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Talking About Care From Health Clinics

Hi there, I'm Kira Shepherd. When my kids were little, I spent a lot of time at the health care clinic. Children need an exam when they hurt themselves or run a high fever. Any other distressing symptoms are also best explored by a qualified physician. Thankfully, my local health care clinic always helped reassure me that the kids were healthy and developing well. I will share information about common diagnostic procedures and treatments performed at health care clinics. I will talk about alternatives, like going to the hospital or treating at home. My site will cover common symptoms and complications caused by a wide range of illness and injuries. Please visit my site often to learn more information. Thank you.

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Talking About Care From Health Clinics

What You Need To Know About Joint Inflammation

by Jack Long

Joint inflammation is characterized by pain and swelling in the joints. It's caused by many factors and occurs in one or more joints in your body. Inflammation can occur because of infection, allergies, injury, or inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. It's essential to seek treatment as soon as you experience pain or swelling in your joints.

Here is what you need to know about joint inflammation

Risk Factors

The leading cause of joint inflammation is an injury on the foot, leading to inflammation of other joints such as the toes. Your foot may swell, which is expected since the body is responding to the injury. Your white blood cells rush to the inflamed joint to clear off the infection, promoting natural healing. However, the pain may be too much to bear, hence the need to seek medical attention immediately. It can also be caused by inflammatory arthritis, a chronic condition that can affect one or more joints. Early treatment can minimize the progression of the disease and prevent damage to your joints. 

Early Signs

The main symptom of joint inflammation is painful joints which can lead to difficulty in moving. Also, you'll notice the joints bulging, which can also lead to pain. The pain may radiate to other areas of the body and cause mobility issues. Additionally, you may notice redness at the joint, and the site may feel warm. 

Available Treatment Options

Your doctor will evaluate the condition before prescribing treatment. The treatment options available include antibiotics to treat infection and pain medication to offer relief. 

Your doctor may also inject you with corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and pain. Another option is physical therapy which facilitates healing and restores your mobility function. You can do light exercises such as walking and massage with warm water to reduce the swelling. A proper diet gives the body the necessary nutrients to fight off infection. There's no need for hospitalization, and you can go home on the same day. 

Surgical Treatment Options

For severe inflammation, your doctor may order an X-ray to assess the severity of the condition. Surgery may be necessary at some point if the joint fails to respond to the available treatment techniques.

If you experience joint inflammation, you can massage the area with heat and take over-the-counter pain medication. If the joint inflammation doesn't improve within a day or two, contact a doctor who'll do an assessment and recommend treatment.

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