What is Joint Pain?
Joints are structures surrounded by cartilage, connective tissue, tendons, and muscles that allow bones in the body to move smoothly. Any injury, strain, or damage to these structures can cause inflammation, leading to joint pain.
Although people often think joint pain means pain in the bones themselves, the actual source of pain is usually the soft tissues between and around the bones.
The most common cause of joint pain is osteoarthritis, also known as joint degeneration. Osteoarthritis usually occurs in older age and involves a decrease in joint fluid and/or weakening of the cartilage tissue.
What Are the Causes of Joint Pain?
There are many causes of joint pain. Some of the main ones are:
- Fibromyalgia
- Osteoporosis (bone loss)
- Inflammation in the joints
- Bursa and tendon inflammation
- Gout
- Avascular necrosis
- Sprains and injuries in the joints
- Fractures and dislocations
- Rheumatoid arthritis, SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus) and other rheumatological diseases
- Bone and joint infections
- Neuromuscular diseases
- Bone tumors or metastases
What Symptoms May Accompany Joint Pain?
The severity and character of the pain can vary from person to person.
- Swelling and stiffness in the joints
- Enlargement and deformation of the joint
- Restricted or impaired movement
- Crunching or cracking sounds during joint movement
- Redness and increased warmth around the joint
- Joint locking (complete inability to move)
These are some of the various symptoms that may occur.
How is Joint Pain Diagnosed?
Usually, the main reason a person visits a doctor is the pain itself. A detailed medical history and a thorough physical examination are done to determine the exact cause of the complaints. Signs such as restricted movement, swelling, or redness in the painful area should be carefully observed.
Joint pain is not always caused by musculoskeletal problems alone; it can also be a symptom of systemic diseases. Therefore, when necessary, detailed laboratory tests (blood, urine, etc.) and radiological imaging (MRI, CT scans, etc.) should be performed to reach a diagnosis.
What Are the Treatment Methods for Joint Pain?
The goal of joint pain treatment is mainly to relieve the patient and help maintain their daily life activities. Thus, the treatment plan should be adapted according to the patient’s lifestyle.
The treatment depends on the underlying disease causing the pain. For rheumatic diseases, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and spa treatments are often used. In cases of joint infections, fractures, or dislocations, treatments such as splints, casts, or braces are prioritized.
Overweight patients should be encouraged to lose excess weight, which will reduce the load on knee, hip, back, and foot joints.
Medications may be given orally or topically as needed, according to the doctor’s recommendation.
Physical therapy and rehabilitation may include superficial heat or cold applications, massage, deep heat therapy, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, TENS, traction, and therapeutic exercise programs.
Beneficial exercises will not only help with weight loss but also protect joint surfaces. Muscle strengthening with weight exercises 3-4 times per week is recommended.
If pain cannot be controlled by these methods, joint injections might be necessary. Although injections are administered directly into the joint, they should not be repeated more than 2-3 times per year.
Spa treatments and hydrotherapy are other possible options.
How Can We Prevent Joint Pain?
One of the most important factors is correcting posture.
- Try to maintain an upright posture. Proper posture protects the neck, back, hips, and knee joints.
- Workbench or table height should be adjusted to avoid bending forward.
- Sitting on low chairs and standing up from them puts extra stress on the knees and hips; higher chairs are preferable.
- When lifting weights, hold the weight close to the body, and avoid twisting motions of the waist.
- When picking something up from the ground, bend the knees rather than the back.