Tag Archives: methods

Why Do My Joints Hurt? Causes Of Joint Ache

Whatever the cause of your uncomfortable joint ache, it’s undoubtedly worth giving several natural remedies a shot. These can embrace a combination of supplements, food regimen changes, exercises and salt baths to help naturally ease swelling and irritation. Hot and cold therapy is a simple and cost-effective treatment for arthritis hand pain. Heat therapy relaxes muscles and lubricates joints, while cold remedy helps scale back inflammation, swelling, and ache. Physiotherapy is highly efficient in treating joint pains as it allows localized remedy. This can increase mobility, scale back stiffness and improve the general health of motion in the joints.

Whether it’s a sharp twinge in your knee or a boring ache in your shoulder, continual joint discomfort can make even easy tasks seem overwhelming. There are sensible options to handle and alleviate your pain, serving to you reclaim mobility and comfort. Your major health care supplier or an orthopedic specialist can help you determine the purpose for your joint pain. They will focus on your symptoms and medical history and conduct a bodily examination.

This procedure fuses collectively severely damaged joints in the spine, ankle, wrist, or finger. The surgeon connects two or more bones with rods, pins, or plates. Over time, the bones fuse to carry the joint in place and make it more secure. Joint fusion surgical procedure is a final resort when different therapies haven’t helped as a end result of it could severely limit movement in the affected joint. The doctor can inject a steroid medication, typically mixed with an area anesthetic, instantly into the joint as soon as each 3 to four months.

To use ACV for hip pain, mix 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with a glass of warm water and drink it once a day. You can even soak a fabric in diluted ACV and apply it directly to the painful space for relief. Be sure to verify along with your physician before beginning any new natural remedy, particularly when you have underlying health situations. Add one to two cups of Epsom salts to a heat bathtub and soak for minutes.

A contrast shower (alternating between heat and chilly water each 2–3 minutes) is a sensible method to achieve this effect at home. Applying an ice pack or cold compress constricts blood vessels, minimizing blood flow to the realm and calming inflammation. Starting your day with a heat shower, for example, might help reduce morning stiffness, enabling you to maneuver more freely and with less pain. Dark chocolate is a basic favorite however large-scale random management research have not been done to suggest darkish chocolate candy in any quantity to ease inflammation.

For instant joint ache aid, rest the painful area and try a hot-and-cold strategy to managing ache. Apply a sizzling therapeutic gel pack to the affected space for twenty minutes. Immediately observe up with a cold ice pack for an additional twenty minutes. If you can’t stand the severity of ice, let it thaw out while you are applying heat.

“You can always enhance the flavour with an array of fruit, adding to the yogurt’s anti-inflammatory benefits! A healthy gut is of prime importance when it comes to managing irritation. According to Smith, frequently eating fermented meals — like yogurt — provides micro organism that help create a healthy intestine microbiome. The area of integrative and complementary medicine abounds with medical professionals who operate outside the realms of medication and surgery. Instead, they focus on healing methods that work hand-in-hand with typical drugs.

Arthritis occurs when your joints become inflamed or when the protective cartilage wears down, making it difficult, uncomfortable, and even painful to maneuver around. If sore, swollen, or painful joints are holding you back—and irritating you—there’s aid in sight. No harsh drugs, with their dangerous side effects, and no invasive procedures. Some infections and body-wide situations, corresponding to fibromyalgia or Lyme disease, additionally cause joint pain. Your doctor can look at you and do checks to search out out what’s causing your ache. Like PRP, this serum comes from your personal blood, which is concentrated to extend the amount of anti-inflammatory substances.

You could mix all six of those foods and make fairly a tasty meal for yourself! But for now, let’s break down each ingredient to learn the way it can help you handle your joint pain. But Smith is saying that a fastidiously curated diet is a vital — and often missed — piece within the complex puzzle that’s joint care. An consuming plan centered on inflammation discount can lessen ache in much the identical way over-the-counter NSAIDs do.

While there isn’t a remedy for arthritis, pure cures, similar to swimming, acupuncture, and massage, might help to relieve ache, stiffness, and swelling related to the situation. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a popular remedy for numerous well being circumstances, including joint pain. It incorporates acetic acid, which is believed to assist reduce inflammation and promote detoxing. It’s important to consult with a healthcare provider or physical therapist before starting any new train routine to make sure you’re doing them accurately and safely.

