What is Joint pain?
Joints are the point at which two bones touch each other on your body. Joints play a vital role in moving skeleton bones.
Joint pain usually occurs in the hand, foot, hip, knees or spine. Joint pain may sometimes last for long or may be intermittent at times.
Furthermore, the joint could be stiff in the morning but get looser and feel better when you do stretching or exercise. However, an excessive stretching could deteriorate the pain.
Causes of Joint Pain
Arthritis
The swelling and pain of one or more joints are symptoms of arthritis. Joint stiffness and pain are the primary signs of arthritis; these symptoms often worsen with age.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Pain, swelling and deformity can all be symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Joint erosion and degradation occur due to fluid accumulation and inflammation of the tissue that lines your joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can harm more than just your joints.
Bursitis
Bursitis is a painful ailment that impacts the bursae, which are tiny sacs filled with fluid. It helps to cushion the tendons, bones and muscles close to your joints. Bursitis most frequently occurs in the shoulder, elbow and hip.
Viral infections
The swelling and irritation of a joint brought on by viral infection are known as viral arthritis. The bones, muscles, cartilage and ligaments that make up joints are intricate systems that serve to support weight and move the body through space.
Injuries
Any injury that occurs around the joints can cause persistent joint pain. A common kind of arthritis called osteoarthritis develops due to this injury. Sometimes, severe injury may lead to joint tear and damage to the cartilage.
Symptoms of Joint pain
Swelling
Pain or stiffness are frequently brought on by joint swelling. Swelling of the joint after an injury may indicate that you have a shattered bone or a muscle, tendon or ligament rupture.
Other than that, numerous varieties of arthritis can all result in swelling, redness or warmth near the joint. Swelling and knee discomfort are the symptoms of joint infection.
Stiff or enlarged joint
A chronic ailment like osteoarthritis begins due to stiff or enlarged joints. This enlarged point may result in conditions like fibromyalgia and an infectious illness like the flu or the mumps, which may be indicated by sudden, widespread joint pain.
Numbness
Numbness is caused due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) tingling in the hands and feet. Joint inflammation causes these signs and symptoms, which might impede nerves and cause numbness.
Noisy joints
Any popping sounds in the joint could be caused due to motion of the body, which is usually okay. Crepitus (noisy joint) is most frequently felt in the knees and other joints, such as the neck, shoulder or elbow.
Difficulty bending
Patellar tendonitis may cause knee pain at the front of the joint. Difficulty bending can be seen during squatting, kneeling or bending the knee. Usually, the more a knee bends, the more pain it causes.
Loss of motion
Arthritis-related stiffness, discomfort and swelling can significantly restrict the range of motion in joints. Avoiding exercise due to pain or discomfort can result in substantial muscle loss and uncontrollable weight gain.
A red, swollen joint
Warm joints are frequently unpleasant due to swelling and redness. This symptom and others can signify several illnesses, such as arthritis and injury.
Treatments for Joint pain
Simple home treatments
You can do the following home treatments for joint pain.
1. Turmeric
Turmeric has fantastic health advantages as it contains anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. It contains curcumin, a substance with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
To get rid of joint pain, boil a cup of water with a half teaspoon of ground ginger and turmeric for 10 minutes. Drink this 'twice' daily after flavouring with honey.
2. Tulsi
Tulsi, or holy basil, has miraculous results for rheumatoid arthritis. It possesses antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effects. It also acts effectively in reducing joint and arthritis-related pain. Drink tulsi tea three to four times daily to relieve knee pain.
3. Cayenne pepper
Cayenne pepper has a unique ingredient called capsaicin, which has anti-inflammatory properties. It briefly depletes a brain molecule that activates pain receptors and reroutes nerves to block joint discomfort. For immediate relief, apply the paste in the painful area.
4. Heat and cold compression
Compression with either heat or cold reduces inflammation. Heat reduces stiffness by relaxing muscles and enhances lubrication. Use a heating pad for the best effects if your knee becomes irritated.
You can apply an ice cube to the injured area by wrapping it in a cloth.
