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If you have joint pain, you are not alone. Over 55 million people in the United States suffer from joint pain or osteoarthritis (OA). Joint pain may be challenging to live with, and there are many risk factors for common injuries that may lead to this type of pain and other issues like arthritis.

This article will cover the most common risks associated with joint pain and how these factors may increase your chances of developing chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis.

What Is Joint Pain?

Let us first address what joint pain is. In short, it is a common condition that involves discomfort or soreness in any of your body’s joints. The most commonly affected joints are the knees, hands, and hips.

People often think joint pain and arthritis mean the same thing, but they don’t. Arthritis refers to conditions that cause inflammation of one or more joints. However, there are many different types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear arthritis), rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disease), and psoriatic arthritis (associated with psoriasis).

Joint pain may occur due to an inflammatory condition such as arthritis; however, other causes do not involve inflammation.

Why Is It Important To Me?

Although joint pain is a common condition, it may affect your quality of life. For example:

• It isn’t easy to perform daily activities, such as walking or picking up objects from the floor.

• Chronic joint pain may increase your risk for depression and anxiety.

• Joint pain may result in impaired mobility and loss of independence.

• Severe cases of joint pain may require surgery or other medical treatments that carry their risks and complications.

Joint pain may also indicate more severe conditions, including arthritis, osteoarthritis, or gout. Identifying the underlying cause is essential to developing the right treatment plan for you.

What Are The Symptoms Of Joint Pain?

Symptoms of joint pain may vary from person to person. The most common include the following:

Pain And Tenderness

It is often the first symptom associated with joint pain. The affected joint may feel sore when applying light pressure or moving it in specific ways. You also might feel a sharp or burning pain, especially if you’re active. If the pain lasts for more than a week or two, talk with your doctor about treatment options.

Joint Swelling

Your joints might get more prominent if they are swollen because of inflammation. For example, your hands might look puffy and red if you have arthritis in this area due to inflammation.

Stiffness

Some types of arthritis might make it difficult for you to bend and move your joints. For example, rheumatoid arthritis often causes stiffness in the morning that lasts for 30 minutes or longer 10.

Redness And Warmth

A red, warm rash on one side of your body could mean that you might have an infection such as septic arthritis. It occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream and travel to an arthritic joint.

Loss Of Range Of Motion

You might experience a decreased range of motion if your joints become too stiff and inflamed to move easily. This may cause difficulty finding comfortable positions while sitting or standing at rest.

Should I Panic When I Have Joint Pain?

When’s the last time you felt joint pain? If it has been more than a week or you noticed any accompanying symptoms such as fever, redness, swelling, or warmth—see your doctor. It’s vital to remember that the way you feel today may not be how you feel tomorrow. One symptom may quickly go from seemingly benign to requiring immediate action.

For those with a history of joint pain, it’s even more critical for you to see a doctor immediately. Likewise, those with compromised immune systems should also pay attention to their joints. If any of these apply to you and you feel pain—see your doctor right away!

Joint pain symptoms should be treated as seriously as possible since they could indicate something far more dangerous than simply sore muscles or overworked bones. Remember, it is always imperative to consult a doctor expert in rheumatology if you have joint pain symptoms.

5 Risks Related To Joint Pain

Have you ever suffered from joint pain? It turns out your body is telling you something. Here are five risks associated with joint pain that might be linked to the problem.

1. Overweight Or Obesity

Having a higher body weight means that you have to work harder to get around and use your joints more often than someone who has a lower weight. This may put extra stress on the joints, leading to swelling, stiffness, and pain.

This is especially true for older adults with joint pain because age-related changes in your muscles, bones, and cartilage may increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis. OA is the most common form of arthritis in Canada, affecting about 1 in 10 Canadians. It causes pain, stiffness, and loss of joint movement over time.

With obesity, some areas of your body will carry more weight than others. For example, if you are overweight and take most of your weight on your hips or thighs, which stresses these areas.

