Joint Pains
~Dr. Raghav Thukral
Overview
Joints are the parts of your body where your bones meet. Joints allow the bones of your skeleton to move.
Joints include:
Joint pain refers to discomfort, aches, and soreness in any of the body’s joints. Joint pain is a common complaint. It doesn’t typically require a hospital visit. Sometimes, joint pain is the result of an illness or injury. Arthritis is also a common cause of joint pain. However, it can also be due to other conditions or factors.
Overview
Arthritis
One of the most common causes of joint pain is arthritis. The two main forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
According to the India, OA is most common in adults over age 40. It progresses slowly and tends to affect commonly used joints like the:
- Wrists
- Hands
- Hips
- Knees
Joint pain due to OA results from a breakdown of the cartilage that serves as a cushion and shock absorber for the joints.
The second form of arthritis is RA. According to the Arthritis Foundation, RA affects about 1.5 million India. It more commonly affects women than men. It can deform and debilitate the joints over time. RA causes pain, inflammation, and fluid buildup in the joints as the body’s immune system attacks the membrane that lines the joints.
What are the symptoms of joint pain?
In some cases, your joint pain will require you to see a doctor. You should make an appointment if you don’t know the cause of your joint pain and are experiencing other unexplained symptoms.You should also see a doctor if:
- The area around the joint is swollen, red, tender, or warm to the touch
- The pain persists for three days or more
- You have a fever but no other signs of the flu
Go to the emergency room if any of the following occurs:
- You’ve experienced a serious injury.
- The joint appears deformed.
- Swelling of the joint occurs suddenly.
- The joint is completely immobile.
- You have severe joint pain.