Joints are where two bones in your body meet. Such areas can be seen in plenty in a lot of places in the human body. They include your feet, ankles, hips, arms, neck, and so on. There are a lot of soft and cushioning tissues in these regions in order to protect the joints and prevent any possible damage to the bones, muscles, and other body parts involved with the joint. Here, in this article, we will let you know more about one of the most common issues that always happen with joints, which are swelling and pain. The major causes of this issue as well as the popular treatment methods for the same will be discussed in this article.
Causes of Joint Pain and Swelling
- Osteoarthritis
This is one of the most common causes of joint pain, found especially in aged individuals. Over the passing of time, the cartilage tissue found in the joints may wear away and thus lose its quality. It may even disappear in some cases and create more friction between the bones that were meeting in the joints. When the individual makes body movements using that particular joint, the bones will rub against each other without the cushioning or lubricating agent, the cartilage tissue, that was once used to be there. This may lead to swelling of the region and eventually pain.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
This type of arthritis may also damage your joints seriously. This condition is caused due to certain disorders in the immune system of your own body. The immune system of your body attacks the healthy cells lining your joints. Thus a kind of inflammation can be found developing near the joint. This happens in the form of fluid build-up surrounding the joint and you may experience severe pain, especially during the time of movement. These issues may also partially or completely damage the cartilage, tendons, and ligaments of the joint.
- Gout
Gout is a condition when your body produces uric acid in excess and this gets stored in the joints of the body. Once the uric acid reaches the joints, it gets stored in the form of uric acid crystals. Gradually, these crystals may cause serious inflammation and serious pain in individuals. Apart from that, in most cases, this issue can be higher in intensity and stay for a longer period of time, even if you take treatment. Gout can also be considered a failure with the excretion system of the body, on account of its inability to excrete uric acid properly.
- Psoriatic Arthritis
Just like rheumatoid arthritis, this is also a cause of joint health issues, stimulated by an autoimmune issue. It may appear in individuals with skin conditions such as psoriasis which is why it is known as psoriatic arthritis. When there is a disorder with your immune system, it starts to attack the tissues and organs near the joint and causes severe inflammation there. As a part of the inflammation, it may also cause unbearable pain when the patient tries to make movements. Another interesting statistical fact about psoriatic arthritis is that almost 30% of people with psoriasis also suffer from the issue of psoriatic arthritis
Care and Treatment
What Is The Treatment For Joint Pain?
- Exercise
Exercise is an excellent treatment for your joint pain and swelling. However, the intensity of the workout matters. While low-impact workouts and stretches are considered the best for joint-related issues, it is also important to stay away from high-intensity workouts since they may cause adverse results.
- Weight Loss
In some cases, the overweight of the patients might be the reason behind the pain in the joints and the swelling. This may help reduce the strain on the joints. However, it is important to follow a healthy weight loss journey that is slow and steady not unhealthy and claims to bring the result overnight.
- Topical Treatments
These are gels, ointments, and scrubs that are made to relieve the pain and swelling of the joints. However, these may only give you temporary relief. You may apply these on the aching joints. There are several ones that can be bought over the counter, and some may need prescriptions.
Takeaway
These are the major causes and treatments adopted when you have joint swelling and pain caused by it. It is also important to have sufficient rest during this period to ensure the best recovery. Apart from that, make sure you are not getting involved in any kind of weight-lifting activities to prevent swelling and pain from getting more intense.
