Happy New Year… or maybe it isn’t. Because, if you’re living with chronic joint pain, this can impact your quality of life, taking a toll on both your physical and emotional wellbeing. The cold winter months can be particularly tough. If you’re experiencing joint pain, deciding to take action could be one of the best New Year resolutions you make for yourself. There is no need to suffer in silence.
In this article we’ll look at possible causes of joint pain and potential treatments. Of course, this is no substitute for a personalised diagnosis and treatment plan, so we always advise seeking advice from a doctor or orthopaedic surgeon to discuss your individual circumstances.
Causes of joint pain
You may experience pain in one or more joints in your body. The joints are where two bones meet, such as your hips (where the thigh bone meets the pelvis) or your knee (where the thigh bone meets the shin bone). In a healthy joint, the bones glide smoothly over each other, but if a joint becomes damaged or diseased this can cause pain, swelling and loss of function in the joint.
Painful joints can feel stiff, achy, swollen or sore. You might experience a burning or grating sensation when you move. Sometimes people with joint pain experience relief when they start moving around but too much activity can lead to increased pain. Severe joint pain can have a big impact on your quality of life, making it difficult to do everything things like walking, going upstairs or getting in and out of a car.
There are many possible causes of joint pain but the most common include:
- Osteoarthritis – This common form of arthritis is associated with a loss of cartilage in the joints. The cartilage forms a protective sheath over the ends of the bones, helping them move smoothly over each other. As it wears away, the bones can start to rub together, resulting in stiffness and pain. Osteoarthritis is most common in people over the age of 45. It is a degenerative condition which means it gradually worsens over time.
- Rheumatoid arthritis – Less common than osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition caused by the body’s immune system mistakenly attacking parts of the body including the lining of the joints. It most commonly affects the feet, toes, ankles, knees, wrists, hands and fingers. Unlike other forms of arthritis, with rheumatoid arthritis, the same joint on both sides of the body is often affected. Other symptoms are common, too, including problems with the eyes, skin, heart and digestion as well as fatigue. Rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age but the condition normally starts to develop between 30 and 60.
- Tendinitis – This is inflammation of the tendons, which connect bone to muscle. It is often caused by repetitive activities and is an overuse injury. It most commonly occurs in the hip, knee, elbow and shoulder, as well as in the base of the thumb and Achilles tendon. There are different types of tendonitis, including tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow and runner’s knee. Tendonitis causes pain that worsens when you move, stiffness, swelling and sometimes there is a cracking or popping sensation. Symptoms can come on gradually or be sudden and severe.
- Bursitis – This is painful swelling of the small, fluid-filled sacs – or bursae – which cushion the spaces between the bones and other tissues. Bursitis is particularly common in the shoulders, elbows, knees, hips and feet. Symptoms include pain, swelling and loss of function in the affected area. You may notice a feeling of warmth, redness of the skin and a possible fever. Bursitis is an overuse injury from making the same movement over and over again.
Treatments for joint pain
The treatments available to you will depend on the cause of your pain and how severe it is. They might include:
- Strategies for managing your pain at home, including exercising, taking painkilling medication, aids for walking, physiotherapy or occupational therapy.
- Injections of corticosteroids into the affected joint.
- Arthroscopic surgery to repair damaged cartilage or remove small chips of bone.
- Osteotomy which is surgery to realign or reshape the bones of the arm or leg to take pressure off the damaged section of joint.
- Joint fusion which involves fixing the ends of the bones together to prevent movement within the joint.
- Joint replacement surgery to remove the damaged joint or sections of joint and replace it with a prosthetic implant.
- Mako Robotic Assisted Knee Replacement Surgery is offered by Proj J.Queally, which can improve patient outcomes.
If you are experiencing joint pain – whether it is mild or severe, a new symptom or a long-standing problem – please contact us if you would like information about diagnosis or to discuss your treatment options.
