Do You Have Joint Pain? Here's what you should do.

There are many types of joints in our body. Presence of joints helps us in the movement of our body parts.

Joint pain has become a common problem in the elderly these days. Joint pain is the pain that occurs between the joints of your bones. Usually, the most common site of joint pain in elderly is knees.

According to a study conducted by the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), approximately 54 million people suffer from arthritis in the US. Arthritis is a condition in which a person experiences immense pain in the joints.

However, you can also develop joint pain as a result of injury to the joints.

In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about pain in joints, its causes, treatment and prevention.

What causes Joint pain ?

The leading cause of joint pain in the elderly is their growing age. Therefore, the problem of joint pain is common in people above 50 years of age. Yet, some people develop joint pain due to injury or damage to the joints.

If your age is 50 or more, the presence of little or no cartilage in the knees is the most common cause of knee joint pain. You can also have joint pain in the other joints of your body, though. From the joints of shoulders to the joints of feet, you can experience joint pain in any joint of your body.

Some of the conditions that lead to joint pain are osteoarthritis (arthritis in bones), gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and pain caused by an injury. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are two different common types of arthritis.

When should you see a doctor?

Usually, people experience joint pain with growing age. It is sometimes considered normal. However, if you experience sudden or worsening symptoms, you will have to consult a doctor and get medical help!

You should consult a doctor if the pain appears suddenly and stays for more than a week. Moreover, if you have swelling around your joints, you should not ignore it. It might get worse with time. Another serious symptom of joint pain is the dislocation of the joint. If you feel that your joint is slightly dislocated from its original position, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Generally, your doctor will perform an X-ray to diagnose the cause of joint pain. Alternatively, he may take your blood sample for a blood test to know if you have any autoimmune diseases.

Treatment

As most people develop joint pain with growing age, there are many over-the-counter topical medicines available in the market. They are effective in reducing pain and swelling.

Home treatment also includes doing physical activity to reduce inflammation and pain.

Medically, your doctor will first need to isolate the accumulated liquid in your joints to test it. Medical treatment commonly involves giving pain relievers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Other prescription drugs will be prescribed by your doctor according to your condition.

How to prevent joint pain from getting worse?

You can prevent joint pain from getting worse by doing light exercise and physical activity. Although it is advised to do physical activity, you should not do anything that escalates the pain in your joints.

You can also use ice compress to reduce swelling around the affected joint. Alternatively, you can use a heating pad and provide heat to the affected area.

If the joint pain persists, you should rush to your doctor immediately and get yourself examined.