A Gist on Joints

A joint is the location where two bones meet. Arthralgia is the medical term for pain in these joints.

Most people experience joint pain at some time during their lives. Pain can be acute, due to a short-term injury or condition, but can also be chronic (long-term).
The many causes of joint pain include arthritis, fractures, other trauma, overuse, age-related degeneration and conditions ranging from Lyme disease to lupus to sickle cell anemia.

When a patient experiences joint pain, a physician may perform a physical examination to diagnose an underlying condition that may be causing the pain. Diagnostic tests that may be performed include blood tests, x-rays and joint fluid analysis.

In addition to lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and weight loss, patients may be prescribed medications to alleviate pain. Many medications are available to treat joint pain, such as acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Corticosteroid injections into the joints can be a safe and effective way to help ease joint pain for some time.

Surgery may be required to alleviate some types of joint pain. Arthroscopy (insertion of a thin, flexible fiberoptic scope through a small incision in the skin) and arthroplasty (replacement of damaged joints with artificial joints) are common types of surgery performed on joints.

Some types of joint pain cannot be prevented. Others can be prevented by lifestyle modification and practicing good health habits.

Most joints are synovial, lubricated by synovial fluid to ease movement. These joints allow varying degrees of movement, ranging from the mobility of the shoulder (a modified ball and socket) to the flexion and extension (bending and straightening) of the hinged distal interphalangeal joints in the fingertips. Some other synovial joints, such as those in the spine, permit limited movement. Fixed joints, such as those in the skull, are fused and do not allow movement.

Most people experience joint pain at some point in their lives. Patients can experience pain in either one joint or many joints. When patients experience pain in more than four joints, it is called polyarticular joint pain.

Patients may experience joint pain that is acute (a normal response to disease or trauma, sometimes defined as lasting less than six weeks), subacute or chronic (pain that persists after the cause’s expected resolution or is due to a chronic condition, sometimes defined as lasting three months or longer). Others experience pain only during certain physical activities.

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