Aim for 2–3 servings of fatty fish per week or consider a fish oil complement (1,000–2,000 mg daily) after consulting a healthcare provider. Load up on colorful fruit and veggies like berries, spinach, and bell peppers, which are wealthy in antioxidants and phytonutrients that combat irritation. Turmeric, ginger, and garlic are additionally powerful additions, with research suggesting their lively compounds (curcumin, gingerol, and allicin) reduce ache and swelling. Joint and muscle pain typically stem from irritation, a pure response to damage or stress that can turn out to be persistent if left unchecked. While medicine provides reduction, addressing the foundation trigger through hydration and diet can provide long-term benefits. Dehydration thickens synovial fluid, the lubricant in joints, resulting in stiffness and discomfort.

Stronger muscle tissue across the knee, such as the quadriceps and hamstrings, assist take up shock and take pressure off the joint. For some individuals this will increase the circulation across the joints, assuaging ache from stiffness. For long-time arthritis victims this can be an efficient form of reduction, but when you have an injured joint, somewhat than a chronic situation this treatment may not be helpful.

A 5 pound (lb) discount in physique weight can scale back the stress on a person’s joints by about 20 lb. This may end in vital pain reduction and help to protect the remaining joint cartilage. According to CreakyJoints, home cures and life-style modifications can help deal with arthritis signs. You can both visit a professional therapeutic massage therapist or try self-massage methods at home.

Also, omega-3 fatty acids help to increase the production of anti-inflammatory compounds, similar to eicosanoids. Turmeric is a superb DIY joint ache treatment because it contains a compound known as curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. If you need to strive a collagen supplement for joint pain, I believe Vital Protein Collagen Peptides is the most fitted choice as a outcome of it combines collagen and hyaluronic acid. In many cases, consulting a bodily therapist or certified skilled is essential for creating a personalized train plan. Joint infections, similar to septic arthritis, occur when bacteria, viruses, or fungi invade the joint space.

If you’re exploring all your therapy choices for knee ache, our highly skilled physicians and surgeons at The Orthopedic Clinic are here to assist you reside an energetic life. Incorporating stretching and suppleness workout routines into your day by day routine is another effective way to relieve knee ache. Stretching helps keep joint mobility, prevents stiffness, and can relieve ache caused by tight muscle tissue across the knee. One of the simplest and effective methods to alleviate knee pain is thru rest and ice remedy.

Refined carbohydrates and sugars, together with many processed foods, may increase inflammatory chemical substances and make your arthritis irritation worse. Corticosteroids are sturdy anti-inflammatory medicines which are just like cortisol, a hormone is made by the adrenal gland. Cortisol plays a big position in how the physique naturally manages inflammation. Corticosteroids are fast-acting and are typically prescribed for short-term relief until different drugs start to take effect. When your joints are in pain, it can be tempting to avoid movement.

If ache in your joints is stopping you from being lively, take steps to reduce inflammation. Adjust your food regimen to incorporate meals with anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants. You’ll also need to keep away from meals that make your irritation worse. Try pure treatments and workout routines to enhance your vary of movement whereas decreasing stiffness.

Strengthening your glutes, core, and hips while bettering mobility across the pelvis creates a steady basis for pain-free movement. Our favourite probiotic complement is Just Thrive Probiotic, an award-winning, high-quality spore probiotic supplement that’s assured to reach 100 percent alive in your intestine microbiome. Its 4 strains of beneficial micro organism support your digestive, immune, and general well being.

When choosing a pain aid treatment, think about the nature of your pain and any underlying well being conditions. NSAIDs are ideal for inflammatory pain but could not go properly with people with abdomen ulcers or hypertension. Acetaminophen is safer for the stomach but ineffective for inflammation. Topical treatments supply a middle ground, providing localized aid with fewer systemic risks.

Meal prepping ensures consistent access to anti-inflammatory options. For these with busy schedules, smoothies filled with spinach, berries, and chia seeds supply a quick, hydrating answer. Remember, consistency is crucial—small, daily modifications yield extra significant outcomes than sporadic efforts. All these factors not only improve joint well being but in addition significantly lower the possibilities of developing long-term cardiovascular issues. RA is a sort of inflammatory arthritis that happens when the immune system malfunctions, resulting in inflammation (swelling) of the joint linings.

