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Joint Pain Introduction
Joint pain, also known as arthralgia, is mainly a symptom, not a disease, since the cause of the pain is a disease. It is a reasonably frequent symptom, which makes the day-to-day life of many people difficult. Discomfort in the knees, shoulders, elbows, ankles, wrists, etc., appear as punctures, sharp pain and other manifestations, affecting the quality of life of those who suffer from them.
Disorders that Commonly Cause Joint Pain Include
- fibromyalgia
- Arthritis
- infectious arthritis
- idiopathic arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Lupus
- ankylosing spondylitis
- Becht’s disease
- Gout
- osteoarthritis
- Psoriasis arthritis
Prognosis Of The Disease
Joint pain varies depending on its cause. Initially, the sooner the pathology causing arthralgia is identified, the easier it is to treat both the pain and the underlying pathology causing it.
Joint Pain Symptoms
It affects different body areas, such as the knees, fingers and toes, wrists, shoulders. The pain is usually link to stiffness, pain when touched and even inflammation.
Joint pain can be accompany by inflammation of one or more joints and also, occurs in different ways. A good example would be osteoarthritis, in which the cartilage of the joint – the tissue that protects the joint – deteriorates. The regenerative capacity of cartilage is limited, so there is a progressive loss of cartilage over time.
Once without cartilage, the bones rub against each other, causing pain, inflammation and even bony protrusions in the joint, which causes stiffness and difficulty when moving.
it can come on suddenly or develop gradually and also, get worse over time.
Some Common Symptoms Of Joint Pain Are:
- burning sensation
- itching
- Numbness
- Pain
- redness
- Swelling
- Difficulty performing the movement
- reduced mobility
- Rigidity
- tingling
In turn, the patient suffering from it should go to the specialist immediately in the event of suffering any of the following symptoms, since it will be a serious condition:
- bleeding
- bone protruding from the skin
- Fever not associated with influenza
- Severe pain
- Development of joint deformity
Tests For Joint Pain
If the patient presents fever, sore throat, fatigue or extreme tiredness, malaise, inflammation. The patient will have to go to an appropriate health center to help alleviate the above symptoms.
The state of health of the affected person will be assessed with a complete physical examination.
Some tests that may be Performed are:
- Synovial fluid analysis
- Blood test
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and also, C-REACTIVE protein levels
- x-rays
- skin biopsies
- Urine analysis
- CT or MRI
- echocardiograms
Causes Of Joint Pain
In maximum cases, the cause of the pain is arthritis, whether it is joint, chronic arthritis, or acute arthritis. However, it can be related to different diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, bursitis, chondromalacia patella, injuries, infections, osteoarthritis, osteomyelitis, tendonitis, or even sprains.
Can Joint Pain Be Prevented?
The most pleasing way to avoid it is by regularly practicing physical exercise, favoring joint mobility while strengthening the muscles.
In turn, maintaining a balanced diet with a correct calcium intake will strengthen the bones. On the other hand, it is advisable to avoid excessive consumption of alcohol or tobacco.
Treatments For Joint Pain
All though, treatment treats the disorder causing the pain. For example, a patient with lupus needs a drug that suppresses the immune system, while an STD joint infection may need antibiotics.
As a general rule, the symptoms can be alleviated before knowing the definitive diagnosis, for example, with anti-inflammatories.
The most common treatment includes:
- All though, steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- corticosteroid injections
- Antibiotics and surgical drainage in case of infection
- Physiotherapy
All though, sometimes immobilizing the joint with a splint or sling can relieve pain. The application of heat and cold also serve to help the pain caused by inflammation.
What Specialist Treats Pain?
The specialists in charge of treating [joint pain] are Rheumatology and also, the Pain Unit. However, sometimes it can also be treated by a specialist in Internal Medicine and Physical Rehabilitators.
Also Read: What Is Physical Rehabilitation? – Introduction, Types, And More
