Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Can Arthritis Cause Pain All Over The Body

Other Causes Of Joint Pain

JOINT PAIN ALL OVER BODY: REASONS FOR JOINT PAIN ALL OVER BODY AND RESPECTIVE NATURAL REMEDIES

There are many causes of joint pain other than arthritis, Dr. Cotter says, such as injury and overuse, bursitis and tendinitis .

Joint pain can also result from abnormal pain processing, which occurs in conditions such as fibromyalgia.

Because joint pain and swelling can have many different causes, she stresses that obtaining the correct diagnosis is the most important part. You have to learn the cause of the joint pain and swelling in order to treat it correctly. Treatment options can vary widely, so it’s important that you don’t try to fix your joint pain or swelling on your own.

How The Body Feels Pain

Pain works in mysterious ways. Actually, pain works in a couple different ways when it comes to the signals received by the brain, but Im sure you dont want a biochemistry 101 course, so this is the simplified version.

There are two types of pain receptors. One receptor reports injuries to the brain, and the other reports everything else. Because of these two types of receptors, pain also comes in two types :

  • First Pain: This pain sensation is quickly transmitted. It is a sharp pain, similar to a pinprick. It is usually a localized pain as well meaning it comes from a specific area of the body, like your finger, or lip .
  • Second Pain: As its name suggests, second pain typically follows first pain. It has a slower onset but is longer lasting. Typically diffusely localized, it is usually a dull, throbbing, or burning sensation and continues after the stimulus that caused the pain is removed.

Our central nervous system has the ability to modify its perception of pain. This is why when you are working out, you dont feel the back injury you just inflicted on yourself. You feel it the next day instead. This is also the brains gateway mechanism for pain. For example, if you have chronic pain in your leg, and you smash your hand with a bust of George Washington, your brain will register the pain in your hand, but your leg wont hurt anymore.

Now that we know a little bit about the different pain receptors, lets look at the different types of pain medications.

Whats The Difference Between Psoriatic Arthritis And Rheumatoid Arthritis

While both conditions are autoimmune, inflammatory types of arthritis, psoriatic arthritis develops only in patients who also have psoriasis, an inflammatory condition of the skin that causes dry, scaly plaques. Psoriatic arthritis also often affects your nails, eyes, and tendons. Unlike psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis often causes elevated levels of rheumatoid factor in the blood, and symptoms usually present on both sides of the body.

Recommended Reading: Swollen Hot Finger Joint

When To Call Your Doctor

Dr. Cotter urges anyone who experiences sudden symptoms of arthritis to seek medical attention immediately. If left untreated, these symptoms could lead to long-term problems in the joint.

“It is not normal for a joint to suddenly swell, and getting the correct diagnosis is of the utmost importance,” she says. “Early diagnosis and intervention will mean a better outcome.”

Any persistent issues warrant a call to your doctor as well, she says. For example, if you have joint pain without swelling or joint swelling without pain that persists, you should see your doctor for an evaluation.

Effects On Your Daily Life

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): Signs and symptoms
  • See a doctor or other relevant healthcare professional if youre unable to do everyday tasks due to joint or muscle pain.
  • If youve lifted something heavy and hurt your back, for example, take some painkillers, apply some heat and try to stay active. If the pain doesnt ease after a couple of weeks or so, see a doctor.

Its important to see a doctor if you get any new symptoms or if you have any trouble with drugs youre taking.

If you have an appointment with a doctor, to help make sure you get the most out of it, you could take a list of questions with you and tick them off as they are discussed.

You could also keep a symptoms diary with details of how youre feeling in between appointments. Some people find that taking a friend or relative with them to an appointment can provide support and ensure that all important points are discussed.

Don’t Miss: How To Deal With Arthritis

Should I See A Doctor

Its common to have aches and pains in your muscles and joints from time to time. This may especially be true if you take part in unusual or strenuous physical activities.

So, how can you tell the difference between the early signs of arthritis and normal pain and stiffness? And, how do you know when you should see a doctor about your symptoms?

If you have swelling or stiffness that you cant explain and that doesn’t go away in a few days, or if it becomes painful to touch your joints, you should see a doctor. The earlier you get a diagnosis and start the right type of treatment, the better the outcome will be.

Here are some other things to think about that might help you decide whether you need to see a doctor:

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Bacteria called R. rickettsii cause it, and a tick bite is usually how you get it. Most of the symptoms are flu-like — fever, chills, headache, nausea, insomnia, and muscle aches. A rash that doesn’t itch can show up on your wrists and ankles after a few days, then spread. Antibiotics treat it, and the sooner you take them, the better. If not treated, it can lead to inflammation in your lungs, heart, and brain, then kidney failure.

Read Also: Rheumatoid Arthritis Article

Expert Q& A: Just Dealing With Chronic Pain

Why itâs important to get proper treatment for chronic pain.

Q: With both fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis, I have constant pain. Even with treatment, it never goes away completely. Ive just been dealing with it. Is that OK?

