Joint Pain: Characteristics, And Its 5 Most Common Causes
A joint is an anatomical structure that allows the union between two bones or between a bone and cartilage. When we think about joints, those of the shoulders or knees come to mind, diarthroses (synovials) that put two bone structures in contact and allow a wide range of movements in all spatial axes.
However, not all joint elements fall into this category. Of the 360 joints, about 86 are located in the skull, joining flat bones with practically zero mobility. In total, the body has 76 joints in the spine and pelvis, 66 in the thorax, 6 in the throat, 32 in each arm and 31 in each leg. All of them are necessary for maintaining the shape and posture of the human being or, failing that, for the development of movements.
Unfortunately, sometimes joints can fail for various reasons, causing greater or lesser disability in the affected person. Without going any further, the World Health Organization estimates that 1.71 billion people suffer from at least one musculoskeletal disorder worldwide, making these conditions the leading cause of universal disability (at least in high-income countries). ). If you want to know everything about joint pain and its possible causes keep reading.
Among the more than 150 musculoskeletal disorders that can affect humans, low back pain is the most common of all. This affects more than 568 million people around the world, making it the leading cause of work-related disability in 160 different countries. In any case, there are many more disorders that can affect walking and locomotion, and many of them manifest themselves in the form of joint pain.
For its part, Joint pain or arthralgia is considered a symptom in the clinical setting, rather than a common disease Frequently, this discomfort comes from the dysfunction of external structures, such as muscles, tendons or ligaments. In other cases, mineral deposition (such as calcium pyrophosphate) can occur in the joint synovium and cause damage to the joint itself.
According to the Global Year Against Musculoskeletal Pain, Pain usually occurs during physical activities and decreases during rest or postural maintenance Greater sensitivity to pain in the joint area can be explained by the following mechanisms:
Additionally, joint pain It can be acute (transitory) or chronic (continuous onset, for months or years) This discomfort usually occurs locally in the affected joint(s), but sometimes it is also possible to notice discomfort referring to the leg or arms. Pain, for its part, leads to motor limitation, lameness, physical impediments and loss of strength, whether in the short or long term.
Possible causes of joint pain
As we have said, joint pain is a symptom, and therefore a consequence of an underlying process, more or less serious. Below, we present some clinical entities that can manifest with arthralgia at different levels. Do not miss it.
1. Ankylosing spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic form of arthritis. The cause of the disease is unknown, but genetics seems to play an essential role in its development: the majority of sick people (90%) are positive for the leukocyte antigen HLA-B27, associated with various pathologies of an autoimmune nature.
This condition affects almost 2% of the population in some high-income countries, and It is believed that it could be due to an incorrect immune response by the immune system , especially CD8 T lymphocytes. In any case, it has not yet been demonstrated that it is due to a mechanism of autoantigen recognition (an event by which lymphocytes see normal tissues of the human body as pathogens).
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder in the world. Over the years, the articular cartilage wears down, causing the bones to rub together and decrease their functionality over time. It is estimated that 70 to 90% of patients over 75 years of age have some radiological sign of osteoarthritis, so it is a pathology completely related to aging and age.
Osteoarthritis is what we usually refer to when we think of rheumatism: an elderly person with swollen, hooked hands who have trouble performing daily tasks. In any case, it should be noted that the term “rheuma” actually encompasses more than 200 clinical entities of a rheumatic nature, all with joint and/or tendon wear and tear in common.
3. Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis can be confused with osteoarthritis, but the etiology is not the same. On this occasion, the cells of the autoimmune system seem to begin to attack the joint tissue without any specific biological meaning probably due to the action and primary activation of exogenous triggers (such as viruses or bacteria).
This causes chronic inflammatory responses (generally in the joints of the hands and fingers), which gradually damage ligaments, joints and tendons in the active focus of immune cells. Presents with long-lasting morning stiffness a very important differential feature to distinguish rheumatoid arthritis from osteoarthritis.
4. Fibromyalgia
A chronic condition that goes beyond the joints, since in this case it also ligaments, muscles and tendons are affected Curiously, this clinical picture can manifest itself in a very similar way to joint pain, but the problem focus is actually in the muscles, and not in the joints.
It is a much more common condition than it seems, as it affects 2 to 6% of the world’s population, especially if we talk about women. Fibromyalgia occurs chronically and the symptoms are very general: fatigue (90%), sleep disorders (80%), pain in one or more muscle, joint or ligamentous points (100%) and even chronic depression or anxiety ( 25%). On this occasion, special emphasis is placed on muscle discomfort.
Many conditions can cause joint pain beyond those already described. For example, sometimes Bacteria from a primary infectious focus can travel to the synovial fluid of the joint and progress in it, an event known as infectious arthritis The patient shows local swelling, inability to move the affected area, and even fever and chills.
On the other hand, A cancerous tumor can also endanger the structures of the joints , as is the case of synovial sarcoma. Interestingly, this type of malignancy is more common in children and young adults, although it can also occur in the elderly population. There is also a chance that a bone tumor (osteosarcoma) may spread to a joint area, which also causes joint pain.
Summary
In summary, joint pain is multifactorial. As it is a symptom and not a disease, there can be many causes that generate it, from cancers to autoimmune pathologies, including infections, mechanical injuries, metabolic disorders and many other things. In any case, we emphasize again that osteoarthritis is the most common type of joint pain, something relatively normal associated with the passage of time and age.
Still, just because something is normal doesn’t mean a patient should live with it. In the clinical field there is a maxim: living with pain and adapting to it is never a possibility. With physical therapy, occupational therapy, medications (pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, and immunosuppressants), and psychological therapy, chronic pain can be addressed.
