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Amidst the changing weather, physical inactivity and busy life, joint pain is becoming a common health problem for people of all ages. Generally, people ignore mild or moderate pain in knees, shoulders, wrists or hips as ‘normal effect of increasing age’ or ‘fatigue’. Many people continue to apply painkillers or pain relieving balms repeatedly without medical consultation. However, according to medical science and orthopedic experts, joint pain that persists for more than 2 to 3 weeks may not be a sign of normal fatigue, but a warning sign of a serious chronic disease or autoimmune disorder developing inside the body. If it is not recognized in time, it can permanently destroy the structure of the joints.
Risk of Autoimmune Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis can be a major and serious cause of persistent pain in joints. This is a serious autoimmune condition in which the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacks the protective membrane (synovium) of the joints. Due to this, there is constant swelling, redness, severe burning sensation in the joints and stiffness (Morning Stiffness) is felt for more than 30 minutes after waking up in the morning. If it is not treated timely, it starts melting the bones of the joints and can permanently distort the shape of the fingers and wrist.
Cartilage wear and tear and complications of osteoarthritis
The protective tissue that acts like a cushion at the meeting point of two bones is called cartilage. When this cushion gradually starts wearing out due to age, wrong posture or excessive weight, the bones start colliding with each other, which is called Osteoarthritis. Ignoring this leads to crepitus in the joints, abnormal growth of bones (Bone Spurs) and severe unbearable pain, which may eventually stop the person from walking and may even lead to knee replacement surgery.
Uric Acid Accumulation and Risk of Gout
When the uric acid produced by the breakdown of purines in the body is not properly filtered by the kidneys, it starts accumulating in the joints in the form of small sharp crystals. This condition is called ‘Gout’. Gout pain usually begins suddenly at midnight or early morning with extreme prickling and severe swelling in the toe, ankle or knee. If increased levels of uric acid in the blood persist for a long time, it can cause damage to joints as well as kidney stones and kidney damage.
Ignoring Infection and Septic Arthritis
Sometimes the bacterial or viral infection present in some other part of the body reaches the joints through the bloodstream, which is called septic arthritis. In this the joint suddenly becomes extremely hot, swells and there is severe pain along with high fever. This is a medical emergency, where even a little carelessness can destroy the entire cartilage of the joint in a few days.
When to see a doctor and what precautions to take?
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Get tested immediately: If joint pain is accompanied by swelling, redness of the skin, mild fever or severe stiffness in the morning, immediately contact an orthopedic surgeon or rheumatologist and get X-ray, uric acid test and ESR/CRP test done.
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Avoid self-medication: Consuming painkillers daily without advice increases the risk of stomach ulcers and kidney failure.
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Weight and diet control: Eat a balanced diet, drink enough water, do regular light stretching and physiotherapy and control your weight so that there is no excessive pressure on the knees.