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Muscle and Joint Pain
Muscle and joint pain can go from mild irritation to severe discomfort that interferes with living, working, exercising and sleeping.
The kind of muscle and joint pain that sends patients to urgent care, however, is probably sudden and severe.
Medical care for musculoskeletal pain is wide-ranging because there are so many potential sources. Compassionate providers at Northern Nevada Urgent Care can help diagnose and treat your pain. They can also recommend specialists and interventions (like physical therapy) to help improve daily function.
Get Help for Muscle Aches and Joint Pain
For mild pain, home remedies can provide pain relief and recovery. If you’re ever in doubt, or if pain is severe, see a healthcare professional right away.
Make an appointment at Northern Nevada Urgent Care if:
- Pain limits daily activities or mobility
- Constant pain doesn’t improve with ice and rest
- There are signs of infection, redness and swelling
- You have a rash that looks like the Lyme disease bullseye
- There is any visible deformity in a joint or limb after injury
- You have immediate and severe pain from an incident or accident
- You have a high fever with swollen joints and a stiff neck
Conditions that cause muscle pain
Physical aches are common and may involve more than one muscle group. Issues that increase the risk of muscle aches and joint pain are:
- Being overweight or obese
- Car accidents, whiplash and contact injuries
- Fibromyalgia and Lupus
- Osteoarthritis and types of arthritis
- Certain thyroid conditions
- Rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases
- Repetitive overuse injuries leading to tendonitis or bursitis
What helps joint pain after diagnosis?
Your health and well-being are important. Early attention may lead to quicker recovery and less damage to joints.
- Rest the area completely and follow doctor’s orders.
- Reduce inflammation with over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
- Wrap elastic bandage or athletic tape for compression and elevation, if appropriate.
- Use ice packs for the first 24-72 hours to reduce swelling, then switch to heat for healing.
- Try topical lidocaine products and menthol pain patches (gels and creams)
- After acute pain passes, gentle stretching with a therapist can help restore flexibility.
- Oral or injected steroids may reduce inflammation and support the immune system.
- Complementary therapies such as massage, meditation or acupuncture may soothe the side effects.
