively, without surrounding muscle contractions to move the joint, should immediately be addressed. Swelling, stiffness, and discoloration of the skin in and around the joints are others signs that professional medical attention may be indicated. Since there is no such thing as good joint pain, we should immediately stop an activity when experiencing pain in and around our joints especially, when it feels different than your normal expected muscle soreness at that level of activity. Rest and ice is usually the first response to treat these injuries. Elevation of the joint/limb above the heart and mild compression by a medical elastic wrap may also decrease swelling. Obviously, if there is immediate swelling, discoloration, deformity or severe pain immediate medical care is necessary. Also, pain that is persistent and/or increases with time over 24 hours to a few days needs medical attention as well. Joints need adequate time to heal, four weeks to several months — even a year or so depending on the structures injured, the severity of the injury, and the intervention needed to assist the healing process. Medical intervention in forms of medicine, splinting, bracing, casting, surgery to repair and/or removed injured structures, and rehabilitation to guide, train and assist with the healing process may be indicated. Usually, the longer you take before you seek to assist the healing process the longer it takes for things to heal. Returning to former activity is best when it is pain free. Returning to activities, beyond the joint’s ability, during its injured state and healing process may speed up joint degeneration and slows down healing. Joints will always lose with the “No Pain, No Gain” theory. Joint degeneration and injury can always get worse and reach a point where even activities of daily living is too much for them and they persistently ache and swell. Unfortunately, that is when we realize that healthy joints which function well is truly priceless. Chris Foster is a licensed Physical Therapist and a Certified Athletic Trainer with Catalina Physical Therapy in Ashland. He is also a Fellow with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists and a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength & Conditioning Association. He loves living in southern Oregon with his wife and five kids. --> Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.