2. Inactivity

Inactivity is another factor in developing joint pain. Exercise is essential in preventing and managing joint pain, so it’s imperative to stay active if you have arthritis or other conditions that affect your joints.

If you are inactive for long periods, your joints’ muscles become weak. That said, muscles provide less support for your joints, making them more prone to injury and pain. Moreover, weak muscles lead to poor posture and increase stress on certain joints like your lower back, neck, hip, and knee. Reduced range of motion also contributes to poor posture and increases pressure on painful areas of the body.

Physical activity may help maintain strong muscles that support the joint and prevent injuries by increasing flexibility and balance. Regular physical activity helps keep joint cartilage healthy by allowing synovial fluid (the viscous substance that nourishes the cartilage) to circulate through the area around your joint during movement.

If you have persistent or severe arthritis pain, consult your most trusted doctor about what types of activities are safe for you before starting any exercise program.

3. Genetics

Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to control your genetic risk factor. But it’s still essential that you know what they are and if they’re affecting your health. Suppose you have a family history of osteoarthritis, for example. In that case, you may be at a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis as well. 

Similarly, suppose one of your parents developed rheumatoid arthritis when they were young. In that case, you may be more likely to develop the condition yourself. Genetic factors may also affect the risk of developing different types of arthritis. For example, while genetics play a role in some people with lupus, other environmental factors may trigger the disease in others.

Therefore, talk to your doctor if you have a family history that increases your risk of arthritis or joint pain overall. They may be able to offer ways for you to manage your symptoms or prevent problems from developing later on in life.

4. Injury

Among the most common causes of joint pain is injury. Injuries may affect ligaments, tendons, or cartilage in the joint and lead to pain, swelling, and stiffness. With that said, your doctor may advise you to take an x-ray procedure to check your condition. Injuries that may lead to joint pain include:

Strains Or Sprains

Sprains result when ligaments (the tissue that connects two bones in a joint) are overstretched or torn. Commonly, they occur where ligaments cross over an outer bone (such as the ankle), and the tear might be partial or complete.

On the other hand, a joint strain is tearing ligaments and tendons, which connect muscles to bones. The knee and lower back are two of the most common locations for strains. Because the symptoms are very similar, the conditions are often confused.

Dislocations

When a dislocation happens, one bone in the joint moves out of place. This typically occurs when your joint is hit hard enough with sufficient force to knock it out of position. 

For example, both bones are forced apart at the knee joint in a knee dislocation. This causes severe damage to the supportive structures around the knee, including ligaments and tendons and articular cartilage on either end of each bone (end of femur/thigh bone and top of tibia/shinbone).

Fractures

A fracture may happen if you fall hard on your knee or land on your foot awkwardly. For example, any sudden impact may cause cracks (fractures) in bones around your joints. A doctor may recommend an immediate x-ray examination if this occurs.

5. Old Age

The older you are, the more likely you will experience joint pain.

Why? Well, with age comes wear and tear on your joints. As you get older, your bones naturally lose some of their density. This makes it harder for them to withstand stress from everyday activities. 

Moreover, the cartilage that cushions your joints also gets weaker and more brittle over time. That may cause your bones to rub together during movement—leading to pain and swelling in the affected area.

In addition, osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that causes bone spurs (extra bone) to form on the joints, leading to joint pain. It’s also common for osteoarthritis patients to lose some or all of the cartilage between their joints—which may be painful when they put pressure on the affected area by standing or walking.

What Can I Do To Avoid Joint Pain?

Joint pain is most likely everyone will have at some point in their lives. But it doesn’t have to be a lifelong affliction. Here are some tips to help you avoid or lessen the misery as you age. 

• Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial to reducing the risk of joint pain. Overweight people are five times more likely to suffer from knee pain, as excess weight puts pressure on the knees.

• Lack of exercise also contributes significantly to joint pain risk. Regular exercise strengthens your muscles and keeps them flexible, which helps prevent strains and relieves stress on joints.