To reap the advantages, the Arthritis Foundation recommends eating between three and six ounces of grains a day. You’ll get well being advantages irrespective of if you eat them frozen, fresh or dehydrated (without added sugar), so be certain to eat quite lots of berries all through the week. Each week, purpose for a hundred and fifty minutes of moderate-intensity cardio exercise, like brisk walking, or seventy five minutes of vigorous cardio activity, like jogging.

Osteoarthritis includes wear-and-tear injury to joint cartilage, affecting older adults primarily. Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition, targets joint linings, resulting in inflammation and potential joint deformity. Both sorts can impair mobility and high quality of life, though remedies such as medication, bodily remedy, and life-style changes can help you manage symptoms and improve joint function. Heat and cold therapy can present quick aid for arthritis pain. Heat remedy helps relax muscular tissues and stimulate blood circulation, making it easier to move stiff joints. You can apply a heat compress, or heating pad, or take a sizzling shower to soothe your joint pain.

how to reduce joint pain

Whitling advises speaking with a healthcare supplier earlier than taking any bottled treatments. The complement market is very unregulated, and the analysis on most of those merchandise is proscribed at best. And visiting a healthcare professional, like a major care physician or a ache administration specialist, to get expert advice on the cause of your ache and tips on how to best handle it is important. We talked with wellness and preventive medicine ache administration specialist Stephanie Whitling, PA, about choices for nonmedicinal pain relief.

Despite this warning, it’s not always easy to determine why you’re in pain and the means to fix it. If you’ve been experiencing joint ache, see your healthcare supplier. They’ll ask you lots of questions to try to determine what’s occurring. It might take a while and somewhat bit of trial and error, however ultimately, you should start to really feel some reduction and have the power to get again to the stuff you love. If you’re chubby, even modest weight reduction can scale back stress on your hips and provide vital pain aid. Combined with a balanced food plan and regular train, managing your weight can enhance your total joint well being.

Juniper berries are additionally an ingredient in lotions and salves for joint ache and relieving muscle rigidity. Orange peels and other citrus peels are particularly rich in pectin. A particularly effective approach to get a dose of pectin is eating candied orange peel, which is a delicious traditional food. Pectin contributes to joint smoothness, flexibility and lubrication by rebuilding the connective tissues within the joint.

This illness is a more extreme illness that can threaten the person’s life. Surgery could additionally be an option in case your joint pain is long-lasting and doesn’t reduce with drugs, bodily remedy or exercise. Alternating between heat and chilly may help you handle both stiffness and irritation, offering relief from continual ache. For warmth therapy, individuals ought to avoid applying hot water bottles on to the pores and skin or filling them with boiling water. They should also keep away from lying or sleeping on heat packs or heating pads, as these could cause burns.

Soaking in an Epsom salt tub is another efficient and stress-free treatment for hip ache. Epsom salts include magnesium, a mineral recognized for its muscle-relaxing properties. Soaking in heat water with Epsom salts might help reduce muscle pressure, relieve stiffness, and promote general leisure.

Get tips about exercise and different common concerns when dealing with arthritis signs and arthritis ache. You may already be taking medicines — both prescription or over-the-counter — to relieve stiffness, inflammation and pain in your joints. But long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAIDs) can harm your physique — especially your liver and kidneys. Also often identified as Frankincense, Bosweilla is a flowering plant native to Africa and Asia.

“That’s, in part, due to a compound in ginger known as gingerol.” The name sounds made up, however there’s nothing fake about gingerol’s influence. Clinical trials have proven that ginger is helpful for coping with a variety of inflammatory situations, from osteoarthritis to lupus. One packaged “natural remedy” that might present some pain relief, without the risk, is Epsom salt.

Injuries, such as broken bones or sprains, can also trigger joint pain. Incorporating gentle stretches or yoga practices into your day by day routine can help hold your joints flexible, lowering stiffness and improving range of movement over time. For example, the AF says docs may not suggest ginger and chamomile for these who take warfarin. This is as a result of they might interact with the medicine and enhance bleeding threat.

