You think you’re invincible when you’re young, and then life catches up with you. You never imagined groaning when you stand up from your chair as your grandfather did. You never thought it would take a few seconds to get going as it did for your grandmother. As we age, our joints show wear and tear signs because the human body is just like anything else; eventually, it breaks down. Revive Medical Center lists the common causes of joint pain below so you can determine why you hurt so badly.
Osteoarthritis
Arthritis comes in many forms, and osteoarthritis is the most common one. Osteoarthritis can happen anywhere you have cartilage, i.e., joints, because osteoarthritis is caused by the cartilage in the joints breaking down. Common joints where osteoarthritis attacks include the joints in the hands, hips, knees, and spinal cord.
Septic Arthritis
Septic arthritis means the affected joint has become infected. Bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses can cause septic arthritis. Generally, this arthritis causes pain in the knees or hips because it prefers to attack larger joints. Unlike osteoarthritis, which gets worse over time, septic arthritis is an emergency. It can damage the joint, both the bone and cartilage, quickly.
Tendonitis
Inflamed tendons cause tendonitis, and you’ll feel it in your joints because they have tendons. Usually, you cause tendonitis yourself by overworking a joint. You can do this if you begin a rigorous exercise program with no warm-up or overuse the joint with repetitive motion. Oftentimes, tendonitis can be treated with rest and anti-inflammatory pain killers.
Bursitis
Your joints also have what are called bursae. Bursae are sacs that are filled with fluid to cushion the joints. If your bursae become inflamed, you’ll have bursitis in that area, say, for example, in your knee. Because the bursae protect muscles and tendons from bony prominences, bursitis can be extremely painful. You might remember your grandparents complaining of bursitis in their day.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Finally, joints can become extremely painful if you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. This is an autoimmune disorder where your body basically attacks your joints. The result is pain and stiffness in your joints and the disfiguration of the joints over time. Most people do not suffer from rheumatoid arthritis until they are 45 years old or older.
Revive Medical Center in Lawrenceville, GA, offers joint injections to help relieve your joint pain. Contact us for more information.