• Smoking constricts blood vessels, restricting blood flow and oxygen delivery to your bones and muscles. This may worsen existing conditions or cause new ones due to a lack of proper nutrition.

• Lack of sleep may amplify many physical problems, including joint pain. Sleep is when the body repairs itself, so be sure you’re getting enough rest each night!

• Good posture increases flexibility by preventing prolonged pressure on any muscle group or area of the body. Additionally, practicing good posture reduces stress on your muscles and joints during everyday movements such as lifting or sitting at a desk for an extended period.

Home Remedies For Joint Pain

If you have joint pain, you may be tempted to give your muscles a rest. However, this is the worst thing you may do for your joints. They need to stay moving. Try doing low-impact exercises such as walking, swimming, or cycling. You should feel them getting stronger within a few weeks. Several things may help with joint pain: 

• use an ice pack to relieve inflammation in the joint

• Use heat therapy to relieve stiffness and relax muscles.
• Take anti-inflammatory medications (e.g., ibuprofen)
• Wear a brace on the affected area if it feels weak (e.g., knee braces).
• Use assistive devices like canes and walkers when necessary – they will keep weight off your joints while providing support, so they stay strong!

Another vital part of treating arthritis is eating healthy foods that promote good bone health. For example, eat calcium-rich dairy products or leafy greens like kale or collard greens, which contain vitamin C, which helps fight inflammation and reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Conclusion

Joint pain is a common issue among the general public. Whether caused by injury or disease, joint pain may be a severe problem limiting your ability to be active and affecting your quality of life. If you’re worried about future joint issues or require treatment for existing problems, book an appointment with EG Healthcare.

We often have a love-hate relationship with our joints. When they’re healthy, we enjoy all the things they let us do. Running and playing basketball on the weekends would be more difficult if you didn’t have solid knees, shoulders, and hips. 

However, when we begin to feel joint discomfort, our relationship with our joints fails. Just when we thought our joints could do no wrong, they unexpectedly became a cause of pain and agony.

If you’re already having joint pain in any of your joints, you’re probably wondering why you’re feeling it in the first place. You may think it came out of nowhere, sneaking up on you without warning. Or, perhaps you’ve been experiencing slight discomfort and morning stiffness for a while now. And until recently, it’s been rather simple to overlook.

Whatever the situation may be, you’ve reached a point when you want answers. The good news is that reading this article will give you a better idea of what could be causing your pain.

What is Joint Pain?

The term “joint pain” refers to the discomfort felt in any joint. Joint pain is known as arthralgia by medical professionals. However, don’t confuse the term with “arthritis,” which indicates inflammation of a joint and is accompanied by pain. A joint might be inflamed without being in pain. Sometimes, it can be inflamed and in pain at the same time.

Many people suffer from joint pain, primarily in the hands, feet, hips, and knees. The discomfort may be permanent or intermittent. Moreover, people who suffer from joint pain may find it difficult to carry out even the most basic chores. Severe joint pain may have a negative impact on one’s quality of life. 

Who is more prone to suffer from joint pain?

Experiencing some degree of joint pain is normal as you get older. However, this may not be the case if you begin making healthy lifestyle choices early.

Pain manifesting as people age is a common occurrence. Over half of individuals over the age of 65 experience some degree of joint pain. Additionally, joint pain is more prevalent in persons who:

• Have experienced prior joint injuries
• Repetitive and/or excessive use of a muscle
• Have arthritis or other chronic health problem
• Experience depression, anxiety, and/or stress
• Are overweight
• Suffer from severe health conditions

What Are The Common Causes of Joint Pain?

A variety of factors may cause joint pain. The probable reasons will vary in part according to your age. Joint pain in children might have various reasons that are distinct from those in adults.

Joint pain might have an evident cause, like a sports injury. In other instances, the diagnosis may require additional testing and consultation with a professional.