Chronic pain is not a problem you should just put up with in fact, you should be dealing with chronic pain in ways that are effective. This is important because an increasing number of studies show serious consequences of having chronic pain. It may cause damage to certain areas of the brain, just as chronic stress does. Chronic pain also may lead to psychological problems, such as depression social problems, such as isolation or decreased earning potential and functional problems, such as decreased activity or disability.

Medications can also be helpful. For moderate-to-severe knee osteoarthritis , the supplement glucosamine may provide some relief, as may the right combination of analgesics or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs . There are three drugs specifically approved for use in fibromyalgia, as well as many drugs that have been shown to be effective but are not specifically approved.

Tell your doctor that the treatments you tried previously are not resolving your chronic pain, and then work with him to find the right combination of treatments for you. It may take some time, but the result will be worth the effort.

Donât Miss: Cure For Arthritis In Hands

Pain And Tender Points

What are the causes of Muscle, Bone, and Joint Pain?

Almost all people with fibromyalgia ache all over. It can feel similar to osteoarthritis, bursitis, and tendinitis, but it’s over your entire body. This is usually what makes you go see your doctor.

The pain can be deep, sharp, dull, throbbing, or aching. You feel it in your muscles, tendons, and ligaments around the joints. For some people, the pain comes and goes. It could travel throughout your body.

You may also have tender points — specific spots around your joints that hurt when you press them with a finger. If you press a tender point on a person without fibromyalgia, they’ll just feel pressure. But that same pressure would be very painful for someone with fibro.

These tender points are in predictable places on the body. They’re often under the surface of the skin, not in areas of deep pain. It’s the tissue around the muscles and joints that hurts rather than the joints themselves.

Read Also: What Makes Rheumatoid Arthritis Worse

How To Treat Water Retention & Stiff Joints Naturally

Joint stiffness can occur for many reasons. For the majority of people, stiff joints are a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis. In the United States, an estimated 1.3 million adults deal with the problem. Caused by an abnormal immune response, this condition causes the soft tissue that surrounds the joints to become inflamed.

What Is ‘sudden Arthritis’ Exactly

The term sudden arthritis refers to inflammation and swelling in the joints with a quick onset, Nicole M. Cotter, MD, a physician board-certified in rheumatology and integrative medicine at UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center, tells LIVESTRONG.com.

According to the CDC, the primary symptoms of arthritis in general are:

  • Redness andstiffness in the joints

Some additional symptoms, such as fever and fatigue, can also occur with arthritis.

There are a few possible explanations when the condition seems to appear out of the blue.

You May Like: What Causes Arthritis Flare Up In Hands

Sudden Onset Joint Pain

Sudden multiple joint pain is most often just a flare up of a pre-existing issue like Lupus, RA, or even osteoarthritis.

Even severe joint pain all over can just be a bad flare up of a pre-existing issue.

In that case, you probably don’t need to worry about the ‘sudden’ part. But you should absolutely worry about fixing the problem and getting your body working correctly again, even if your doctor has told you that there is no cure, no hope of getting better.An effective rheumatoid arthritis treatment can get rid of RA. Unfortunately, your doctor believes RA to be incurable.

If you have pre-existing issue, then you’re probably familiar with flare ups. Maybe they show up quickly, maybe they’re even severe, but they’re definitely not ‘new’ they’re not ‘sudden joint pain’. It’s just more of the same, it’s not ‘new pain’.

Remember, there is no such thing as sudden onset arthritis symptoms….because arthritis is neither sudden nor ‘new’. Arthritis is chronic and has slowly been getting worse over time.

Infection though…infection is a dangerous and life threatening cause of sudden onset joint pain.

Go to the www.TendonitisExpert.com homepage.

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  • Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment,your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.
  • What Are The Symptoms Of Joint Stiffness

    ASK About Vitamins: Do proteolytic enzymes help arthritis ...

    Initially, individuals may experience stiffness and pain in the affected areas. They may experience water retention and swelling.

    In some cases, they may also develop redness or skin changes. The affected joint may develop a weird shape or become disjointed. In addition, the individual will most likely deal with a loss of mobility.

    Before visiting a doctor, it is important to track all of the symptoms. This chart will help the doctor figure out what type of arthritis is involved. Individuals should track when the symptoms occur and if they reoccur frequently.

    Risk factors for this medical condition vary greatly between each person. The earliest risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis include stiffness and pain in the joints. Individuals in the early stages of the problem will often experience swelling on a daily basis. A family history of the condition may also increase someones chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

    Recommended Reading: Rh Arthritis Treatment

    The Famous Acdc Cannabis Strain

    As the rock band put it, this is the T.N.T. of all strains. Its the ultimate powerhouse strain that blows the pain away. ACDC is a sativa-dominant strain and originates from Cannatonic. ACDC stands out for its low THC, high CBD ratio providing its patients with immediate pain relief without the high.

    You May Like: Rheumatoid Arthritis Remission Naturally

    Rashes Ulcers And Bumps: How Ra Affects Your Skin

    A skin rash or ulcers on the arms and legs sometimes occur in people with rheumatoid arthritis, especially if the disease has gone untreated for a long time, Dr. Greer says.

