What Is Joint Pain?

Fast Facts On Joint Pain:

• • Age Group: While joint pain affects all ages, arthritis (the primary cause of joint pain) is more prevalent among adults ages 60 and older 
  • Gender: While both men and women may experience joint pain, arthritis (the primary cause of joint pain) is more prevalent among women 
  • Cause: Arthritis; injury 
  • Primary Symptoms: Pain, stiffness, reduced movement
  • Prognosis: Acute cases resolve within a few weeks, but joint pain caused by arthritis is long-term and incurable 

  The Role of Joints in the Body

  Joints connect the bones in your body and allow them to move freely. They play an essential role in support, shock absorption, flexibility and movement, which means that damage or injury to a joint can cause significant pain and loss of movement.

  Joint pain is pain that affects any of the structures that make up a joint: 

  • Ligaments
  • Tendons
  • Bone
  • Cartilage
  • Joint fluid
  • Joint lining (the synovial membrane)

  Pain may be caused by a traumatic injury or damage from wear and tear over time. Acute joint pain is more likely to result from a traumatic injury and resolve within a few days to a few weeks. Chronic joint pain is more likely to originate from gradual damage over time due to wear, tear and age. 

  Causes

  Joint pain may be caused by injury or damage to the joint itself or the surrounding muscles, ligaments and tendons. Common causes of joint pain include:

  • Natural degeneration of the joint with age
  • Arthritis
  • Osteoarthritis (OA)
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
  • Gout
  • Ankylosing spondylitis.
  • Traumatic injury from a sports injury, fall or car crash
  • Overuse or repetitive movement injury
  • Injury to the surrounding muscles, ligaments or tendons
  • Bursitis
  • Tendinitis 
  • Rotator cuff injury
  • Sprains and strains
  • Dislocation
  • Bone and joint infections, like osteomyelitis or septic arthritis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Paget’s disease of bone

  Signs and Symptoms

  Symptoms of joint pain may be mild or debilitating. Depending on the underlying cause of your pain, symptoms may affect one or several joints. See a doctor if you experience the following joint symptoms:

  • Pain or tenderness
  • Stiffness
  • Redness, warmth or swelling
  • Reduced movement or range of motion
  • Noises during movement (called crepitus)
  • Locking during movement

  Sometimes, joint pain is a sign of a serious medical condition or infection that needs immediate treatment. Seek emergency care if you experience severe pain, swelling, inability to move a joint, deformity at a joint or fever.

  Diagnosis

  To diagnose joint pain, your doctor will ask you about your medical history, recent injuries or accidents, and symptom expression. He or she will perform a physical exam to check for inflammation and evaluate joint mobility and range of motion.

  To determine the underlying cause of pain, your doctor will likely order the following:

  • X-rays and other imaging studies to look for arthritic changes around the affected joint(s)
  • Blood tests to look for inflammation levels and autoimmune disorder markers
  • A joint aspiration procedure (arthrocentesis) to examine joint fluid for signs of gout, arthritis or infection  

  Treatment Options

  Acute joint pain usually resolves in a few days to weeks with conservative treatments. Joint pain caused by a medical condition like arthritis isn’t curable, but symptoms and flare-ups can be managed with treatment.

  Home Care

  Home care involves modifying or limiting activities that aggravate pain and resting when necessary. Hot and cold compresses may help soothe pain. Braces, wraps and compression sleeves can help stabilize a painful joint. Be mindful of using braces and wraps for a long period — immobilization may cause a joint to stiffen. Use assistive devices like canes and walkers to take pressure off painful weight-bearing joints like the hips and knees. Home care measures help reduce pain and other symptoms, but they can’t treat the cause of joint pain or stop the progression of damage.

  Medications

  For mild to moderate discomfort, over-the-counter painkillers can help ease pain. If joint pain is accompanied by inflammation, over-the-counter NSAIDs can reduce both pain and inflammation. In cases of significant pain, your doctor may prescribe stronger pain medications or a short-term round of oral steroids. The possible downside is that medications help reduce or mask symptoms, but don’t treat the underlying cause of pain. 

  Topical Treatments

  Topical creams with the ingredients menthol, methyl salicylate and capsaicin can help relieve joint pain. Topical NSAIDs are also effective pain-relieving creams. The possible downside is that topical creams help reduce or mask symptoms, but don’t treat the underlying cause of pain. 

  Injections

  A cortisone injection into the joint can help reduce pain and inflammation in the affected area. Cortisone shots provide temporary relief and you’ll be limited to how many you can receive in a year. Another option is injections of synthetic hyaluronic acid, a fluid that joints produce naturally. Hyaluronic acid can help lubricate the joint to reduce pain, irritation and friction.

• The possible downside is that injections are short-term stopgaps that only temporarily relieve pain and inflammation, but don’t treat the underlying cause of joint pain. Additionally, long-term use of corticosteroids can have dangerous side effects. 

  Joint Aspiration

  Joint aspiration involves removing excess fluid from the joint, which can help relieve a buildup of pressure and pain. The possible downside is that aspiration is a short-term stopgap that only temporarily relieves pain and inflammation, but doesn’t treat the underlying cause of joint pain.

  Physical Therapy

  Physical therapy exercises can help improve joint flexibility and mobility, as well as strengthen the surrounding muscles. A physical therapist can help you work on proper posture and body positions to reduce pressure on your joints.

  Surgery

  If conservative treatments aren’t effective, or if you’re in significant pain that’s affecting your quality of life, surgery is an option. There are multiple surgical procedures that range from partial joint removal and repair to total joint replacement. The type of surgery that’s best for you will depend on your age, desired activity level and the location of joint damage. Unfortunately, joint surgeries can include significant risks: some procedures are invasive, expensive and require several months of rehabilitation afterward to restore joint functionality.

  Prevention and Lifestyle Changes

  Joint pain can’t always be prevented, especially if it’s caused by a chronic condition like arthritis. However, there are steps you can take at home to keep your joints healthy and reduce your risk of injury.

  • Exercise and stretch. Regular exercise helps keep the joints and surrounding structures strong, healthy and flexible. Exercises that incorporate stretching — like yoga — can also help you improve strength, balance, functional mobility and flexibility. If you have a chronic condition that causes joint pain, there are several low-impact exercises that keep you active without placing undue pressure on the joints. Activities include walking, water aerobics and bicycling.
  • Lose excess weight. Excess body weight places excess stress on your joints and increases the risk of injury and damage over time. 
  • Eat a balanced diet. Eat a healthy diet filled with whole foods. Fruits, veggies, healthy grains and good fats have the vitamins, minerals and anti-inflammatory properties you need to nourish your body and keep it strong. Eating a balanced diet can also help you maintain a healthy weight.
  • Protect your joints. Make an effort to protect your joints as you move through the day. Practice good posture while you’re standing and sitting. If you have a physically demanding job, use proper bending and lifting techniques to lower your risk of injury. If you participate in a sport, hobby or profession that requires repetitive movements, take breaks often to stretch, flex and move the joints involved. Wear properly fitting shoes that have the right heel and arch support to take pressure off your back and hips while you walk.

  If you’ve been diagnosed with arthritis or joint damage and you suffer from pain, stiffness and difficulty walking, climbing stairs or performing daily activities, then the iO-Core™ procedure may be a viable treatment option for you. iO-Core™ combines orthopedics and biologics to treat degenerating cartilage and underlying bone and tissue damage caused by arthritis and other joint injuries. Treating the underlying damage and not just the surface layer of cartilage has shown better results in decreasing pain and improving mobility for many patients. Contact us today to see if you qualify for the iO-Core™ procedure.