Joint Pain

Joints form the connections between bones. They provide support and help you move. Any damage to the joints from disease or injury can interfere with your movement and cause a lot of pain.

Cause of Joint Pain

Joint pain is extremely common, especially as you age. In one national survey, about one-third of adults reported having joint pain within the past 30 days. Knee pain was the most common complaint, followed by shoulder and hip pain. But joint pain can affect any part of your body, from your ankles and feet to your shoulders and hands.

A wide range of conditions can lead to painful joints:

• Osteoarthritis, a “wear and tear” disease, is the most common type of arthritis.
• Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that happens when your body attacks its own tissues.
• Bursitis is when sacs of fluid that help cushion your joints get inflamed.
• Gout is a form of arthritis that most often affects your big toe joint.
• Strains, sprains, and other injuries.

Treatments for Joint Pain

Joint pain can range from mildly irritating to debilitating. It may go away after a few weeks (acute), or last for several weeks or months (chronic). Even short-term pain and swelling in the joints can affect your quality of life. Whatever the cause of joint pain, you can usually manage it with medication, physical therapy, or alternative treatments.

Your doctor will first try to diagnose and treat the condition that is causing your joint pain. The goal is to reduce pain and inflammation and preserve joint function. Treatment options include:

Medications

For moderate-to-severe joint pain with swelling, an over-the-counter or prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin, celecoxib, ibuprofen, or naproxen can provide relief. NSAIDs can have side effects, potentially increasing your risk for gastrointestinal bleeding.

If you have mild pain without any swelling, acetaminophen can be effective. Be careful when taking this medicine though, especially if you drink alcohol, because high doses may cause liver damage. Because of the risks, you should take any of these pain medications with caution.

If your pain is so severe that NSAIDs aren't effective enough, your doctor may prescribe a stronger opioid medication. Because opioid drugs can cause drowsiness, you should only use them under a doctor's care. They also can cause constipation, which you can relieve by taking laxatives.

Other drugs that may help relieve pain include:

• Muscle relaxants to treat muscle spasms (may be used together with NSAIDs to increase the effect)
• Some antidepressants and antiepileptic drugs (which both interfere with pain signals)