The following is a list of the most prevalent reasons people experience joint pain.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is among the most prevalent reasons for joint pain. Most people aged 55 and over report having this pain in their joints. Other than that, there are many joints in the body that might be affected by osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis may be caused by a multitude of reasons, such as overuse, sports-related accidents, and joint abnormalities. Furthermore, postmenopausal women are at an increased risk of getting osteoarthritis, particularly in their knees. Obese, diabetic, or hypercholesterolemic individuals are also at an elevated risk.

Since osteoarthritis is more than just “wear and tear” arthritis, the best way to avoid it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle that allows you to take charge of your controllable risk factors, such as inactivity and poor diet.

Bursitis

Bursitis is a condition in which the bursa, a tiny, fluid-filled sac situated around your joints, swells and becomes inflamed, causing pain. In contrast to osteoarthritis, bursitis is mostly induced by joint overuse. People who suffer from bursitis often have a profession or activity that puts a lot of strain on their joints.

Given that your body has over 150 bursae (bursae are little sacs that cushion the joints), joint discomfort caused by bursitis may occur practically everywhere in the body. This pain is commonly felt in the shoulders, elbows, knees, feet, hips, and buttocks.

This kind of joint pain might come on abruptly or gradually over a long period. Preventing bursitis may be as simple as getting enough rest after a long period of repetitive motion.

Not all cases of bursitis are preventable. However, by adopting a few simple changes in your lifestyle, you may significantly lower your chance of developing bursitis and avoid severe flare-ups. These changes include:

• Weight control to prevent placing additional strain on your joints
• Working out to build up the muscles that support your joints
• Taking regular breaks while completing repetitious activities
• Warming up before beginning intense activity
• Maintaining proper posture when seated or standing
• Halting an activity if you feel any discomfort

Gout

Gout is categorized as an inflammatory condition that affects the joints. You may be shocked to find that gout is a kind of arthritis caused by an excess of uric acid in the body. Uric acid causes crystals to develop in the joints. 

Other factors, such as being overweight, heart problems, diabetes, family medical history, hypertension, and renal disease, might also contribute to the condition. Moreover, gout is more likely to develop in those who use diuretics (water pills) or eat a lot of animal protein in their diet.

If you have gout, you will most likely have swelling and discomfort in your foot’s joints, especially your big toe. Gout episodes, or sudden and severe pain, may cause your feet to feel like it’s on fire.

Acute gout symptoms manifest rapidly due to the development of uric acid crystals in the joint. It may also persist between three and ten days.

The following are some lifestyle modifications that have been demonstrated to be the most effective in preventing gout: 

• Consuming enough water
• Maintain a healthy weight with regular exercise
• Consume fewer purines, which include alcohol, shellfish, high-fructose foods and beverages, and animal proteins

Gout, if left untreated, may become chronic. A condition known as tophi may develop over time in your joints, as well as in the skin and soft tissue that surrounds them. Your joints may become permanently damaged as a result of these buildups.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis is a medical term for the inflammation or irritation of tendons. Tendons are fibrous strands that connect muscles to bones. It induces severe pain and sensitivity, making the movement of the afflicted joint difficult. Tendinitis may affect any tendon. However, it is most common in the shoulders, knees, elbows, feet, and wrist. 

Tendons enable you to repeatedly perform a certain movement. So, if you exercise or play sports and do the same action repeatedly, you run the risk of developing tendinitis.

Tendinitis is characterized by a dull soreness that radiates from the afflicted joint or region. When you move the affected region, it becomes worse. You’ll experience a sharp spike in agony whenever anyone touches the region. You may also feel a sense of constraint, making it difficult to move that part of your body.

Rheumatoid Arthritis 

Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of autoimmune disease that may result in joint discomfort and inflammation. Joint pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis often occurs on both sides of the body. Thus, if one of your arms is afflicted, the corresponding joint in the other arm is likely to be affected as well. This effect differentiates rheumatoid arthritis from other types of arthritis, like osteoarthritis.

