Why your joints can be a pain

Joint pain affects all of us at some time, particularly as we get older. You have hundreds of joints in your body designed to give you support and help you move with ease. But if your joints have been damaged by an injury or disease, it can cause aches and pains that affect your ability to move around normally. 

Any joint in your body can be affected, but knee pain is the most common. Whether your joint pain is mildly annoying or is getting in the way of your daily activities, there are ways to find relief.

Joint pain can be caused by many different injuries or conditions. These include:

• Overuse, stress or direct trauma to the joint (e.g. repeated kneeling)
• Fractures that don’t heal properly
• Tendonitis (inflammation and irritation of a tendon) attached to a joint
• Sprains and strains of a ligament (e.g. sport’s injuries)
• Underlying disease (e.g. osteoarthritis, gout)

When your joints are aching, here’s some tips that might bring you relief:

• Self-care: avoid moving your joint in ways that worsen the pain. Apply an ice pack to the painful joint for 15-20 minutes each day. If you have chronic musculoskeletal pain, using a heat pack may give you relief. Massage is not a good idea if you have joint pain.
• Keep healthy: eat healthy foods and try to maintain a healthy weight to reduce stress to your joints.
• Stay active: regular, appropriate exercise, as well as stretching and strengthening exercises can help with joint pain relief. Speak to your physiotherapist if you’re unsure what exercises you should do.
• Control the pain: taking a simple pain reliever like Nurofen can provide temporary relief from joint pain and inflammation. If you’re over 65 years, taking other medicines, pregnant or breastfeeding, seek advice from your healthcare professional before taking Nurofen.
• See your doctor if your joint pain is accompanied by swelling, redness, tenderness or warmth around the joint.
• Seek immediate medical care if your joint pain is the result of an injury, particularly if you have intense pain, sudden swelling, joint deformity or are unable to move the joint.

Always read the label. Use only as directed. Incorrect use could be harmful. If symptoms persist consult your healthcare professional. All information presented on these web pages is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. In all health related matters please contact your doctor.

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References:

• WebMD. Joint pain and pain relief options. Available at: http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/joint-pain.
• Mayo Clinic Women's Healthsource. Joint health: keep them moving through life. Available at: http://healthsource.mayoclinic.com/secure/pdf/SRAR.pdf.
• Better Health Channel. Available at: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au.
• Mayo Clinic. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/joint-pain
• My Joint Pain. - Arthritis Australia. Dealing with pain Available at: https://www.myjointpain.org.au.

This article is for general information only and not intended as a substitute for medical advice. All information presented on these web pages is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. In all health related matters, always consult your healthcare professional.

Always read the label. Use only as directed. Incorrect use could be harmful. If symptoms persist consult your healthcare professional.