The 360 joints of the human body connect the bones and assist in a variety of movements, depending on the specific shape of the joint. The most noticeable joints in the body are found at the hips, shoulders, elbows, knees, wrist, fingers and ankles. Therefore, knowing joint pain causes, whether mild, chronic or acute, is highly beneficial.
Joint pain is extremely common and can be divided into three categories:
Even if you are only suffering from a small swelling and discomfort, it can eventually affect the quality of your life. Any damage, no matter how minor, can always interfere with your full capacity of motion.
Different conditions can lead to painful joints. The most known are:
Furthermore, monthly surveys have indicated that 1/3 of the adult population reports having some sort of joint pain. Knee pain being the most common one, followed by pains in the shoulders and the hips. As we age, we could develop multiple joint pains, simultaneously.
Besides all these common joint pains there is a group of conditions called Inflammatory Arthritis, characterized by pain, swelling, tenderness, and warmth in the joints, as well as stiffness during the morning hours that lasts up to an hour or more.
For instance, among these diseases, the most known are rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, lupus), gout and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). In all these inflammatory arthritis conditions, the immune system releases inflammatory chemicals that attack the joint tissues. This causes swelling, increased joint fluid, cartilage and bone damage, and muscle loss. Due to all this, nerves in the joints are irritated, causing pain.
If the pain is developing redness, swelling and intense pain due to an injury, maybe you should see a doctor. However, if your joint pain is due to age, a past injury or the development of inflammatory diseases, know that these types of pain are extremely common.
Joint pains can be relived with natural solutions. Here are some over-the-counter and simple natural remedies that you can try:
Although joint pain is a source of intense distress, and discomfort, it is still possible to find suitable healthy solutions to alleviate its presence. Therefore, changing your diet, stay active and doing some of the recommendations listed above can help you reach a better quality of life. Sometimes, a small change can have very significant results.
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