Joint Pain

Joint pain can affect one or more joints in the human body. An injury or inflammation of joints can cause it. Some of the other reasons for joint pain include rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The former is an autoimmune disorder causing stiffness and pain in joints while the latter involves degeneration of cartilage at a joint. Osteoarthritis is quite common among people in their mid-forties and older.

Another reason for joint pain could be bursitis. It refers to inflammation of the bursae. The bursae are sacs filled with fluids. They act as cushions allowing free and smooth movement of muscles and tendons over the bones. Apart from this, some of the other common causes of joint pain include septic arthritis, tendonitis, infectious diseases (such as influenza, rheumatic fever, hepatitis etc), external injuries including fracture, strains or sprains due to unusual exertion, gout, autoimmune diseases such as lupus, etc.

It is advisable to consult a doctor if joint pain persists for more than a couple of days. Home remedies are often effective, but before using them it is always better to diagnose the cause and nature of the joint pain. This could be done easily with the help of few medical tests that are not very expensive.

Contrary to the common perception, joint pain is no longer associated with old age; it could affect a person of any age group. Joint pains are affecting more and more young people. This is said to be due to long hours working on computers, increasing stress, improper dietary habits and neglect of physical fitness.

Joint pains can affect even a physically fit person. This is evident by the increasing number of sportspersons complaining of joint pains. The time taken for recovery from joint pain can vary from a few weeks to a few years.