Why joints hurt and what to do about it

What are joints

A joint is where two bones meet. It is the joints that provide the mobility of the bones relative to each other: thanks to them, you can bend your leg at the knee, the arm at the elbow, and do thousands of other complex movements.

The conventional average joint is arranged as follows.

A sac (cavity) with synovial fluid, located between the bones, reduces shock loads and provides smooth sliding during joint work. Articular cartilage additionally protects bones, for example, if the shock load is too great or the shock-absorbing synovial fluid for some reason is insufficient.

Actually, in the state of synovial fluid and cartilage most often liesHow Arthritis Causes Joint Pain the main cause of arthralgia (common name for joint pain).

For example, in some diseases, the body begins to produce less joint fluid. Or its composition changes, due to which the shock-absorbing properties deteriorate. Or bacteria, viruses, toxins enter the liquid, which in turn cause inflammation and swelling of the joint capsule (bursa). And already the joint capsule, surrounded by blood and nerve endings, tells the brain: "Oh, it hurts."

Cartilage wear can also lead to bursitis - inflammation of the bursa. When the cartilage wears down, the bones begin to contact directly, and this friction can be painful. Difficulties in the work of the joint force the bursa to be in constant tension, and this is the right way to the onset of the inflammatory process.

However, there are other ways to earn inflammation of the joint capsule.

Why joints hurt

Joint pain is very common: in one national study, about a third of American adults reportedJoint painwho have experienced pain at least once in the past 30 days. There may be many reasons for this. Let's name the most common ones. Important Note: Each of the conditions listed below does not necessarily affect all joints in the body. As a rule, one or more are affected.

1. Age

Over the years, articular cartilage wears out. Someone is slower, someone is faster - the speed of the process depends on many factors, including heredity, weight and the degree of physical exertion on the joints.

This degeneration of cartilage is called osteoarthritis. According to some reportsTips to Ease the Common Pains of Aging, every third person over the age of 60 faces this problem.

2. Arthritis

Arthritis is a generic name for a myriad of diseases that cause joint inflammation. For example, popular (if I may say so) rheumatoid arthritis - a disease in which the immune system malfunctions and begins to attack the cells of its own body, concentrating on the joints.

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are usuallyStiff Joints: Why They Hurt and How to Treat Them between the ages of 30 and 60, and women suffer more often than men. The disease makes itself felt not only by pain, but also by increasing deformation, curvature of the joints. This usually happensRheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Diagnosis in the first two years of illness.

3. Lupus

If we talk about autoimmune diseases, then popular thanks to Dr. House lupus not to get around. With it, the immune system attacks a variety of organs and tissues: the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, skin, blood cells... And joints as well. Chronic inflammation of the joint capsules reverberates with equally chronic pain.

4. Gout

When gout painful sensations are caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints (most often one - the big toe). Sharp crystal “needles” irritate the joint capsule - and hello, pain, edema, chronic inflammation.

5. Infectious diseases

For example, the flu. The virus actively spreads through the body, penetrates into the synovial fluid and causes inflammation of the joint capsule. This is how joint aches appear - one of the most striking flu symptoms.

However, other viral and bacterial infections can also lead to joint aches.

6. Lyme disease

She is tick-borne borreliosis. This is a classic example of a bacterial infection. Bacteria - Borrelia - enter the human body from the salivary glands of an infected tick that has burrowed into the skin and cause inflammation of the joints. At first, it manifests itself as pain and swelling, and in the future it can develop into arthritis and generally lead to limited mobility.

7. Repetitive exercise under stress

They can lead tooBursitis to bursitis - inflammation of the joint capsule. Often, baseball players, long distance runners, or people suffer from this type of joint pain. who have to spend a lot of time crawling on their knees: tilers, carpeting, washers floors.

8. Other diseases

Joint pain can also accompany the following conditions:

• hypothyroidism is a disease thyroid gland, in which she produces an insufficient amount of hormones;
• bone infections;
• neurological disorders;
• fibromyalgiaFibromyalgia - a disease of unknown origin, which is accompanied by musculoskeletal pain;
• rickets;
• leukemia;
• sarcoidosis;
• bone cancer.

What to do if joints hurt

First you need to figure out the reason. Since they can be very diverse, it is best to do this with your doctor. Start with a therapist: he will conduct an examination, offer you the necessary tests or procedures, including X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound. And if necessary, the doctor will refer you to a specialized specialist: surgeon, rheumatologist, immunologist, infectious disease specialist, endocrinologist.

If it turns out that the pain in the joints is associated with any disease, it will be necessary to start treating it. When you defeat or take control of the underlying disease, joint discomfort will disappear by itself.

Be sure to contact us as soon as possibleStiff Joints: When to see a doctor see a doctor if:

• joint pain lasts five days or longer;
• severe pain seriously hinders movement and does not allow normal sleep;
• you see swelling around the affected joint;
• the joint is red and feels hot to the touch;
• the joint does not work - you cannot bend your leg, arm, move your finger.

If there are no dangerous symptoms, you can try to deal with the pain with home remedies.Joint Pain: Causes and Pain Relief Options:

• Make a cold compress. For 15–20 minutes, place a heating pad with cold water or an ice pack wrapped in a thin cloth over the joint. Repeat several times a day as needed. This procedure will help relieve swelling and ease movement in the joint. Also, the cold reduces the sensitivity of pain receptors, so you get a slight pain relieving effect.
• Use an elastic bandage. Wrapped around the joint, it can also help relieve swelling.
• If possible, lift the joint above the level of the heart and lie in this state for 20-30 minutes.
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever and anti-inflammatory drug such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.