Joint pain can be caused by injury or disease affecting any of the ligaments, bursae (for example, bursitis), or tendons surrounding the joint.
Arthralgia can be aggravated by motion, pressure, or weight-bearing resistance with activity. Joint pain can be associated with signs and symptoms such as joint stiffness, local warmth, swelling, and tenderness.
If you have symptoms that persist after one week, they should be evaluated by a health care practitioner. Moreover, severe pain in the joint should be medically evaluated as soon as possible.
The health care professional will take a history of your symptoms leading up to and associated with your joint pain. What activities, if any, that you were doing when your joint pain symptoms began should be discussed. Aggravating and relieving conditions that affect the degree of your pain will also be important to discuss. After an examination, further testing might be necessary, including blood tests and X-rays or other imaging studies. Occasionally, MRI scanning is helpful if the problem requires further definition.
The treatment of joint pain is directed toward the precise underlying cause. If the problem is an injury, the initial treatment often includes
Additional medications for pain control may or may not be required. Gradual rehabilitation physical therapy may be needed.
If the cause of the joint pain is arthritis-related, anti-inflammatory medications may be recommended, followed by other medications directed at the cause of arthritis. If there is a disease of the bone, ligament, or cartilage, a surgical operation may be required.
Initial self-care for joint pain at home might include natural remedies like rest and cold application. People may take medication to control pain and inflammation. With chronic joint pain, a medical evaluation by a health care practitioner is warranted.
Medical treatment depends on the underlying cause of the joint pain as discussed above. Arthritis pain can require anti-inflammatory medication and a variety of other medications depending on the type of arthritis. Surgery can be required for cartilage or ligament damage.
Medications used to treat joint pain depend on the type of joint pain as described above.
After an initial evaluation and treatment plan, it is extremely important to have follow-up medical monitoring by your health care professional if requested. During these visits, the results of tests are reviewed and the effects of medications are monitored. Further testing may be indicated based on the symptoms present at the time of follow-up.
Whether or not joint pain is preventable depends on whether it is caused by injury or rheumatic disease. Injuries to joints can often be prevented by proper sports gear and training. Weight loss can help reduce stress on the joints. The disease generally is not avoidable, but once medical treatment programs have been initiated, they can be essential to preventing chronic pain in the joints.
The outlook for joint pain depends on the cause. The medical evaluation and guided treatment plan are the keys to an optimal outcome.
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Arthritis is a joint disorder featuring inflammation. A joint is an area of the body where two bones meet. A joint functions to allow movement of the body parts it connects. Arthritis literally means inflammation of one or more joints. Arthritis is frequently accompanied by joint pain. Joint pain is referred to as arthralgia.
