Understanding Back Pain
As we get older, joint pain becomes increasingly common. This is because the older we get, the more our joints have been used.1 Wear and tear on our joints can result in a number of diseases or injuries, which can leave our joints feeling achy and sore. Don’t fret. Not all joint pain is a sign of underlying disease. In some cases, aching joints are a result of overuse, such as heavy physical activity, lack of use, or sprains.
Joint pain can range from mild to severe. Joint pain can affect any joint in the body, but the most commonly affected joints are the knees. In the article, you shall be walked through things to know about joint pain, its symptoms, and causes, to help you find appropriate treatment and management methods for joint pain.
What are the symptoms?2
While identifying aching joints can seem straightforward, there are a variety of symptoms associated with joint pain. Symptoms of joint pain can range from mild to severe. Some of them include joint redness, joint tenderness, warmth around the joint, swelling around the joint, locking of the joint, stiffness, weakness, loss of range of motion or the joint grating with motion.
A few causes of joint pain2
Joints form the connections between our bones and allow us to move. Some common causes of joint pain2 include
Osteoarthritis:
It is a chronic condition and the most common form of arthritis in adults above the age of 45. It occurs as a result of wear and tear on joints over a long period of time.
Connective tissue disease
Widespread joint pain can be an indication of an underlying condition that affects various joints and organs in your body. Such a condition should be assessed by a doctor before starting a treatment plan.
Gout
Gout is a form of arthritis which appears suddenly, causing bouts of swelling, redness and tenderness. The pain can be intense and can come back if not treated appropriately.
Sprains and strains
Strains or sprains and Inflammation of the joint lining are often the result of an injury. While mild conditions can be treated using over-the-counter products, severe pains with a snap sound, swelling, or stiffness need immediate medical attention.
Rheumatoid arthritis:
Rheumatoid arthritis also known as RA, is an auto-immune disease which tends to damage bone, cartilage and joint over time causing pain, swelling, stiffness and inflammation in other parts of the body too.
Bursitis
Bursae are cushions which protect the bones and tendons near joints. Bursitis is a condition which affects these cushions due to repetitive motion. It mostly occurs in the shoulder, elbow and hip areas.
Infections
Viral infections such as Hepatitis or Rubella can cause widespread joint pains along with fever-like symptoms and require immediate consultation with your doctor.
Osteoarthritis:
It is a chronic condition and the most common form of arthritis in adults above the age of 45. It occurs as a result of wear and tear on joints over a long period of time.
Rheumatoid arthritis:
Rheumatoid arthritis also known as RA, is an auto- immune disease which tends to damage bone, cartilage and joint over time causing pain, swelling, stiffness and inflammation in other parts of the body too.
Connective tissue disease
Widespread joint pain can be an indication of an underlying condition that affects various joints and organs in your body. Such a condition should be assessed by a doctor before starting a treatment plan.
Bursitis
Bursae are cushions which protect the bones and tendons near joints. Bursitis is a condition which affects these cushions due to repetitive motion. It mostly occurs in the shoulder, elbow and hip areas.
Gout
Gout is a form of arthritis which appears suddenly, causing bouts of swelling, redness and tenderness. The pain can be intense and can come back if not treated appropriately.
Infections
Viral infections such as Hepatitis or Rubella can cause widespread joint pains along with fever-like symptoms and require immediate consultation with your doctor.
Sprains and strains
Strains or sprains and Inflammation of the joint lining are often the result of an injury. While mild conditions can be treated using over-the-counter products, severe pains with a snap sound, swelling, or stiffness need immediate medical attention.
How is it diagnosed?
If you experience persistent or chronic joint pain, you may want to get a diagnosis to clearly understand what is happening with your body. Visit your doctor for a joint pain diagnosis. During your visit, your doctor may ask about your medical history, give you a physical exam, draw blood for a laboratory test, and X-ray your affected joints.
Pain relief
Joint pain treatment is likely at the top of your list of important things to read up on if you suffer from joint pain. We use our joints every day, all day. That’s why joint pain can feel so present in our lives. But don’t let that stop you from doing the things that make you - you. Learning about the available treatment for joint pain can help you start feeling a little more like yourself again and get back to the lifestyle you love.
Joint pain is pretty common and can occur in any joint in the body. There are various causes for joint pain and the relief varies depending on the intensity of it.
Mild and minor pains can be treated with home remedies like RICE treatment3 and medication. Painkillers and topical medication such as Iodex UltraGel are some of the treatments for joint pain. Iodex UltraGel can be applied to the skin on your aching joints, so that you can get back to doing the things you love.
If the pain, stiffness or redness is severe or gets worse over the next few days, it is better to have a consultation with a doctor
Home remedies for joint pain
For short-term relief of joint pain at home, you can try out the RICE treatment
The RICE treatment is the simplest and quickest remedy after minor or soft tissue injuries. Starting the RICE treatment as soon as possible can help you getgetting back to normal activities, faster. It stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.
- Resting the joint will give it time to repair on its own
- Applying ice to the joint can reduce inflammation. Just be sure to wrap your ice pack in a towel before applying it. Placing a bare ice pack directly to your skin is not advisable
- Compress the joint using an elastic wrap
- Elevate the joint above the level of your heart
How does Iodex UltraGel help ?
Iodex UltraGel is clinically proven to shorten your time to pain relief.4 Iodex UltraGel contains diclofenac, which works by reducing chemicals in your body that cause inflammation. Its Emulgel technology helps the gel to penetrate deep through the skin to enhance delivery of the active ingredient, diclofenac, to the site of pain and swelling, making it an effective pain reliever for joint pain.5
Iodex UltraGel’s Emulgel formulation allows it to permeate the skin 7 times deeper,6 thus treating the pain at its root. Gently massage the gel into your skin and it provides additional cooling and soothing effect at the site of pain and inflammation.
When to seek medical attention ?
If joint pain and swelling comes on suddenly, or if your joint is completely locked and immobile, or is accompanied by fever, and has been lasting for more than seven days you should see a doctor immediately.
Alternative treatment methods
Physical therapy can help increase your range of motion by strengthening, loosening and warming up the muscles surrounding your affected joints. A physical therapist will work together with you to tailor you a series of stretching and strengthening exercises just for you.
Surgery9 is considered a last resort for people with joint pain. If you are not responding to treatment and have exhausted your options for medication and home remedies, when you consult with your doctor they may want to explore surgery as an option.
Surgery for joint pain usually involves cutting and reshaping the affected joint to improve functioning. In severe cases, it can involve replacing the joint altogether.
It is to be taken into consideration that this content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It is always advisable to seek the advice of your physician with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Reference:
- https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/chronic-pain/types-back-pain-acute-pain-chronic-pain-and-neuropathic-pain
- Acute vs chronic pain. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/12051-acute-vs-chronic-pain Accessed May 2020
- Back pain” The Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/back-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20369906 Accessed June 2020
- Back pain” The Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/back-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20369906 Accessed June 2020 Acute pain treatment. JAMA Network
- Brumagne S, Janssens L, Janssens E, Goddyn L. Altered postural control in anticipation of postural instability in persons with recurrent low back pain. Gait Posture. 2008;28(4):657–662. Via https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0966636208001100 Accessed June 2020
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- Voltaren Global CSS Topical Gels p. 67
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- https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/back-pain/basics/when-to-see-doctor/sym-20050878https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319985#possible-causes-of-body-aches
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https://www.webmd.com/back-pain/features/manage-low-back-pain-home
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