Joint pain is a common problem that can affect your quality of life and limit your daily activities. In this article, you’ll learn what are the most common symptoms of joint pain, what can be causing the pain and how to deal with it. Read on to learn about effective treatments for joint pain and enjoy full health and exercise!
What is joint pain?
Joint pain is an ailment that affects an increasing number of people, both young and old. It is a feeling of discomfort and pain that occurs in the area of the joints. It may be accompanied by stiffness, swelling or limitation of mobility. Joint pain is a symptom of many diseases, including degenerative, autoimmune or infectious diseases.
Types of joint pain
There are different types of joint pain. These can be acute, stabbing, burning, throbbing or dull pains. Depending on the cause of the pain, it can occur in one joint or several joints at once. Joint pain can be caused by injury, illness or overwork. We can also divide them into 2 groups:
- inflammatory (joint swelling, warmth and redness)
- non-inflammatory (no swelling, redness of the joint and its warmth)
Joint pain – causes
The causes of joint pain are diverse. These can be rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or gout. Joint pain can also be associated with degenerative diseases such as arthrosis or osteoarthritis of the spine. Another cause of joint pain can be an infection, such as Lyme disease or Lyme disease. Risk factors for joint pain also include stress, diet and genetics.
Joint pain – symptoms
Symptoms of joint pain are primarily pain and stiffness in the joint area. This is often accompanied by swelling, redness or limitation of joint mobility. Symptoms of joint pain may worsen during movement, as well as at rest. It is often accompanied by other ailments, such as fatigue or fever.
Joint pain – treatment
Treatment of joint pain depends on the cause. In the case of rheumatic diseases, anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, disease-modifying drugs and biological therapy are used. In the case of degenerative diseases, analgesics and drugs affecting the regeneration of articular cartilage are used. There are also natural remedies for joint pain, such as diet, acupuncture, massages or exercise.
Natural remedies for joint pain – home remedies
In the case of joint pain, you can also try home remedies to relieve discomfort. Examples of such methods are salt baths with the addition of essential oils, warm compresses, stretching exercises, as well as avoiding provocative factors such as prolonged stay in one position or joint overload.
When to see a doctor?
In case of persistent joint pain, you should consult a doctor. The doctor will carry out the examination, order the necessary tests and decide on further treatment. An indication for an urgent visit to the doctor is sudden and severe pain, swelling of the joints, difficulty in movement or fever.
What tests should be done to determine the causes of joint pain?
It is the doctor, based on the information and symptoms collected from the patient during the examination of the joints, who is responsible for deciding what tests should be performed. In the diagnosis of rheumatological diseases, various laboratory tests are used, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP and morphology, and imaging tests, such as X-ray or ultrasound of the affected joint, depending on the needs. In some cases, other tests may be necessary, such as joint puncture, CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging.
