Speaking with your doctor helps to determine the treatment that is right for you.
Your doctor may recommend the following options:
Taking medicine
Speaking with your doctor is one of the most important things you can do before
taking a medicine for joint pain caused by injury. Your doctor will
consider many factors before recommending the medicine that is right for you.
For example, a joint injection, or shot, such as DEPO-MEDROL® (methylprednisolone acetate), might be given to
people whose pain flares up at times—even for those on other therapies
for their joint pain.
When you do take medicine for your joint pain, remember to ask your doctor or pharmacist:
- How often you should take the medicine
- When you should take the medicine (ie, with food or between meals)
- If there are any side effects you may expect
- Whether you should take the medicine with prescription medicines
- Whether you should take the medicine with over-the-counter medicines
Learn more about DEPO-MEDROL
Getting physical therapy
What can physical therapy do for you if you’ve got joint pain? It can help
you do the things you enjoy again. Physical therapy can help reduce your pain and
stiffness and:
-
Make it easier to move your joint
-
Teach you to stretch and improve your joint flexibility
-
Show you exercises that can strengthen your muscles
Back to top of page
Making changes to your lifestyle
Along with your other treatments, making some changes to your lifestyle can help.
Your doctor may suggest that you:
-
Try aerobic exercises, like walking or swimming
-
Lose weight if you need to
-
Strengthen muscles near the joint
Making changes to your lifestyle can be an adjustment. And it takes commitment.
But it can feel good to know you’re doing something to help take control of
your condition.
Back to top of page
Next: DEPO-MEDROL