When we talk about joint pain, we aren’t talking about one thing. Depending on the source and cause of the inflammation, discomfort, stiffness, and loss of strength and mobility associated with “joint pain,” we could be talking about ligament pain, cartilage pain, bone pain, tendon pain, or muscle pain.
All of these tissues come together in our joints, and when any one suffers from injury, overuse, or the effects of another underlying medical condition, we experience what we generally refer to as joint pain. But of all of those tissues, it is cartilage and the lack thereof which is the source of most joint pain, including that caused by osteoarthritis. Therefore, to understand joint pain is to understand cartilage.
Arthritic Conditions
Cartilage is what cushions our joints and allows them to move smoothly and easily. But as with so many parts of our body, cartilage naturally deteriorates as we age and doesn’t recover as quickly as it once did. When that cartilage disappears, the cushion that once kept your bones from rubbing together does as well. Once bone surfaces come in direct contact with each other, it leads to additional pain and inflammation to the surrounding tissues. This loss of cartilage is the primary reason people develop osteoarthritis and why the condition is more prevalent in older individuals.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is also a common source of joint pain. Unlike osteoarthritis, RA is an autoimmune condition that involves your immune system mistakenly attacking your own body\’s tissues, specifically the lining of the membranes that surround your joints. The resulting inflammation can ultimately destroy the cartilage and bone within the joint as well as weaken and stretch the tendons and ligaments that hold the joint together.
Other Causes of Joint Pain
Arthritic conditions aren’t the only reasons for joint pain. It can be a symptom of a whole range of medical issues, including:
- bursitis
- lupus
- gout
- some infectious diseases like mumps, influenza, and hepatitis
- tendinitis, or inflammation of the tendon
- an infection of the bone or joint
- overuse
- injury
- cancer
- fibromyalgia
- osteoporosis
- sarcoidosis
- rickets
Treatment Is Available For Joint Pain
If you are experiencing frequent or constant pain in your joints, you should schedule an appointment with a physician who can diagnose the nature and extent of your condition and put together a treatment plan for you. He or she may recommend several different treatment options depending on the cause, severity, or progression of your condition. These treatments can include:
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Steroid injections
- Physical or occupational therapy
- Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) therapy
- Surgery
Living With Joint Pain? You Don’t Have To. Schedule an Appointment at OrthoMiami Today.
At OrthoMiami, we understand the challenges and struggles that come with living with joint pains. We are committed to using the most advanced and effective methods to relieve pain, repair joints, and restore mobility to patients suffering from the condition. The OrthoMiami team always welcomes new patients and can generally schedule new patient appointments within a couple of days.
Please contact us today at (305) 596-2828 to schedule your appointment. We look forward to meeting you.
