DO YOU SUFFER FROM SWOLLEN JOINTS?

Swollen joints are a common ailment that usually effects older individuals or athletes; however, sometimes those who suffer from swollen, painful joints are not athletes or the elderly. The joints of seemingly average, normal individuals enlarge and inflame directly at the joint or in the surrounding tissue area. Usually this sometimes debilitating condition is accompanied by stiffness, pain, redness, and weakness. Sufferers can also have a varying degree of joints affected. Some days only a certain joint may be effected, while other days all of the joints in the body may seem to be inflamed. So what could be some possible medical causes for consistent swollen joints?

OSTEOARTHRITIS

Osteotharthrotis is caused by the normal wearing down of the cartilage and tissue that make up the joint. After a lifetime of moving around, elderly people usually develop some form of arthritis attributed to overuse. When the cartilage begins to break down, bone on bone contact is made and can be extremely irritating, causing the joint to swell. Younger, healthy individuals can also be effected as they have accelerated their degeneration due to extremely active lifestyles.

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Rheumatoid Arthritis can strike anyone of any age. This type of arthritis is not one brought about as the result of wear and tear. Surprisingly enough, it is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system turns against itself. It causes painful, stiff joints and aching hands and feet due to the overproduction of a joint fluid called synovium.

GOUT

Gout is caused by too much uric acid in the blood. This is most attributed to complications associated with a person’s diet. Individuals who are overweight are particularly susceptible. The abundance of uric acid in the body can cause uric acid crystals to form in the joints, causing irritation and subsequent inflammation. One of the most common reasons for high uric acid count is excessive alcohol consumption.

Not all swollen joints have equal causes, so it’s important to discover the underlying problem so a specific treatment can be applied. A first treatment option for general joint inflammation is to use NSAIDS, or anti-inflammatory drugs to help reduce the swelling and to allow fresh, oxygenated blood into the area to promote healing. However, if the swollen joints are caused by a condition like gout, or one of several types of arthritis, alternate treatment plans are necessary – including prescription medications or surgery. If you have never sought to treatment for your painful or swollen joints, contact PPG today to schedule an appointment today.