Saturday, March 7, 2009

What Are The Causes Of Joint Pain?

By Ron Bell

A joint is the point where two bones meet. It helps us move the body parts that are connected to these bones. Our joints are one of the biggest concerns when we grow older. As we grow older, the muscles around them weaken and the joint gets inflamed, causing pain. The most common causes of pain are Arthritis, Aseptic Necrosis, Bursitis, Osteochondritis Dissecans, Sickle Cell Disease, and withdrawal caused by steroid usage. In this article, we will go through all of these and their causes.

Arthritis: This is a disorder of the joints that causes inflammation within them. There are over one hundred types of arthritis, and their causes range from wear and tear to an over active immune system. This is one of the most common chronic illnesses in the world. Arthritis can be caused by injury, abnormalities in the metabolism, genetics, and even infections.

As there is a large variety in this illness, it is commonly called a rheumatic disease, which describes that every type has a different reason, and as a result has various treatments - but the one common thing is that they affect the joints and muscles.

Aseptic Necrosis: This is a condition of the bone that causes blood supply to one part of the bone to stop, which results in the decay of that particular bone. Dead areas of the bone cannot function in a normal fashion, and over time will get weak and eventually collapse.

Bursitis: This is an inflammation of the bursa, which is a sac that is filled with fluid and reduces friction between the different tissues in the body. There are over one hundred and sixty bursas in the body, and the major ones are located close to tendons near our large joints. The bursa may become inflamed as a result of an infection, injury, or an underlying condition.

Osteochondritis dissecans: This is a situation in which the area of the bone adjacent to cartilage loses their blood supply. This can happen in any joint, but elbows and knees are the ones that are most commonly affected.

Sickle cell anaemia: This is a heritable blood disorder that is caused by abnormal haemoglobin, which is the main reason for distortion in the red blood cells. These red blood cells then become very vulnerable and could rupture very quickly. When the quantity of red blood cells in the body declines, the result is anaemia. The irregularity in red blood cells can also cause the blood vessels to get blocked, therefore causing pain.

Steroid withdrawal symptoms: Steroids considered being a regular treatment for asthma, several forms of arthritis, inflammatory bowel, and allergic reactions. But, there are downsides of using this drug, and that is why they are generally given for the shortest possible time. When the treatment is stopped all of a sudden, the body gets through withdrawal which could look like one of numerous other illnesses. Signs of this amongst others include weakness, tiredness, and in some cases lack of appetite as well.

Thus, it is vital that you get a doctors appointment as soon as you experience any pain in your body, specifically your joints, as this could be an indication of a larger problem than just pain. - 15437

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