Joint pain is a common complaint that affects people of all ages. It is characterized by soreness, aching, stiffness, and swelling around a joint. Joints are places where two bones meet, like knees, hips, shoulders, and fingers. There are many causes of joint pain.
Some common causes include:
- Arthritis - This is inflammation of the joints. The two most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage covering the ends of bones wears down over time. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that causes joint inflammation.
- Injuries - Sprains, strains, fractures, and dislocations can all lead to joint pain. An injury may damage structures like ligaments, tendons, and bones around a joint.
- Bursitis - This is inflammation of the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that lies between bone and soft tissues like muscles, tendons, and skin to reduce friction. Common sites are the knees, hips, shoulders, and elbows.
- Tendinitis - This involves inflammation or irritation of a tendon, often from overuse or repetitive movements. Tendinitis frequently affects the shoulders, elbows, knees, and heels.
- Gout - This type of arthritis results from excess uric acid crystals building up in a joint, often the big toe. It causes episodes of severe joint pain and swelling.
- Infection - Joint infections are rare but can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi entering a joint. Symptoms include pain, swelling, redness, warmth, and fever.
Some other factors that can contribute to joint pain include excess weight, repetitive movements, aging, sedentary lifestyle, poor posture, and stress/anxiety. Joint pain can range from mild and occasional to severe and constant. It may affect one or multiple joints.
Treating joint pain depends on the underlying cause. Typical treatments include:
- Pain relievers like acetaminophen, NSAIDs, or heating pads to reduce discomfort
- Physical therapy to improve joint mobility and strengthen muscles for support
- Assistive devices like canes or braces to improve stability
- For severe cases, joint injections, surgery, or medications to slow joint damage
Lifestyle approaches like regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, using proper form/alignment, and avoiding activities that aggravate joint pain can also help manage symptoms.
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