What Causes Joint Pain?
Joint pain can be caused by a number of factors, such as; natural aging of the joints, prolonged consumption of the wrong food, lack of exercise and lack of vitamins in your body.
While joint pain is a major symptom in case of arthritis, non-arthritic joint pain is also a possibility. If you are experiencing symptoms such as joint stiffness, joint pain or physical joints changes then you may need to consult your physician.
Joint pain can affect any part of your body, from your ankles to your shoulders. Knee pain is the most common source of pain, followed by hip and shoulder pain.
See images here of the damage joint conditions can cause.
Joint Pain Relief Methods
Joint pain sufferers have a number of different pain treatment options to help relieve the tenderness and stiffness of your joint pain. Relieving pain from joints can be achieved by using either natural or drug-based solutions.
Relieving Common Joint Pain
A number of natural joint pain relief methods are available today. For example; the use of heat and cold treatments has long been a well-known natural treatment for arthritis pain.
If you have mild pain without significant swelling, an over-the-counter or prescription anti-inflammatory drug such as aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen can work well. Be careful when taking acetaminophen, because high doses may cause liver damage, if combined with alcohol.
Capsaicin is a substance found in chili peppers and has been found to relieve joint pain from arthritis and other conditions. Capsaicin blocks “Substance P,” which helps your nervous system transmit pain signals. Capsaicin also triggers the release of chemicals in the body called endorphins, which block pain. Side effects of capsaicin cream include a mild to moderate sting in the area where applied.
Other topical options are creams containing the ingredient, methyl salicylate (Ben Gay cream for example).
Joint Pain Relief using Stronger Drugs
Drugs are often prescribed simply to cope with joint pain but do not offer a cure. Surgery is an option for extremely severe joint pain. Drug companies have created several powerful synthetic chemicals that block key enzymes in the inflammatory cycle.
If your pain is severe, your doctor may prescribe a stronger opioid medication. Because opioid drugs can cause drowsiness, you should only use them with care.
Drugs that may help relieve pain include:
- antidepressants and antiepileptic drugs (these work by interfering with your pain signals)
- Muscle relaxants (may be used together with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug to increase the effect)
Your doctor can also inject a steroid medication (which may be combined with a local anesthetic) directly into the joint every three months or so, which can help relieve inflammation.
Other injection options for pain relief, are:
- Removing fluid from a joint (relieves pain temporarily – fluid does build up again)
- Injections of hyaluronan, a synthetic version of the natural joint fluid
Alternative Joint Pain Relief Treatments
Research indicates certain glucosamine and chondroitin supplements help with joint pain. They also improve joint function. These substances are components of normal cartilage, which help cushion bones and protect your joints. Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements are commonly available in many forms.
Although these supplements don’t work for every single person, they can be worth trying, because they don’t have significant side effects and are inexpensive.
Joint Pain Relief and Diet
Arthritis cannot be cured by diet, but some conditions may be helped by dietary changes. Fish oils may help osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Bananas are considered healthy for the joints as they provide strength and lubrication for joints.
Non-Arthritic Joint Pain
Joint pain is also referred to as Arthralgia. Joint pain is commonly found in those 45 years of age and older. Most commonly rest, exercise, massage, stretching and warm baths can effectively treat non-arthritic joint pain.
Joints and other organs may be affected by non-arthritic joint pain.
Arthritic Joint Pain
Arthritis is technically any type of joint inflammation, but is usually used to refer to chronic inflammation of the joints. Arthritis is classified as one of the rheumatic diseases. These are conditions that are different individual illnesses, with differing features, treatments, complications, and prognosis.
Arthritis can leave people in severe pain, leading to disability and chronic suffering for years.
Arthritis literally means “joint inflammation” and can affect joints in any part of the body. A joint is where two or more bones come together such as the knee, shoulder or wrist. Arthritis, which is defined as joint pain, seems to just get worse as time goes on.
There are several different types of arthritis, the most common of which is osteoarthritis. The Arthritis Foundation estimates that almost every person over the age of 60 years probably has Osteoarthritis (degenerative Arthritis) to some degree, but fewer than half have it severe enough to notice any symptoms.
Arthritis is not only the leading cause of joint pain today, but also the leading cause of disability in persons over the age of 55. The disease also affects many of today’s younger generation as well.
There are many types of arthritis (over 100 and growing). Arthritis can be brought on by any number of things including overuse of the joint, sports, injury, and degeneration of the joints through time.
Joint pain is Prevalent in all forms of arthritis. Every type of arthritis can vary by degree of seriousness, pain, degree and duration of joint pain. Arthritis symptoms include joint pain, inflammation and limited movement of joints. When a joint is inflamed it may be swollen, tender, warm to the touch or red. Arthritis diagnosis, treatment, and disease characteristics are different in children and adults. Some children recover completely; others remain affected throughout their lives.
Consulting Your Doctor
Arthritis symptoms may not be obvious to you as a patient, so answers you provide to your doctor can lead to a proper diagnosis.