You might work by way of your joint flares by doing solely range-of-motion exercises. While drugs may help, it usually comes with unwanted effects or solely short-term relief. For many people, a daily curcumin complement of 200 mg to 1,000 mg is okay. However, check with your major well being supplier earlier than taking any complement to make sure it won’t work together along with your present drugs or put you at risk for other health situations.

If you’re within the Phursungi space and want guidance on your joint well being, Dr. Rajeev Gawhale at Bone Though cracking in a joint might sound scary, usually it’s nothing to worry about. The most typical trigger is gasoline releasing from the joint as you progress it. The sound could additionally result from ligaments and tendons transferring across each other.

A major compound in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) known as oleocanthal inhibits inflammatory enzymes COX-1 and COX-2, similar to Advil or aspirin does. The study showed that 1 ½ tablespoons is equal to 200-mg of ibuprofen. It can be taken internally to reap the benefits, but being high in calories contemplate changing any fats, such as butter, with it in cooking instead. It reduces inflammation, supports the immune system, and improves intestine well being.

Green tea is understood to be excessive in vitamins and antioxidants and has the power to cut back inflammation, says Dunn. Studies carried out on animals also found that it could assist scale back the incidence and severity of rheumatoid arthritis. OA can impact practically every facet of your life, making day by day duties like strolling up stairs and gripping objects painful. It can have an effect on your ability to work, manage household chores, get pleasure from hobbies, and get an excellent night’s sleep. Using knee braces or supports can be highly efficient in stabilizing the knee joint and relieving pain.

These activities improve flexibility, stability, and vary of movement, all of that are crucial for joint health. Some dietary supplements can work together with medications you could be taking. A supplier can let you know if the supplement shall be secure and efficient for you. Dietary supplements can be a useful addition to your OA management plan. Research findings on the effect of dietary supplements on OA are mixed, although some evidence suggests sure dietary supplements might help relieve frequent OA symptoms and help joint health. For knee ache caused by tight muscle tissue or overuse, common massage sessions can present long-term relief and help in overall knee perform.

Talk to your care supplier about making train part of your treatment. The best exercises depend on the sort of arthritis and which joints the arthritis is in. A member of your well being care team, similar to a bodily therapist, can work with you to search out the exercise plan that is greatest for you. This spice incorporates a chemical known as curcumin that can reduce joint pain and swelling by blocking inflammatory cytokines and enzymes. Clinical trials utilizing turmeric showed long-term enchancment in chronic inflammatory-related joint illness.

Talk to a healthcare supplier about which anti-inflammatory remedy is suitable for you. Poor posture can worsen joint pain and even create pointless pressure. Daily activities associated to many modern workplaces, particularly those that contain heavy lifting or extended sitting, require the best methods to avoid compounding joint discomfort.

Alongside train, a person can follow a balanced diet to realize and keep a healthy BMI as this can lower strain on the joints. Eight weeks of Swedish therapeutic massage confirmed significant improvement in signs. Pain and stiffness lessened, alongside an improvement in joint function. People with RA ought to converse with a healthcare professional about whether or not to follow yoga during a flare-up.

In a total joint replacement, your surgeon removes the entire broken joint and replaces it with transferring elements made from steel, plastic, and/or ceramics. This procedure presents long-term aid from joint pain and stiffness. Joint resurfacing removes and replaces solely part of the affected joint. The CDC doesn’t suggest opioid medicine for joint pain due to the potential for habit and abuse. Opioid medication also cause side effects corresponding to drowsiness and constipation. Non-opioid ache relievers such as NSAIDs, acetaminophen, anti-seizure medication, and antidepressants work better for joint pain.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to have potent anti-inflammatory properties. The Arthritis Foundation recommends a 3- to 6-ounce serving of fish two to four times a week. When you shop for yogurt, she recommends reviewing the vitamin information label on the container to make sure it contains stay and lively yogurt cultures. Plain and unsweetened yogurts are the healthiest option, however don’t fear about being bored.

Back pain is probably considered one of the primary causes middle-aged folks start to lose mobility. Pineapple accommodates bromelain which counters lactic acid build up within the body. As such, some sufferers eat pineapple after surgical procedure because it reduces ache and swelling.

