Joint pain: What causes it and how to easily relieve discomfort

It’s estimated that 3.9 million Australians suffer from arthritic joint pain, and many more suffer from joint pain from other contributing factors, such as previous injuries or overuse of the joint. While many simply live with the stiffness, swelling and weakness around the joints, there are plenty of things people can do to prevent joint pain, and ease associated symptoms, but the first step is finding the cause.

Causes

Arthritis is the leading cause of chronic pain and the second most common cause of disability and early retirement due to ill health in Australia, with Arthritis Australia projecting that there will be 5.4 million Australians with arthritis by 2030. The two main forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). OA results from a breakdown of the cartilage that serves as a cushion and shock absorber for the joints, while RA causes pain, inflammation and fluid build-up in the joints, as the body’s immune system attacks the membrane that lines the joint.

While arthritis is the leading cause, discomfort, aches and soreness in wrists, hands, hips, knees and feet are all common complaints that often increase as we age. They can occur from less-common causes, including bursitis, or inflammation of the cushioning pads around joints, lupus, gout, certain infectious diseases, such as mumps, influenza, and hepatitis, chondromalacia of the kneecap, or a breakdown of the cartilage in the kneecap, an injury, inflammation of the tendon, an infection of the bone or joint, overuse of a joint, cancer, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, sarcoidosis or rickets.

Diagnosis

It’s important to see your doctor to get to the bottom of your joint pain. To diagnose the cause, your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask you questions about your pain to narrow down the reason behind it. They may also request an X-ray to identify arthritis-related joint damage. Their examination will also help identify if there is another cause, and they may then order a blood test to screen for certain autoimmune disorders, a test to measure the level of inflammation in the body, or a complete blood count.

Once you’ve identified the cause, there are a few different ways to help alleviate pain.

Remedies to try

There’s no treatment available that will completely eliminate the joint pain associated with arthritis, or keep it from returning. Fortunately, however, there are ways to manage the pain, including weight loss, staying physically active, taking a warm bath, stretching frequently, getting adequate rest, and use of topical pain relievers or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Topical pain relief

Massaging cream, gel or oil into the affected area can be a gentle-yet-effective way to reduce discomfort. The action of massaging warms up the area, which in turn helps to increase circulation and decrease inflammation, helping to alleviate joint pain and arthritis.

Supplements

There are no cures for joint pain, but many clinical trials indicate the success of natural medicines, supplements and remedies. Many of the key ingredients used in popular modern supplements have also been used in ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines for thousands of years.

Rest

Sometimes, there’s nothing better than simply resting the problem area to help alleviate any pressure. Depending on the source of your joint pain, this may be easier said than done, however!

As we age, one of the common places for us to notice joint pain is in areas we use the most – often the hands – which are also one of the hardest to rest. Simple lifestyle changes and products that make everyday tasks a little easier can help.

FAQ

Q: What causes pain in multiple joints?
A: Acute pain in multiple joints is most often due to inflammation, gout, or the beginning or flare up of a chronic joint disorder. Chronic pain in multiple joints is usually due to osteoarthritis or an inflammatory disorder (such as rheumatoid arthritis).

Q: When should I worry about joint pain?
A: Joint pain is rarely an emergency, and most of the time you can manage it at home. If your joint pain is accompanied by swelling, redness or tenderness and warmth around the joint, it’s a good idea to see your doctor. And if your joint pain is caused by an injury and is accompanied by joint deformity, inability to use the joint, intense pain or sudden swelling, you should see a doctor immediately.

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IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.