Joint Pain

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Joint pain is also referred to as arthralgia and can affect one or more of the joints. Joints are responsible for facilitating movements in various parts of the body – and are therefore very sensitive to injury or excess physical pressure. Furthermore, an injured or swollen joint can cause much discomfort as we rely on our joints every day!

Most people have experienced joint pain at some point in their lives, some more severely than others. It can be very difficult and frustrating to cope with, especially when it hampers your ability to perform daily activities. Simple tasks like getting out of bed or brushing your hair can be exhausting and aggravate the pain even more. Depending on the cause of the symptoms of joint pain, you may experience it for a relatively short period of time or it may trouble you for the rest of your life.

There are many different causes of joint pain with broad categories including injury, disease, degeneration, fractures or stress from overuse. Causes of joint pain also include tendon or ligament tears, strains, sprains, pulls, cartilage damage, tumors or even steroid withdrawal.

One of the most common causes of joint pain is arthritis. The most common types of arthritis are:

Osteoarthritis (OA) - sometimes called degenerative arthritis because it is a "wearing out" condition involving the breakdown of cartilage in the joints. When cartilage wears away, the bones rub against each other, causing pain and stiffness. OA usually occurs in people aged 50 years and older, and frequently in individuals with a family history of osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) - produces chemical changes in the synovium that cause it to become thickened and inflamed. In turn, the synovial fluid destroys cartilage. The end result is cartilage loss, pain, and stiffness. RA affects women about 3 times more often than men, and may affect other organs of the body.

Post-traumatic Arthritis - may develop after an injury to the joint in which the bone and cartilage do not heal properly. The joint is no longer smooth, and these irregularities lead to more wear on the joint surfaces.

Avascular Necrosis - can result when bone is deprived of its normal blood supply. Without proper nutrition from the blood, the bone's structure weakens and may collapse and damage the cartilage. The condition often occurs after long-term treatment with cortisone or after organ transplantation. There are many possible causes of joint pain. The causes can be divided into categories:

Sources:
Discover Deaconess Health System: http://www.deaconess.com/body.cfm?id=2011
NativeRemedies.com: http://www.nativeremedies.com/ailment/natural-joint-pain-relief.html 

The symptoms of joint pain will vary according to the cause. Symptoms like pain, swelling, stiffness, and/or warmth in your joints suggest joint inflammation due to an injury of an underlying condition like OA or RA. These symptoms can also be due to an infection in the joint.

Affected joints may be red, swollen and painful to touch and joint mobility may be restricted. It may be difficult to pinpoint the actual source of pain – the joint itself, the tissues surrounding it or an affected ligament or tendon. When joint pain is severe or ongoing you may need to see a doctor to determine the exact cause and identify the most appropriate treatment.

Following the orthopedic evaluation, the orthopedic surgeon will suggest the following treatment options:

Medication - Many different medications are used to treat the pain and stiffness of arthritis. One of the most commonly prescribed types of drugs are the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, or NSAIDs, which can be taken long-term to reduce both the pain and swelling caused by arthritis.

Another type of medication prescribed to reduce severe pain and swelling are corticosteroids. Corticosteroid injections offer quick, effective pain relief. However, they can be used only a few times a year because they weaken bone and cartilage. Also, corticosteroids can cause other potentially serious side effects; their use must be monitored by a physician.

Physical Therapy can be helpful in the management of OA and RA. For example, a physical therapist may recommend:

Joint Fluid Supplements - For patients whose knee joint pain does not improve with medication or physical therapy, "joint grease" injections may provide temporary relief. The knee is injected with a joint fluid supplement that acts as a lubricant for the damaged joint. Joint injection schedules and duration of relief vary according to the treatment chosen and the individual patient. However, these injections do not cure the diseased knee, and joint replacement may be needed as the joint worsens with time.

Total Joint Replacement is a surgical procedure in which certain parts of an arthritic or damaged joint, such as a hip or knee joint, are removed and replaced with a plastic or metal device called a prosthesis. The prosthesis is designed to enable the artificial joint to move just like a normal, healthy joint. Total joint replacement is usually reserved for patients who have severe arthritic conditions. Most patients who have artificial hip or knee joints are over 55 years of age, but the operation is being performed in greater numbers on younger patients thanks to new advances in artificial joint technology.

Circumstances vary, but generally patients are considered for total joint replacement if:

Sources:
Discover Deaconess Health System: http://www.deaconess.com/body.cfm?id=2011
eMedicine.com: http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3562.htm