Joint Pain Specialist
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PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic
Eric Blanson, DPM
Sports Medicine & Foot and Ankle Surgeon located in Woodlands, Shenandoah, TX
Acute injuries and chronic conditions affect millions of Americans each year, causing joint pain that is often persistent and debilitating. Eric Blanson, DPM, understands that joint pain can reduce your range of movement, affect your ability to perform daily activities, and diminish your overall quality of life. PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic provides patients in Spring, Texas, with comprehensive treatments to reduce joint pain and address the underlying issue of your discomfort. To learn more, call the office or use the online booking tool to set up an appointment.
Joint Pain Q & A
Why is joint pain so common?
Joints are made up of a complex network of tendons, ligaments, muscles, and cartilage that keep your joint stable and allow it to perform movements as needed. But when any one of these components is damaged, you suffer from joint pain.
Joint pain can develop because of unexpected trauma from acute injuries, general wear-and-tear that happens as you age, and from ongoing health complications, like:
- Gout
- Arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Lupus
You may also experience joint pain from older injuries that weren’t properly treated at the time and have developed into chronic pain conditions.
How do you diagnose joint pain?
Your provider at PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic performs a physical exam to assess the extent of your joint pain and damage. If a physical exam isn’t enough to pinpoint a diagnosis, they may order additional imaging tests like X-rays or MRI scans to confirm the cause of your pain.
Your provider may also perform blood tests or a joint aspiration to remove joint fluid for analysis at a lab. These diagnostic tools reveal whether you have an infection, an abnormal cell count (common in cases of arthritis), or a buildup of uric acid crystals (for cases of gout).
How do you treat joint pain?
After your diagnosis is confirmed, your provider may recommend pain medication and anti-inflammatories to reduce pain and inflammation.
They may also suggest losing weight so your body puts less stress on your joints, and specific physical therapy exercises to prevent further degradation and strengthen weak joints.
In instances when chronic diseases are causing your joint pain, the practice offers innovative regenerative medicine approaches that include:
Stem cell therapy
Stem cells have the special ability to be able to replicate themselves as specialized cells required by your body. Your provider injects stem cells into the painful joint where they stimulate the production of anti-inflammatory proteins and growth factors that promote tissue regeneration.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
PRP therapy harnesses growth factors and other nutrients from your own blood platelets that your provider extracts, runs through a centrifuge, and injects into weak joints for symptomatic relief.
Laser therapy
Laser therapy provides pain relief and long-term healing for patients suffering from various types of arthritis, gout, and other joint disorders.
Live graft transfer
For severely damaged joints, your provider may suggest a live graft transfer where your own tissue or tissue from a donor is transplanted into the affected joint. Once the tissue is grafted, it forms new, healthy living tissue that replaces what is weak and damaged.
If you suffer from ongoing joint pain, call the office or use the online booking tool to make an appointment at PMC Foot and Ankle Clinic.