Joints result from joining the two bones in different parts of the body and appear as hip, knee, shoulder, elbow, and ankle. It causes the part of the body or the whole body to move and perform different actions. But joint pain can hamper the movement of the bones by causing difficulties like:
- Inflammation
- Swelling
- Discomfort
- Loss of flexibility
- Pain
Joint pain may not be the same with every patient. It can differ from mild to severe cases followed by different causes. The causes can make you choose the appropriate measures.
Let's identify such causes before proceeding with understanding the treatment measures.
Causes of Joint Pain and its Types
1. Injury : It can be sports injury or can be the result of any accident. It leads to further pain, stiffness, and fracture. dislocation due to wrong movement and over-exercise. It can be when the ligaments tear up and make the person suffer severely from inside.
2. Arthritis Pain : Loss of the cartilage becomes active with the increasing age and lack of proper nutrients like vitamin D and calcium or anything suitable for bones.
Majorly, There are Two Types of Arthritis:
- Osteoarthritis: It is the outer covering of the cartilage that wears down with the increasing age and lifestyle disorders.
- Rheumotoid arthritis : Rheumatoid arthritis is another life threatening condition in which the person goes through immunity disorder. It is the immune system attacking the healthy cells of the body.
- Arthritis in hand : It is when the cartilage wears down and exposes the bones of the hand to each other. Exposed bones come in contact with each other and suffer from erosion. It is most probably noticed in the elderly people and someone who is not taking a diet rich in calcium, vitamin D, magnesium and potassium.
- Knee Arthritis : People often experience arthritis in the area of knees due to deter generation of synovial membrane. This membrane or liquid causes lubrication of cartilage. But the increasing age and lack of nutrition weakens the synovial membrane and that's how it damages the cartilage. As a result, bones lose flexibility and rub against each other and become stiff and make the person suffer from immobility.
- Autoimmunne disorders: There are many autoimmune problems arising in joints that may look similar to rheumatoid arthritis or may imitate it, yet these such disorders are different. Lupus, Systemic scleroderma and Polymyalgia rheumatica are such instances.
Lupus
It is a form of inflammatory arthritis that can affect small joints of the hands and feet.
- Similarity between Lupus and Rheumatoid arthritis : Just as in rheumatoid arthritis, patients are reported to be suffering from fatigue, fever and weakness.
- Difference with rheumatoid arthritis : Unlike the case of rheumatoid arthritis, patients often go through discomforting conditions like digestive problems and neurological disorders. Difficulty in breathing , hair loss and skin rashes might be noticed.
Systemic scleroderma
Person suffers from this disease owing to thickening and hardening of the cartilage, tissues and tendons which support the joints. It is another form of autoimmune disorder.
- Familiarity with Rheumatoid arthritis : It is also an autoimmune disorder. Swelling occurring in wrist, finger and feet and other joints.
- Difference with Rheumatoid arthritis : Hardening of the skin and that makes the patient go through discomforting situations like breathing disorder and digestion issues.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica
It is another form of autoimmune disorderly condition found with elderly people above the age of 60. It is characterized by hardening of muscles followed by pain and swelling.
- Similarity with rheumatoid arthritis: Hardening of the connective tissue affecting the right and left shoulders. This problem is noticed in the early morning hours. In this condition, patients have influenza and lose weight.
- Comparison with Rheumatoid arthritis: Polymyalgia is actually about the muscle pain experienced in different locations and affecting neck, hips and shoulders first.
Cancer cells in the bones :
It becomes very hard to manage the pain turning from bad to worse and that is due to inflammation and swelling of the bone cells. It can prove to be fatal if it spreads across other parts of the body and is not diagnosed early.
The causes lead to various categories of inflammatory, painful, dislocated, and stiff joints.
Types of Joint Pain
1. Frozen shoulder:
- It is known as shoulder arthritis, in other words.
- It is the capsule holding the bones in the shoulder getting swollen and does cause pain and inflammation.
- It results from the injury in the shoulder, surgery, and keeping the particular area without any movement for an extended period.
- There may be chances of causing pain in the other shoulder if one side is affected.
2. Wrist pain:
One can suffer from this form of joint pain in the area of the wrist due to the following:
- Constant stress
- Cartilage decomposition in the wrist.
- Inflammatory pain in the thumb, index, and middle fingers.
3. Sacroiliac joint pain:
Inflammation and pain can arise in this particular joint and go on for three months and more than this. These joints are the meeting point of the lower spine and pelvis. The stiffness and pain can spread to the lower hip and affect any of the legs.
