Your joints allow you to move, support you as you move throughout the day, and connect your bones together.

Injury or disease-related joint damage can cause joint pain, limit your range of motion, and prevent you from participating in your favorite activities.

Adults frequently complain of joint pain knees, which is typically brought on by regular wear and tear from daily activities including walking, bending, standing, and lifting.

Running and sports involving jumping or fast pivots increase the risk of knee pain and issues in athletes. But whether knee pain is brought on by aging or an injury, it can be bothersome and even crippling in certain cases.

What is joint pain?

Swollen joints result from fluid buildup in the tissues around the joints. It can be agonizingly painful and make moving the affected joints difficult.

Swelling occasionally causes affected joints to enlarge or take on an odd shape.

Swelling and joint pain may simultaneously impact multiple joints. The hips, knees, ankles, wrists, shoulders, base of the spine, and knuckles are the joints most frequently impacted by pain and edema.

Joint pain and swelling that is both acute and chronic are two distinct disorders. For instance, if you get hurt, you could have sudden onset of acute joint pain and swelling that lasts only a short while.

Chronic joint pain and swelling that gradually develops could have significant consequences. This is more likely to be caused by an underlying condition, such as a specific type of arthritis.

What are the causes of joint pain?

Joint pain that is acute typically develops rapidly and lasts only a short time. Acute joint pain can have various common causes, including:

  • injuries such sprains and strains
  • excessive joint use
  • infections, and 
  • other diseases like the flu or COVID-19

A 'rheumatic' disorder, which affects your joints, bones, and muscles, may be the source of chronic joint discomfort and swelling. Rheumatic diseases come in more than 200 different varieties, including lupus, gout, and arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are the two most prevalent kinds of arthritis.

The two lists overlap, so it's not quite that easy. Conditions that typically only affect one joint occasionally spread to many joints.

Pain in just one joint can occasionally result from conditions that often affect several joints, especially in the early stages of any underlying sickness.

which foods cause joint pain :

5 Arthritis Trigger Foods to Avoid

  • Wheat products — like pasta, bread, crackers, and bagels — may spell trouble for your joints, especially if you have rheumatoid arthritis. ...
  • Butter and Margarine. ...
  • ...
  • ...
  • Sugary Drinks.

When should you see a doctor?

Schedule a visit with your doctor if any of the following occur along with your joint pain:

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  • Warmth and tenderness at the joint.

If your joint discomfort is brought on by an accident and is accompanied by any of the following:

  • Joint malformation.
  • Not being able to use the joint.
  • Painfully strong.
  • Sudden enlargement.

Consult a physician if you have any worries, particularly if:

  • You're feeling ill.
  • You continue to feel feverish.
  • You also experience additional signs, such night sweats or weight loss.
  • Over a period of two weeks, the agony continues.
  • Simple painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen are ineffective at reducing the pain.
  • You get joint pain at night or pain that wakes you up.

Will I need any tests (investigations)?

Joint discomfort frequently goes away on its own without the need for any tests. The source of the joint discomfort can be determined with the aid of your doctor.

This will entail talking to you about your symptoms and looking at the hurt joints. In order to determine the cause of your joint discomfort, your doctor may also arrange for you to undergo blood tests and an X-ray.

An ultrasonic scan can be useful in determining the origin of some joint disorders. In some circumstances, more specialized diagnostics, such as further scans or arthroscopy (keyhole surgery to see within the joint), may be required.

What is the treatment for joint pain?

The PRICE approach is typically effective in treating acute joint pain, such as sprains and strains:

  • Avoid causing more harm or damage to the joint area.
  • Rest the joint and stay away from painful activities.
  • Every 2 to 3 hours, ice the joint for 20 minutes. Make sure the ice is wrapped so it doesn't touch your skin.
  • Use a firm but not too tight bandage to compress the joint.
  • To lessen swelling, raise the joint above the level of the heart.
  • Medications like ibuprofen, paracetamol, or steroids may be helpful. Your doctor may occasionally drain some fluid from the joint and inject steroids there.

Consult your doctor if you experience chronic joint pain and swelling. They will offer a treatment strategy that includes physical activity and the proper medications.

The finest exercises are those that are kind to your joints; these include cycling, walking, swimming, aqua aerobics, tai chi, and aqua aerobics.

Summary:

The outcome (prognosis) will rely on what is causing the joint pain in the first place. Many causes of joint pain fully go away without any further issues.

Other causes of joint discomfort, such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, could necessitate lengthy therapy and persist as issues. Constant joint pain and limitations on using the affected joint(s) may be long-term issues.

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