General aches and pains are a daily feature in clinic, and can be indicative of a number of conditions.
Patients are often keen to know what’s causing their pain, and the good news is that osteopaths are qualified to give a diagnosis in most cases. We take a detailed case history to get an idea of what might be going on, and sometimes this alone gives us enough information to tell what the problem is.
Diagnosing and Managing Joint Pain
Joint pain is often quite isolated to the joint in question, but it can refer elsewhere. Typically, this referral follows a pattern, but it can be mistaken for something else if not fully investigated. For example, sometimes a problem with a joint in the lower back can cause pain to radiate down the leg, similarly to sciatica. We will ask questions during your case history to differentiate between referred joint pain and nerve pain to get a correct diagnosis and devise an appropriate treatment plan.
Osteoarthritis is a common example of a joint pain condition. Pain often starts gradually, but symptoms can come on suddenly in some cases. Signs of OA include:
achey pain within the joint, or into the groin if the hip is affected
a crunchy or grinding feeling on some movements
muscle tension around the joint
restricted movement locally
Your osteopath can diagnose osteoarthritis, and we are qualified to help manage it. It’s a condition of cartilage, which is a living tissue and responds well to improved movement. Working into the joint and easing surrounding musculature makes it easier for your daily movements to positively impact the health of the joint.
Signs of Inflammation
Inflammation can affect joints and soft tissues. An inflamed joint is often stiff after rest, but also aggravated by doing too much movement. It responds well to cool compresses, but warmth might make it worse. This is more likely with soft tissue inflammation that sits closer to the surface. A warm compress can encourage further inflammation and discomfort, whereas a cool one encourages the inflammation to clear a bit.
Sometimes inflammation of a joint is an indicator of a rheumatological condition. These often require medical intervention, but your osteopath may still be able to help you manage the symptoms alongside your GP or rheumatologist. Not only can we help with local inflammation and muscle tightness, but we can work with you to make sure that the body is not overcompensating and causing secondary aches and pains elsewhere.
If you’re unsure whether you would benefit from heat or ice, speak to your osteopath.
Heightened Pain Sensitivity
Some conditions manifest with a general increased sensitivity to pain. One example of such a condition is fibromyalgia. Alongside fatigue and difficulty concentrating, this condition is characterised by widespread muscle and joint pain or stiffness. Patients may also notice that their muscles are especially reactive to touch, feeling more achey or sore than would be expected.
Diagnosis of fibromyalgia can be slow, as there is no specific test for it and other conditions need to be ruled out first. Fortunately, it is becoming more well known, and research is slowly being produced.