In this case, utilizing residence cures to support your aching joints might ease the irritation sufficient to let you continue with the exercise. In the lengthy term, in case you have job duties you can’t avoid that trigger joint pain, it could be sensible to consider changing your career. People can alternate between cold and warm remedy to ease joint pain. If they do this, they want to depart a quantity of hours between each session. It is an inflammatory illness during which the immune system assaults healthy cells, leading to painful swelling in the joints. During an RA assault or flare-up, the joint becomes inflamed, resulting in tissue injury.

Strength training causes small tears in the muscle in addition to stressing the bone, forcing themselves to restore. Bone density reduces with age3, meaning that strength coaching and stretching are essential. If you make a couple of adjustments as instructed below, the ache you’re experiencing may be eased. We follow a strict editorial coverage, especially related to the sources we use. Our articles are resourced from reputable online pages, with analysis drawn from educational establishments and peer-reviewed studies.

how to reduce joint pain

This is where dietary supplements shine as a handy, sugar-free various. If you’re dealing with a medical emergency, call your native emergency providers instantly, or go to the nearest emergency room or urgent care middle. We’re unable to supply personal health recommendation, but we’ve partnered with JustAnswer who presents on-demand medical doctors to answer your medical questions 24/7. Talk online now with a well being care provider and get fast 1-on-1 answers from the consolation of your couch.

Moreover, small quantities of ginger might help settle an upset abdomen. These fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which studies have discovered can decrease irritation. According to the Arthritis Foundation, eating a 3 to 4 ounce serving of these fish two or extra times every week is beneficial for protecting the center and decreasing irritation.

The residence cures listed here can go a long way toward a whole remedy in your pain. If you can abstain from actions that increase the irritation as you utilize these treatments, you’ll have a much better probability of placing the pain behind you. Unfortunately, it may not be attainable to stop doing some actions, such as those related to your job.

Heat increases blood circulate by dilating blood vessels, delivering oxygen and vitamins to the affected area, which helps scale back stiffness and improves your vary of motion. Repetitive actions, whether from physical exercise, occupation, or improper train strategies, can pressure joints and surrounding tissues. This is very common in athletes, whose high-impact activities frequently goal particular joints. By incorporating these DIY joint pain remedies into your every day routine, you can empower yourself to take management of your joint well being. Knee injections can offer vital aid for individuals dealing with chronic knee pain however are usually really helpful solely when different preliminary treatments have not helped relieve ache. Stretching day by day can help loosen tight muscular tissues, enhance flexibility, and scale back the risk of additional knee ache or harm.

Additionally, way of life changes, including ergonomic improvements and stress administration, play a crucial role in alleviating discomfort and stopping future issues. These DIY treatments embrace passive treatments, regular exercise, a nutritious diet, enough sleep, and stress administration techniques corresponding to meditation. Incorporating these DIY joint pain reduction remedies may help cut back joint ache and enhance your high quality of life. Pairing hydration with an anti-inflammatory food regimen amplifies its results. Start by incorporating omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish (salmon, mackerel), flaxseeds, and walnuts.

It’s necessary to diagnose the purpose for your ache rapidly and begin treatment to relieve pain and preserve healthy, functioning joints. At The Orthopedic Clinic, we imagine that effective orthopedic care goes past addressing the condition — it’s about caring for the entire particular person. We make it a precedence to study your individual life-style and health objectives before recommending a tailored therapy plan.

This could cause severe pain, swelling, and fever and requires quick medical attention. From quinoa to farro to bulgur, there’s loads of variety to select from and incorporate into your food plan. These varieties add additional vitamins and fiber that only entire grains can offer naturally.

Until you’re cleared by a healthcare provider, hold it easy and pain-free. It has been one of many more practical topical therapies for arthritis, and you could make your individual at home with humble cayenne. Keep in mind, nonetheless, that it is only a brief lived repair and ought to be used sparingly if possible. Understanding how to relieve knee ache begins with addressing the underlying cause and adopting a multi-faceted approach that features rest, train, and other therapeutic strategies. By following these methods, you can successfully manage knee pain and enjoy a extra lively life. Another small examine discovered that a mix of MSM-glucosamine-chondroitin improved joint health extra effectively than glucosamine and chondroitin alone.

