Understanding the Causes of Joint Pain

There are a number of causes why individuals may suffer from joint pain.  For this reason getting a proper diagnosis can be difficult.  Joint pain can cause sufferers to lose sleep, have restricted range of motion and can affect the simplest task they do every day.

Joint pain can be caused from a broken bone, sprain, or some other injury.  It can also be caused by normal wear and tear, especially if it was over used.  Osteoarthritis, one of the many types of arthritis and one of the most common, can cause joint pain.  Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that causes damage to the cartilage and can cause the bones in the joint to form spurs.  Individuals suffering from osteoarthritis usually experience their joint pain first thing in the morning but the pain will subside as the day progresses.

Another form of arthritis known as rheumatoid arthritis can be the cause of your joint pain.  It also is one of the most common arthritis’ affecting individuals today.  Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder.  An autoimmune disorder means the body produces antibodies and attacks the good tissues in the joint.  Individuals suffering from rheumatoid arthritis can have joint pain anytime of day, more than one time per day, and the pain can be extreme.  In severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis debilitation and even death can occur.

Septic arthritis can cause joint pain by causing the joint to become inflamed.  This type of arthritis can be just in one place or can be carried to the joint through the blood from another infection.  The flu, measles, mumps, and rubella are some infections that can cause inflammation of the joint causing joint pain.  These infections can cause septic arthritis.

A metabolic disorder like gout can cause inflammation and joint pain.  Gout is caused by too much uric acid in the joint.  Gout can cause harmful materials to be deposited into the joint.  Gout signs are usually seen in the big toe.

Joint pain can be caused by a variety of conditions.  The symptoms of joint pain are swelling, redness, and stiffness.  It can also be treated, prevented, and even cured when properly diagnosed.  If you are experiencing joint pain that can’t be relieved by exercise, topical creams or other self help treatments, you should seek the medical advice of a health care professional.  A doctor may need to prescribe a muscle relaxer, narcotics, or refer you to a specialist in order to relieve your joint pain successfully.  Some tests such as a blood test and x-rays may be needed in order to provide a proper diagnosis.

Joint pain can be agonizing for sufferers.  It can affect one’s everyday routine by restricting their activities.  Getting treatment for your joint pain can be vital.  So if you are experiencing acute or chronic joint pain, seek medical advice.  Together you and your doctor can create a proper treatment plan to enable you to carry out those simple tasks with ease and comfort.