4. Hip joint pain:
It occurs due to the breakdown of cartilage. And as a result, one suffers from inflammatory and stiff hip joints. It does not let the person bend or move the body. And that makes the person suffer from physical discomfort from mild to severe conditions.
5. Knee Joint Pain:
Joint pain in the knees can really be painful and that can surface in swollen form. It is a common problem that several people faces belonging to different ages and due to different factors like:
Lack of lubrication in the cartilage.
- Lack of nutrients like calcium and vitamin D.
- Tension in muscles and swollen tendons.
- Injuries and infections.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Joint Pain
Whatever may be the reason of joint pain or its type, it can be found with following diagnosis steps:
- X Rays: It is with the help of radiation, the black and white image will help locate the type of joint pain and its causes.
- Blood tests : With the help of blood tests, it will be difficult to determine the type of joint pain. But the sedimentation test as a part of blood test may be required for determining the level of inflammation.
Synovial fluid analysis : Level of synovial fluid can be checked to determine the cause and type of joint pain.
Treatment steps are :
1. Using braces and splints:
With the help of braces in knees and hands, you can combat the symptoms of arthritis or any type of joint pain. The braces will bring relief from unbearable pain, swelling and inflammation and boost mobility.
Splints are also useful in case of the patients suffering from rheumotoid arthritis. You will be protected from any form of complications arising from Joint pain that may be:
- Physical deformity
- Pain
- Swelling
- And instead will boost flexibility
2. Over the counter painkillers :
It is recommended to use the painkillers with doctor’s advice. Otherwise, you may suffer from side effects like nausea, indigestion, headache, etc.
Painkillers will help you to overcome the pain, inflammation and swelling. It helps in stopping the joint pain triggering stimulants.
3. Surgery method :
It will depend on the diagnosis of the doctor to choose the type of surgery. It may be either joint replacement or extraction of inflammatory synovial fluid from the joints.
4. Applying ice packs or the hot water bag:
For the cold treatment, you must use anything frozen and cover it in the towel and apply it in the affected water to reduce swelling, pain and inflammation.
In the winter season, if you are undergoing joint pain issues then you must use a hot water bag for shoulder, knee or hip area or in any part of the body. Any form of discomforting issue will disappear and you will definitely feel better within a few days.
5. Ayurvedic massage oil :
There are a number of options in this ancient form of treatment. However, Ortho Veda oil has proven to be the best ayurvedic massage oil for all types of joint pain. It is because of:
- Combination of 54 natural herbs. Mahanarayana, aiulan and karpoor are the major ones.
- Helps in reducing the vata dosha.
- Rejuvenating and enhancing the synovial liquid.
- Causing lubrication in the joints and increasing flexibility and mobility.
- Not causing any side effects.
Available on SKinRange platform at discounted price.
6. Diet and exercise :
Plant based products or fruits , vegetables and wholegrains show good results in recovering from different joint pain types. One must not forget to use turmeric in his or her food chart. It helps in reducing pain, swelling and inflammation. It is also needed to stay hydrated throughout the day with water and different fruit juice extracts to recover from the toxins triggering painful joints.
Depending on the condition of your joint pain, you can select and plan the exercise schedule. Practicing light exercises like walking, climbing up and down the stairs or any water activity will boost blood circulation and bring relief from pain or any form of discomfort.
It entirely depends on your decision to choose the treatment method. However, it is better to get in touch with the doctor to find ways to deal with short term or repetitive pain in the joints.
F.A.Q.
Q1. What vitamins help joint pain?
Ans: Vitamin B3, B9 and B12 has proven to be successful in healing arthritis problems and boosting flexibility and movement.
Vitamin E triggers growth of cartilage cells and it is helpful in controlling inflammation, swelling and pain rising due to osteoarthritis.
Q2. What deficiency causes joint pain?
Ans: In order to maintain healthy joints throughout life, one must have vitamin D, A, C , E, zinc, selenium and flavanols.
Q3. How can I fix joint pain?
Ans: It is always better to consult a doctor for recovering from joint pain. Depending on the diagnosis, you will be given a specific treatment. However, it is always better to focus on a natural diet rich in fruits, vegetables, ghee, fish, eggs and wholegrains and light to medium level of exercises. You must also choose well researched and validated ayurvedic oil and apply it to combat the physical pain and inflammation and mental trauma as well.
Q4. What are the first signs of arthritis in your hands?
Ans: Signs of arthritis noticed in the hands are pain, inflammation, swelling and immobility.
Q5. How do I stop arthritis in my hands?
Keep the habit of stretching your fingers, using splints or braces and applying massage witn any ayurvedic oil rich in Mahanarayana and karpoor.