5. Epsom salts
Epsom salt has anti-inflammatory properties that help to lessen joint discomfort and swelling. Epsom salts contain both magnesium and sulphate, which are potent painkillers. You can take a 30-minute bath with a handful of epsom salt mixed to the water.
Exercise
People with arthritis or severe joint pain need to exercise. It improves stamina and flexibility of the joint and reduces pain.
Weight loss
Sudden weight loss and persistent body fatigue may sometimes result in knee swelling and joint pain. However, people with hypermobility will feel more joint discomfort due to weight loss.
Topical treatments
The following are some of the widely suggested medications for topical treatments.
Counterirritants - Counterirritants are substances like menthol, methyl salicylate and camphor that produce a burning or cooling feeling that diverts your attention away from the pain.
Salicylates - Some creams which contain aspirin may help to relieve pain. This reduces pain when absorbed into the skin, especially in joints near the skin, including the fingers, knees and elbows.
Lidocaine - This drug reduces pain. It can be applied as a gel or a patch to the sore spot. If you take medications for your heart or liver issues, speak to your doctor before taking this medicine.
Capsaicin - One of the best substances for topical pain treatment is capsaicin. Both joint pain and diabetic nerve pain can benefit from this medicine.
Dietary supplements
Some people use vitamins to treat arthritis-related joint discomfort. Among them are green tea, glucosamine, chondroitin, omega-3 fatty acids and others.
Glucosamine - Glucosamine may have an anti-inflammatory impact and aids in maintaining the condition of joint cartilage. As people age, their natural glucosamine levels decrease.
Chondroitin - When treating osteoarthritis, chondroitin is frequently used with glucosamine. This medicine decreases pain and improves joint mobility.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Fish oil and other meals that contain omega-3 fatty acids stimulate the body to create substances that reduce inflammation. This supplement might help ease rheumatoid arthritis patients and relieve their pain.
Green tea- Strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substances in green tea may help treat joint pain.
Risk factors of joint pain
The following are the risk factors for joint pain.
Obesity
Risk factors like arthritis, tendinitis and bursitis are a few of the issues that are caused due to obesity. Staying fit and maintaining a proper BMI is the best way to eliminate joint pain.
Family history
You may be more prone to developing arthritis in the future if your parents or siblings have had this condition before. Changes in the collagen-producing genes frequently bring on hereditary types of osteoarthritis.
Genetics
Genes that increase a person's chance of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been the subject of numerous genetic research. Other than that, environmental factors like age, gender and smoking affect the body's development of strength and stamina.
Prevention of Joint pain
The following are the ways to prevent joint pain.
Healthy weight
Adults with arthritis who are of a healthy weight can reduce pain and enhance function.
The cartilage that covers the ends of your bones and joints is under increased stress when you gain weight. This causes difficulty bending.
Control your blood sugar
Numerous factors, including joint or nerve damage, can contribute to joint discomfort in people with diabetes. Diabetes increases your risk of developing several bone and joint diseases.
Exercise
Walking, biking and swimming are low-impact aerobic exercises that are easy on your joints. It is said that 150 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity may help you stay away from joint pain for a very long time.
Stretch
Stretching is essential for preventing and reducing arthritis pain. Regular stretching can make you feel better in various ways, regardless of whether you have creaky knees, a sore back, stiff hips or several problematic joints.
Quit smoking
Smoking may make joint and stomach pain worse. Smoking may generally make people more sensitive to pain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 18% of Americans who smoke may suffer from joint pain.
When to see a doctor?
If you suffer any of the following symptoms, as mentioned in the blog, consult your physician or an orthopaedic expert for immediate treatment.
Conclusion
Joint discomfort frequently results from injury caused by ordinary wear and tear. You should consult a physician if you experience any inexplicable joint discomfort, especially if it persists after a few days. This discomfort may be effectively treated with early discovery and diagnosis of joint pain.
FAQs
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How to keep your joints healthy?
2. Build muscle strength
3. Strengthen your core
4. Prevent exercise-related injury
5. Lose extra weight
