Posts Tagged ‘Joint’

The human body is a very intricate machine made up of over 100 joints that allow our bones to move. There are many different types of joints in the body, each performing a separate act.

Cartilage is a substance that eases the bones and supplies a smooth substance for the joints to move on, and it is the degradation of this cartilage, thanks to a number of different reasons, that causes the different types of joint pain we suffer from all too often.

The reasons for joint pain

The body has its own lubrication ability producing a type of natural oil in the joints and any problem with this can be a pointer to joint pain. Other causes include vigorous use and over-exertion of the joints, inflammation of areas caused by medical problems and the onset of arthritis or osteoarthritis, which put simply is wear and tear of the joints.

Injury can cause permanent damage of the bones leading to joint pain, and many common illnesses influenza, measles and mumps among them which can also end up in joint pains.

Often pain first deduced to be joint pain is really muscle pain, and can also be induced by many of the above factors; it can also be a sign of the onset of arthritis.

Muscle pain caused by injury can be reduced by well planned exercise, and it is often the case that great stress can have an adverse effect on the muscles. Correct posture is a common cause of muscular pain, and should be treated carefully.

A guide to Arthritis

Arthritis is a type of joint pain that results from cartilage being damaged. It is a process that has no defined specific cause, but one that can come about as a result of many things: age is one of them, as it stands to reason the more the joints are used the greater the probability the cartilage is to wear down.

Those beyond the age of 70 years are most probably going to suffer from arthritis, and there are divisions between primary and secondary arthritis.

Cases of primary osteoarthritis have no distinct cause; there is no obvious cause apparent. The secondary one, however, is due to a clear factor of infection or injury. Arthritis is not fully treatable but there are ways for sufferers that make almost ordinary living attainable.

Tell tale signs of arthritis

Arthritis is not difficult to diagnose, and the signs are often very clear: the onset of pain in joints that is noticeably increased after exercise, overall stiffness in mornings and swelling of joints are standard symptoms, as is greater pain in wet weather, any difficulty in movement and notable grating of the joints.

Sufferers may find they are unable to walk as easily as they should or have a hard time dealing with general household chores, or may be subject to a gradual increase in pain overall.

Help with arthritis

There are many ways in which the individual can make life better, and some are simply sensible solutions that lead to better overall health.

If the sufferer is heavier than recommended the strain on joints in particular the knees can be symptomatic for arthritis, hence losing weight is a useful course of action in this case. Eating the right food is also a prescribed method of dealing with arthritis, as the correct foods can be a good way of soothing the joints.

Vitamin C intake is a recommended choice, and boosting calcium beneficial to the bones is also recommended for reducing the suffering or, in advance, the risk. Fish contains valuable oils and is known to help arthritis sufferers as well as reducing caffeine which is useful for the bones, too.

Paying attention to ones footwear is a simple factor many people forget, but shoes should be of correct dimension and supportive as incorrect posture leads to spinal problems. Swimming is a preferred pastime for arthritis sufferers as it exercises the joints without putting them under excess pressure.

Treatment for arthritis

As we have deduced arthritis is not a condition that can be completely cured, hence treatments are generally geared to reducing the suffering of the patient and halting further degeneration.

Drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin are generally prescribed for arthritis as both provide anti-inflammatory properties, but as with all such drugs some people can experience harmful side effects. Correct investigation and finding the right way forward is paramount in discerning the right drug for each patient.

There are also synthetic joint fluids that can be inserted into the joints, and surgery is generally an option in severe cases. This utilizes the replacing of a joint with a specially designed one, and can be either partial or total. Hip and other replacements are popular operations and effectively buy the recipient some more time.