KNOW THE CAUSES OF YOUR JOINT PAIN AND ITS EFFECTS

 

                               Know about your Joint Pain

Do you know that the joints are important parts of the body that helps your limbs move. If one person experiences pain in the joints, which is called as arthralgia, it can be uncomfortable and affect their ability to perform any daily activities.                                                                                                                          

Let us know what exactly are JOINTS and some typical causes of Joint pain along with their symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

What is a joint?

A joint is  typically a point where bones make contact, connecting with the skeletal system. Most joints are mobile, which allows the body to make different types of movement.

Joints are of three types, namely: fibrous, cartilaginous, and synovial.

Fibrous joints are usually immovable. They include the cranium in the skull, the joints between the teeth and the sockets in the jaw, and the joints between the bones of the lower leg.

Cartilaginous joints are those where cartilage joins two bones. These joints are partially movable. One example is the joint between the right and left pubic bone.

Synovial joints are the joints that allow limbs to move freely. These joints have a cavity in them that contains synovial fluid. This fluid allows the bones that connect the joint to move around with ease. Some examples include the knee, elbow, hip, and shoulder.

Causes

Many conditions and factors can cause a person to experience joint pain. If a person has pain in multiple joints, it is known as polyarthralgia.  Usually, joint pain is the result of injury, infection, illness, or inflammation.

Let us go through some of the basic and common causes of joint pain:

Injury

Injury is a common cause of joint pain. Injuries can result from the excessive use or effort of the joints or from an impact that causes a fracture, sprain, or strain.

For example, a common knee injury is damage to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). People who play certain sports, such as soccer, basketball, or football, are more at risk of injuring their ACL.

Viral infection

Some infections may result in joint pain. For example, the hepatitis C virus (HCV) can cause complications that result in joint pain. It is common for people with HCV to have related rheumatic diseases, which can cause problems, including pain in the joints.

Disease

Some diseases can cause joint pain.  Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease, and common symptoms include muscle and joint pain. In fact, joint pain is the first symptom for more than half of those who develop lupus.

People develop lupus because their body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissue.

Arthritis

Arthritis and arthralgia are very similar but have key differences. Both describe joint pain, but arthralgia occurs without the distinct inflammation in the joint that characterizes arthritis. Nearly half of adults with arthritis report persistent joint pain.

There are more than 100 different kinds of arthritis, including:

• osteoarthritis (OA)
• rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• gout
• septic arthritis

The cause of arthritis varies among the different types.

OA results from cartilage loss in the joints. Calcification of the cartilage around the joints eventually makes the cartilage thinner before damaging it. Older adults are more likely to develop OA.

RA is an autoimmune response to a trigger. The body tries to fight off what it thinks is an invader but instead degrades the cartilage and bones in the joints.

Gout occurs due to the crystallization of uric acid in the body. Uric acid gets into the joint spaces, causing inflammation.

In most cases, septic arthritis results from a bacterial infection. Bacteria get into the synovial fluid in the joints, which eventually degrades the cartilage, leading to arthritis.

Symptoms

Other symptoms that commonly accompany joint pain include:

• joint tenderness
• joint stiffness
• joint swelling
• limited joint movement
• weakness in the joint, or the joint becoming unstable
• fatigue

Diagnosis

The initial diagnosis of joint pain will likely involve an evaluation by a doctor. They will usually look at the person’s medical history and carry out a physical examination.

The doctor may ask questions, such as whether the pain appeared after an injury or whether there is a family history of joint disease. As part of the physical exam, they will inspect the joints and check their range of motion.

A doctor may order laboratory tests to help make a diagnosis. These may include blood tests to check for the following:

• rheumatoid factor
• erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• uric acid
• C-reactive protein
• antinuclear antibodies

Imaging techniques such as X-ray and MRI, ultrasound, and CT scans may also help with the diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatment for joint pain will vary depending on the underlying cause.

Typically, a doctor may prescribe pain medication to relieve pain. For example, for arthritis, they may suggest nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).

If the joint pain is due to an infection, a doctor will prescribe antibiotics or antivirals to reduce and manage the symptoms.

If the pain is due to an injury or arthritis, a doctor may refer people to a physical therapist for rehabilitation. In more severe cases, or if the pain persists, a doctor may recommend undergoing surgery.

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