The Four Reasons You Have Joint Pain and Where to Find Relief

 Joints are what connect your bones to one another. They are crucial to your body's functionality by allowing your bones to move freely. The main joints include the shoulders, hips, elbows, and knees. Many people suffer from joint pain, which can have a tremendous effect on their ability to perform daily activities.

Causes Explained
Joint pain refers to any discomfort, aches, or soreness and can occur due to a variety of reasons. The primary four include:

1. Arthritis
There are two types of arthritis:osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Approximately one-third of adults have osteoarthritis, a condition that occurs when cartilage, the protective tissue at the ends of bones, deteriorates over time due to repetitive movement. This type usually occurs in the knees, hips, fingers, hands, and spine. Rheumatoid arthritis more commonly affects women and is caused by chronic inflammation affecting the joints, especially those of the hands and feet.

2. Diseases
A variety of sicknesses can cause joint discomfort such as mumps, influenza, and hepatitis. Diseases include gout, hyperthyroidism, and lupus. Some medications for these conditions can also produce joint pain as a side effect. in the knees.

3. Overuse Injuries
It's good to stay active, but don't overdo it. Overuse injuries develop over time and are caused by the repeated use and/or strain of a part of the body. Exercise strengthens muscles, tendons, bones, and ligaments through remodeling, which refers to the breakdown and growth of new tissue. However, when the fabric is broken down faster than it can repair itself, the potential for injury increases. Improper technique during strength training or sports participation, and favoring injured parts of the body can also lead to overuse injuries. Our Overtime Injury Clinic was designed with these types of injuries in mind.

4. Change in Barometric Pressure
Believe it or not, the weather can impact our bodies. Remember how your grandma always said she could "feel" a storm coming? Well, there's some scientific truth to the so-called myth. Pain can arise as barometric pressure (the weight of the air), drops. This drop often happens before a severe storm. The lower air pressure means there is less of a push against the body, which allows the tissues within to expand and increases stress on the joints.

Visit a Doctor if Problems Persist

You should see a doctor if you are unsure of the cause of your joint pain, or if you're experiencing symptoms such as redness, swelling, tenderness, or the area surrounding the joint is warm.

Treatment options vary and depend on the determined cause of pain. Sometimes your doctor will perform a procedure in which they draw out fluid from the joint, decreasing the pressure and alleviating the pain. Other times they will recommend specific lifestyle changes or prescribe certain types of medication. In more severe cases, your doctor might recommend joint-replacement surgery. Learn more about pain management.

Are you experiencing joint pain? We understand how much of a nuisance it can be, and we want to provide relief. Make an appointment today by calling 309-663-6461 or contact us online.