Joint Pain - Causes and Symptoms

What Is a Joint?
Joint is formed by the ends of two or more bones. They are connected by thick bands of tissue which is called ligaments. For example, the knee joint is formed by the lower leg bone, called the tibia or shinbone, and the thighbone, called the femur. The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint. It is formed by a ball, at the upper end of the thighbone, and a rounded socket, or acetabulum, in the pelvis.

The ends of the bones in a joint are covered with a smooth, soft material which is called cartilage. The cartilage allows fluent, nearly frictionless movement. The other part of the surfaces of the joint are covered by a thin, smooth tissue lining called the synovium. The synovium produces fluid that acts as a lubricant, it reduces the friction and wear in the joint.

Common Causes of Joint Pain
The most common causes of joint pain is the arthritis. The most common types of arthritis are:

Osteoarthritis (OA) - It is called degenerative arthritis because it is a “wearing out” condition. It's involving the breakdown of cartilage in the joints. When cartilage wears away, the bones rub against each other, causing stiffness and it is very painful. OA usually occurs in people aged fifty years and older. It is frequently in individuals with a family history of osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) – A chemical changes in the synovium that cause it to become thickened and inflamed. When this happen the synovial fluid destroys cartilage. The result is cartilage loss, pain, and stiffness. The Rheumatoid Arthritis affects women about 3 times more often than men, and it also may affect other organs of the body.

Post-traumatic Arthritis – This type of arthritis can be developed after an injury to the joint. Which means that the bone and cartilage do not heal properly. The joint is no longer smooth, there is more friction, and these lead to more wear on the joint surfaces.

Avascular Necrosis - Can result when the bone is deprived of its normal blood supply. Without the proper nutrition from the blood, the bone’s structure weakens. In turn it may collapse and damage the cartilage. This condition often occurs after long-term treatment with cortisone or after an organ transplantation. Joint pain can also be caused by some deformation or direct injury to the joint. In some cases, joint pain is made worse because people will avoid using the painful joint. This will weaken the muscles and making the joint even more difficult to move.

Joints And How They Work

In simple terms, a joint is the area of the body where two or more bones are joined together. Joints use a network of muscles, tendons, cartilage and ligaments. The muscles are attached to bones with tendons. Tendon is a flexible tissue made from fibrous cords. Muscles create movement in the joint, and they also help us to stabilize the joint.

Smooth articular cartilage encases the bones in the joint and helps for a fluent movement, without friction, while the pads of cartilage help our body to absorb shock. Ligaments tough bands of fibrous tissue, bind the joint together.

The entire joint is surrounded by a protective covering or “glove” of strong fibrous material that is called joint capsule. The synovial lining of the joint capsule let in tiny amounts of fluid that lubricate the joint. Also there are, some joints (such as the knee and the shoulder) that are supplemented by bursa sacs. Little fluid filled sacs that help cushion the joint and reduce the friction.

The human body has many different kinds of joints. From simple joints like the elbow to very complex joints such as the hip and shoulder, which can move in many different directions. In addition, some joints are forced to withstand tremendous weights and forces. Our knee, for example, must support the weight of the entire body as it moves through space. Furthermore,pressure on the knee is enlarged when you run, climb stairs, or walk on an uneven terrain.

About Our Blog and How We Will Help For Your Joint Pain!

Your joints and muscles are involved in nearly every activity you do. Simple movements like bending, walking, and turning require the use of your hip and knee joints. Normally, all parts of these joints work together, the joint moves easily and without any pain.

But when the joint becomes diseased or injured, the pain can badly limit your ability to do anything. Whether you are considering a joint replacement, or you are just beginning to explore available treatments, this blog is for you. We will help you to understand the causes of joint pain and all treatment options. Most importantly, it will give you trust that you will be able to do all of the things you enjoy, with no pain.

Once you are through reading this blog, be sure to ask your doctor any questions that you may have. We will give you as much knowledge as possible that will help you choose the best course of treatment to help relieve your joint pain. We will get you back into the swing of things.