Ice therapy, or cryotherapy, is particularly effective in the acute section of injury—the first forty eight hours. During this era, making use of ice for 15–20 minutes each 1–2 hours can considerably scale back inflammation and numb pain. Use a cold pack wrapped in a skinny material to avoid direct pores and skin contact, which may trigger frostbite. Ice works by constricting blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the affected space, and limiting swelling.

Swimming, bicycling, and tai chi are among the finest exercises as a result of they exercise your joints without putting too much stress on them. In some instances, dietary supplements can help scale back arthritis inflammation naturally. But some supplements can interfere with prescription drugs, so it’s essential to talk with a healthcare provider before you begin any complement routine. Joint ache is a typical downside that, unfortunately, becomes more doubtless as we age.

These various results could additionally be because of the quality and length of studies, not to a problem with acupuncture itself.Massage. Certain counseling techniques could assist ease nervousness, cut back emotional distress and enhance sleep, which may make residing with pain easier. This relaxed state of focused attention makes you extra open to recommendations. Like acupuncture, hypnotherapy can be used to deal with numerous conditions, however there might be much less high quality research to back it up. Many randomized controlled trials have proven main improvements in ache after about eight hypnosis classes.

Hot and cold remedy is a time-tested, first-line treatment for DIY joint pain relief, providing simple but effective ways to alleviate discomfort and improve mobility. Studies have discovered that yoga and tai chi can reduce pain and enhance quality of life for folks with continual joint situations. These practices additionally promote relaxation and scale back stress, which is important because stress could make ache feel worse. Strengthening the muscles across the knee may help cut back pain and stop further damage. Physical therapy focuses on focused exercises that improve joint operate, increase flexibility, and construct muscle strength.

If you take pleasure in dark chocolate, look at least 70% or larger cocoa content material (the greater the cocoa content material, the lower the quantity of sugar within the chocolate). Try them as facet dishes as a substitute of more widespread decisions, such as white rice, Dunn says. Some much less widespread whole grain choices embrace freekeh, a Middle Eastern cuisine staple, or teff, used to make Ethiopian flatbread.

However you employ it, its healing properties make turmeric top-of-the-line residence remedies for arthritis. While some research reveals that acupuncture can enhance arthritis signs, researchers don’t yet absolutely perceive the way it works. A 2018 evaluation found that acupuncture might present aid with none antagonistic effects in folks with RA.

While prolotherapy may provide short-term reduction from pain and stiffness, doctors don’t know its long-term results. This substance replaces the pure fluid that lubricates your joints. Hyaluronic acid injections ease ache and stiffness with fewer unwanted effects than corticosteroids. Some foods have anti-inflammatory properties that can improve your joint well being over time, whereas others may exacerbate irritation. Joint ache isn’t only a minor inconvenience—it can affect everything out of your daily routine to your total quality of life.

Stretching after a exercise allows for much less stiffness the day after you’ve skilled, providing you with extra range of motion. For occasion, gently massaging the neck or toes can alleviate discomfort caused by poor posture or persistent conditions. Self-massage involves applying strain to muscular tissues and gentle tissues to alleviate rigidity and ache.

This helps the joints recuperate sooner because the damage is managed. It also soothes the joint from irritation, aiding motion and limiting further harm. Heat packs might help relax muscular tissues and joints, enhance blood circulation and improve joint mobility. This can effectively treat the decrease again, wrist, and knee joints. It is said to lower joint pain and reduces inflammation in individuals with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Managing arthritis might help relieve your signs so you are able to do the activities which are important to you. It also can allow you to handle different persistent situations you may have, such as diabetes, heart disease, or obesity. These pure remedies primarily aim to minimize back inflammation, but you want to always consult your physician to examine for any potential points earlier than taking them. It can be a serious supply of emotional and social stress, and it typically results in lowered productivity and the necessity for extended sick go away. A diet rich in entire grains might help scale back C-reactive protein (a biomarker of inflammation).

Instead of including fluid to your joint, this treatment removes extra fluid to alleviate stress and swelling. The knee is the commonest website for aspiration, however docs use it for different joints, too. Then, your physician will study the joint to see if it hurts if you move or if you have a decreased vary of motion. You may have X-rays or different imaging tests similar to MRI or CT scans to search for harm in the bones and tissues of your joint.