Joint Problems

Joint pain is a highly generic term and is caused due to pain in the area between two bones in various parts of the human body. It includes pain in shoulder, knee, ankle, hip and neck. Causes that Lead to joint pain commonly affects shoulders, ankles, and knee. The knee is the most commonly affected as it bears the weight of the body. Joint pains could be caused due to many medical conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. Recent injury to the joint area can be painful as the tissues lining the joints and tendons may be inflamed causing pain.

If the knee pain intensifies while ascending or descending stairs, then the kneecap is damaged, a condition called chondromalacia patellae. A torn ligament or a fracture can cause bleeding into the joints, a condition called haemarthrosis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of arthritis that causes pain and inflammation in the joints, usually the hands, feet, and wrists.

The symptoms could be acute that lasts for few weeks or chronic that lasts for several months. Typical symptoms of joint pain include redness in the joint, inflammation, warmth and tenderness in the joint, locking, weakness, stiffness and reduced range of motion in the joint and limping.

The conventional approach to these joint problems. Treatment mainly focuses on reducing pain and improving movement. Medication for arthritis includes pain relievers and anti-inflammatory tablets. For the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, corticosteroids or disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMRD’s) may be prescribed, which will suppress the immune system.

• For moderate to severe pain with inflammation in the joint, over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen can give relief.
• For milder pain without swelling, acetaminophen is effective.
• Other treatment options include injection of hyaluronan which is a synthetic version of natural joint fluid that can bring relief to osteoarthritis.
• For tendonitis, arthritis and joint disease, steroid injections are used along with removing fluid from the joint.
• Alternatively, topical agents like capsaicin may relieve pain from arthritis by triggering the release of endorphins that block the pain signals.
• For non-arthritis and acute joint pain, stretching exercises and rest along with warm baths and massage will bring relief to the pain.