There are many causes of joint pain: almost a hundred diseases can lead to joint pain. Many of these diseases have similar diagnostic characteristics, making it difficult even for an experienced specialist to pinpoint the exact cause.
Osteoarthritis
In 80% of cases, joint pain arises from osteoarthritis. In this disease, the cartilaginous part of the joint is primarily affected.
However, there are no nerve endings in cartilage, so diagnosing osteoarthritis in its early stages is typically not possible. Only after that do the bones, synovia, ligaments, joint capsule, and muscles become damaged, which is when pain first appears.
Arthritis
The second most common cause of joint pain is arthritis. The process begins with synovitis (inflammation of the synovial membrane), where there are many nerve endings. Therefore, pain occurs immediately.
Then, the remaining part of the joint becomes damaged, and pain intensifies accordingly. Additionally, effusion (fluid accumulation) occurs in the joint cavity – a result of synovitis.
The joint appears swollen not only because of the effusion but also due to thickening of the synovium and subsequent swelling of the surrounding soft tissues.
Arthralgia
Joint pain is not always the result of pathology within the joint itself. In this case, it is referred to as arthralgia, where the joint hurts, but its appearance and function are not impaired. For example, a shoulder joint may be affected by heart disease, while the spine may be impacted by abdominal organ disorders.
Common Symptoms of Arthritis:
- Pain Characteristics in Arthritis: Pain worsens in the morning and often wakes the person up. There is a sensation of stiffness in the affected joint, and pain increases during movement.
- Inflammatory Syndrome: The joint feels warmer to the touch than the surrounding tissues, with warmth appearing later. ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate), CRP (C-Reactive Protein) levels increase in the blood, and globulins indicate chronic arthritis.
- Synovial Fluid: The fluid in the joint becomes inflammatory, with >5*10^9/L leukocytes.
- X-ray Findings: In acute forms, x-rays may appear normal.
Treatment of Joint Pain:
Only a doctor can reliably determine the cause of the pain. Therefore, the treatment plan is also determined by the doctor. You can temporarily alleviate the pain on your own, but the disease won’t disappear. There are also folk remedies for treatment, some of which are consistent with official medical approaches. Of course, we will only discuss the latter.
Herbal Remedies for Joint Pain:
- An infusion made from the leaves of the black currant bush can be consumed for rheumatism, while the berries help with arthritis.
- The common weed of wheatgrass is used in the treatment of microcrystalline arthritis. The medicinal variety of sweet clover helps reduce pain.
- Therapeutic baths with a three-component decoction are used for gout and rheumatism.
All these therapies are meant solely to relieve pain. No online article can replace a doctor, so to avoid complications, you should visit a doctor on time!