    Up to 30 percent of people with RA develop rheumatoid nodules knots of inflammatory tissue just under the skin near a joint, according to research published in the journal Autoimmunity Reviews. Most often appearing on the elbows, hands, and feet, they can be treated with a steroid injection if they become bothersome.

    All the conditions that affect the skin tend to resolve once RA is controlled with DMARD medications.

    Recommended Reading: Rheumatoid Arthritis Thigh Pain

    Not All Joint Pain Is Arthritis

    As a rheumatologist, Im becoming an expert in evaluating all types of joint pain. My adult patients are wonderful at describing how their joints feel: burning, stabbing, pressure, stiffness, crushing, aching, throbbing. Children use more creative language: the joint feels like ice cream, like aliens are poking at them with needles from the inside, like bugs are crawling over them.

    Pain in a joint is one of the most common reasons why patients are referred to a rheumatologist, often with the suspicion that the pain is due to arthritis. Although there are many causes of joint pain, one simple question can help to differentiate between arthritis and most of the other conditions.

    Arthritis is a term that refers to inflammation of a joint. There are two basic types of arthritis: inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis. Its easy to see inflammatory arthritis: it causes joint swelling, warmth, redness, and pain. Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, does not cause much joint inflammation and usually only presents pain.

    So how is one to tell the difference between all of the entities that cause joint pain? Just ask this question: when do your symptoms occur?

    Take-home points:

    What Does Arthritis Pain Feel Like

    Body aches or pains, Joint aches, Muscle stiffness ||DailyPostPunjabi||

    Are you wondering if the pain and stiffness in your hips, knees, or fingers are caused by arthritis? Here’s how you and your doctor can decide.

    Hardly anyone escapes the annoyance of occasional aches and pains, especially as they age. But persistent joint pain and stiffness can be signs of arthritis, which affects more than 54.4 million American adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . By 2040, an estimated 78 million American adults are projected to have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.

    RELATED:

    You May Like: Rheumatoid Arthritis Burning Pain

    Causes Of Morning Stiffness From Arthritis

    Feeling stiff when you first wake up in the morning is a common problem associated with arthritis. Morning stiffness causes you to hurt all over as you get out of bed. As you take your first steps, your joints and muscles ache so much, you want to crawl right back into bed. In fact, morning stiffness can be the most severe pain you feel all day and it can impair or interfere with your ability to function and perform routine tasks and activities of daily living.

    Paying attention to the duration of your morning stiffness will help both you and your healthcare provider decide how to deal with it. Morning stiffness that lasts more than an hour and in some cases up to several hours is characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory types of arthritis. Morning stiffness that is less prolonged is more likely to be osteoarthritis or another non-inflammatory, musculoskeletal condition. In spite of having a regular treatment regimen, morning stiffness is a persistent problem for many people with arthritis.

    Why Do I Have Arthritis On One Side Of My Body

    You may have arthritis on one side of your body if the muscles on that side are weaker and cannot adequately support your joints, leading to increased joint pressure and cartilage breakdown. Alternatively, arthritis may also develop on one side of your body if you repetitively use one side more than the other, especially your dominant hand, since repetitive activities put chronic stress on joints that can wear down cartilage over time.

    You May Like: Ra Symptoms In Legs

    Rheumatoid Arthritis Vs Osteoarthritis

    Many people confuse rheumatoid arthritis with osteoarthritis due to their similar symptoms, but the two diseases are caused by different factors.

    What is Osteoarthritis?

    Whereas rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes joint malfunction due to inflammation, osteoarthritis is a mechanical disease brought on by the destruction of joints through wear and tear.

    Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, with approximately 27 million Americans over the age of 25 having been diagnosed with it. Osteoarthritis is also most commonly seen in people middle-aged to elderly and is the top cause of disability in those age groups, though it can also appear in younger people who have sustained joint injuries.

    With osteoarthritis, the cartilage, joint lining, ligaments, and bone are all affected by deterioration and inflammation. When the cartilage begins to break down due to stress or changes in the body, the surrounding bones slowly get bigger and begin to fail.

    Osteoarthritis is a slowly progressing disease and occurs in the joints of the hand, spine, hips, knees, and toes. Furthermore, risk factors of this disease most often stem from lifestyle or biological causes, such as:

    • Obesity

    Osteoarthritis sometimes occurs alongside rheumatoid arthritis or other disease, such as gout.

    How Are Stiff Joints Related To Water Retention

    Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Aside from Inflammation

    When the immune system is activated, histamine and other chemicals are released. These chemicals are intended to cause the affected area to become flooded with fluid and antibodies to stop any illness. If this immune response is caused by an allergen or a malfunctioning immune system, it can lead to long term inflammation and swelling.

    This swelling is due to the buildup of fluids within the tissue. In effect, the same condition that causes stiff joints also causes water retention. Although there are some treatment methods available, many individuals will be able to find relief with natural supplements or therapies.

    Read Also: Arthritis In Fingers Remedy

    Popular Articles
    Related news