Treatments are most effective when rheumatoid arthritis is detected early, which is why it is important to understand its symptoms. Inflammation and discomfort in the joints are common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. During flares, these symptoms become more pronounced. When symptoms go away entirely, they are characterized as periods of remission.

Other Causes of Joint Pain

Here are other potential reasons for joint pain. Read them, but don’t jump to the conclusion that the more severe options mentioned are to blame for your joint discomfort.

• Lupus
• Certain infectious diseases, such as mumps, influenza, and hepatitis
• Chondromalacia of the patella, or a breakdown of the cartilage in the kneecap
• An infection of the bone or joint
• Overuse of a joint
• Cancer
• Fibromyalgia
• Osteoporosis
• Sarcoidosis
• Rickets

How To Relieve Joint Pain?

While the pain can’t be cured totally, it may be controlled to provide relief. Occasionally, taking over-the-counter medicine or doing easy daily exercises might alleviate the discomfort. Sometimes, pain may be a symptom of a more serious issue that may only be resolved with prescription medicine or surgery. 

Here are some ways to reduce joint pain:

• Putting a heating pad or ice on the afflicted region for brief durations several times a day may help reduce pain. Additionally, soaking in a warm bath may be beneficial.
• Exercise may aid in the regaining of strength and function. A low-impact aerobic activity, such as walking, swimming, or jogging, is the ideal option. Those who regularly engage in physically demanding activities, such as weight lifting or athletics, may choose to reduce their intensity or switch to a low-impact alternative. 
• In certain cases, weight reduction may also be recommended to reduce joint stress.
• Taking acetaminophen or anti-inflammatory medications may help alleviate your discomfort. Both of these medications may be purchased without a prescription, although higher dosages may need a trip to your healthcare provider. Before taking these medicines, make sure to speak with your doctor if you have a history of stomach ulcers, renal, or liver illness.
• Topical remedies like ointments or gels that may be massaged into the skin over the afflicted joint region may help alleviate discomfort. 
• Supplements, such as glucosamine, may also help alleviate pain. However, consult your physician before using any over-the-counter supplements.

Please be aware that even over-the-counter medications have varying effects on different individuals. What benefits one individual may not benefit another. Always follow your doctor’s instructions while taking any medication, and notify them if you have any adverse reactions.

Surgical intervention may be possible if the joint discomfort persists after treatment with anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and exercise. A doctor should be consulted to ensure that surgery is warranted.

When To Call A Doctor?

If pain is messing with your everyday routine, it’s necessary to see a medical professional. A proper diagnosis and treatment plan are essential to alleviating pain and ensuring that joints continue to function properly.

See a doctor if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Fever accompanies the pain.
• There is a loss of weight that is unexplainable (10 pounds or more)
• You are unable to walk properly due to pain.

If you have any questions or concerns about joint pain or any of these common symptoms, call EG Healthcare to book an appointment to explore diagnosis and treatment options.

If you’re like many others, you’ve undoubtedly gone years without an annual physical check-up. Maybe you’re in excellent health and have never been afflicted with a chronic disease or significant medical concern. So why do you need to schedule an annual trip to your primary care physician?

Scheduling a yearly physical check-up is simple, and it’s an essential part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. There’s no good excuse to miss your yearly physical, but there are a number of strong ones to do it right now!

1. Preventive Care

One of the most important reasons to see your primary care doctor annually is to ensure that nothing is wrong. Your healthcare professional will do regular laboratory tests, including a blood count, during your yearly visits.

Undergoing regular blood tests might help you identify any signals of mild to major imbalances and possible health concerns even before you start feeling any symptoms. Remember that early detection is essential for maintaining good health.

Additionally, there are several standard tests that must be performed at certain ages for each gender.

A regular physical check-up is the only way to keep track of all of these necessary examinations. Your healthcare professional will identify and conduct all required tests and handle any health problems that may occur quickly.

2. Update Your Immunizations 

Another reason to get a yearly physical check is to make sure you’re updated on your vaccinations. Children, adolescents, and adults require different vaccinations at various points in their lives.

