Chronic Joint Pain: Symptoms and Treatments

Pain-especially chronic joint pain-is a serious health problem that deserves prompt medical attention. Many men may be reluctant to bring up their joint pain with their physicians, due to outmoded ideas about what constitutes proper masculine behavior. Women, on the other hand, may not discuss the joint pain they're experiencing with their doctors because of their higher pain threshold. Both men and women may think that this type of pain is a normal result of growing older, which keeps them from reporting it to their doctors. Remember, pain is a sign that something is wrong, and more often than not, accurate medical diagnosis can help you to deal with it much more effectively than you would have been able to on your own. The following conditions are commonly associated with joint pain.

1. Osteoarthritis
Of the over 100 recognizes types of arthritis, this is one is the most common and well-known. It usually occurs in people over 50, but can strike people as young as 20. Osteoarthritis is caused by the degeneration of cartilage, the spongy tissue between our joints that allows us to move with fluidity. The erosion of cartilage causes strain on the tissue that connects the bones, thus resulting in pain. This type of arthritis can be treated through various means, including painkillers, cartilage-regenerating supplements, and moderate exercise.

2. Rheumatoid Arthritis
This kind of arthritis is identified by pain in the same joints on both sides of the body. While the precise cause of rheumatoid arthritis is still being investigated, medical researchers believe that it has something to do with an immune system malfunction. This malfunction causes the immune system to treat joints as foreign pathogens, thus degenerating them and causing chronic pain. Early diagnosis and treatment provides the best results for those with this condition. Treatment options include medication, exercise, and surgery.

3. Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)
The medical community classifies this condition as an inflammatory disease. It primarily affects the body's bigger joints, such as those in the hip region. PMR is caused by the immune system turning on itself, and if left untreated, it can result in irreversible damage to the body. Corticosteroids are used to combat the effects of this disease.

Causes of Arthritis

Risk Factors of Arthritis

Sources:
1. "Joint Pain Not Inevitable With Age,"
2. "Arthritis: Rheumatoid Arthritis Basics,"
3. "Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis - Treatment Overview,"