Joint Pain
A joint is where two or more bones come together, like the knee, hip, elbow or shoulder. Joints can be damaged by many types of injuries or diseases. Arthritis or simply years of use may cause a joint to wear away. This can cause pain, stiffness and swelling. Over time, a swollen joint can become severely damaged.
Treatment of joint problems depends on the cause. If you have a sports injury, treatment often begins with the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) method to relieve pain, reduce swelling and speed healing. Other possible treatments include pain relievers, keeping the injured area from moving, rehabilitation, and sometimes surgery. For arthritis, injuries, or other diseases, you may need joint replacement surgery to remove the damaged joint and put in a new one.
Considerations
Joint pain can affect one or more joints.
Joint pain can be caused by many types of injuries or conditions. No matter what causes it, joint pain can be very bothersome.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that causes stiffness and pain in the joints. Osteoarthritis involves growth of bone spurs and degeneration of cartilage at a joint. It is very common in adults older than 45 and can cause joint pain.
Joint pain may also be caused by bursitis (inflammation of the bursae). The bursae are fluid-filled sacs that cushion and pad bony prominences, allowing muscles and tendons to move freely over the bone.
Causes
- Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
- Bursitis
- Chondromalacia patellae
- Gout (especially found in the big toe)
- Infectious diseases, including
- Epstein-Barr viral syndrome
- Hepatitis
- Influenza
- Lyme disease
- Measles (rubeola)
- Mumps
- Parvovirus
- Rheumatic fever
- Rubella (German measles)
- Varicella (chickenpox)
- Injury, including fracture
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteomyelitis
- Septic arthritis
- Tendinitis
- Unusual exertion or overuse, including strains or sprains
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