Compared to adults, kids need more frequent vaccination against vaccine-preventable diseases. On the other hand, adults often get booster shots as necessary to avoid catching avoidable illnesses. 

Children need immunizations against diseases such as hepatitis B, DTaP, varicella, and influenza. Teenagers must be vaccinated for HPV, polio, measles, and rubella. Adults need immunizations such as the zoster vaccine to protect against viruses, including shingles.

This can be a lot to remember, but your healthcare provider can easily verify your immunization record to guarantee you are updated. If you are overdue for a vaccination or have missed a shot, your doctor may often give the vaccine during your annual check-up, eliminating the need for an additional visit.

3. Update Medical Records

Undergoing a routine medical examination will update your medical records. Your medical records contain a complete summary of your health history. These records provide your doctor with the information they need to make sure you’ve had all the essential examinations and your vaccination status. It would also help them address any concerns you may have.

Other than that, your medical records enable your physician to assess how your health has progressed and if you are right health path. Moreover, an accurate evaluation of your health can only be made if you have a complete medical history, which is why it is so important for you to have one.

This might also come in handy in an emergency. Emergency doctors may review your previous test results if you ever find yourself needing medical attention. It’s much easier for them to figure out what’s wrong when they have all of this data at their disposal.

4. Save Money

Others believe that having a yearly physical is a waste of time and money. Scheduling an annual check-up with your healthcare provider may prove to be more cost-effective than seeking medical attention more frequently. 

Getting a physical exam once a year might help you save money on future medical expenses. If you are diagnosed with a sickness or condition early on, your treatment will cost less than if you wait until you are symptomatic. 

Preventing a problem is simpler (and less costly) than resolving it afterward. Detecting a condition at an early stage is important to your health and your bank account. You may rest easy knowing that scheduling your yearly physical check-up is a smart financial move.

5. Discuss Your Medication

Your annual check-up is an excellent opportunity to address any prescriptions you are presently taking and any concerns you may have concerning medications. A medication assessment is an important factor in your healthcare, and an annual physical examination is an ideal opportunity to do one.

Whether you’re considering stopping an existing medication or beginning a new one to treat a problem that has arisen since your previous test, your yearly exam is the opportunity to do so. Your medical expert may review your symptoms, drug response, and medical history with you to identify the best prescription plan for you.

During the visit, the healthcare professional may provide recommendations based on your symptoms. For instance, if you have specific risk factors for asthma, your physician may recommend bronchodilators.

6. Address Medical Concerns and Questions

Even if you’re in great shape, you’re certain to have medical issues and worries at some point in the year. You may do a fast Google search or attempt to resolve the problem on your own, but the best course of action is always to see a medical expert.

Your annual physical check-up is an excellent opportunity to ask questions and address problems that you believed were too trivial to warrant their own visit. You may be wondering: Why is it that every time you stand, your knee pops? How can lower back discomfort be avoided?

Your healthcare professional will be more than pleased to spend the time necessary to answer any questions you may have, no matter how little they may seem to you.

7. Maintain A Healthy Lifestyle

When you see your doctor once a year, you may learn about healthy lifestyle options. Doctors throughout the world are always up-to-date on the latest healthcare trends because of the nature of their work.

This allows them to keep you up to date on any changes to the standards for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. They may also tell you about outdated health practices that may be putting your life at risk.

There are also booklets, periodicals, and several other sources of information available at every doctor’s office. You may take them home and study to learn more about the most recent information on leading a healthy life.

Bottom Line

Having a yearly check-up allows your doctor to examine your general health and propose tests, bloodwork, or immunizations that are important at each stage of life. Moreover, during your yearly physical exam, you get the chance to speak with your doctor about any health problems you have and get advice on how to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Schedule an appointment with EG Healthcare now and take control of your own health. We provide a broad range of services to ensure that you and your loved ones get the best possible treatment and care.