Aging, Joint Pain, and Arthritis: Understanding Your Pain

Life is a one-way one-way street from birth to old age. For most of us, we have a good number of years to enjoy life, study, work, raise a family, and have some fun along the way. We can share laughter, good times, food, and drink with those that we love and make some lasting friendships, romances, and connections along the way.

However, as you age, you need to be more conscious of your health and wellbeing and perhaps receive care from a qualified health professional such as someone who has completed an MSN AGPCNP or other healthcare qualification.

Arthritis and joint pain can be common phenomena for those experiencing aging. This article will explain this experience and share some tips and tricks for dealing with it and reducing and managing pain. Continue reading to learn more.

What is Arthritis and Joint Pain?

Arthritis is the name given for any swelling and tenderness of one or more joints within your body. The main symptoms of arthritis tend to be joint pain, inflammation and stiffness, which typically worsen as you get older. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is when cartilage — the hard, slippery tissue matter that covers the ends of bones where they come together to form a joint — breaks down. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is a disease in which the immune system attacks the joints, beginning with the lining of joints.

Arthritis can have other causes, too. For example, uric acid crystals form when there’s too much uric acid in the blood, causing gout, a painful joint condition. Other causes can be infections or other underlying diseases, such as psoriasis or lupus, which can cause arthritis symptoms.

Treatments will vary depending on the type of arthritis that you have. The main goals of arthritis treatments are to improve your quality of life and reduce the pain associated with the symptoms.

Risk Factors

There are several risk factors associated with arthritis and joint pain. These include:

• Aging. The risk of developing arthritis and joint pain increases as you get older.
• Your biological sex. Women are much more likely than men to get rheumatoid arthritis. In contrast, most of the people who have gout, another type of arthritis discussed above, are men.
• Obesity. Carrying excess weight will put stress on your joints, particularly your knees, hips and spine. People who are obese tend to have a higher risk of developing arthritis, in combination with other risk factors.
• Previous joint injury or sprain. People who have injured a joint, perhaps while playing a sport or at work, are more likely to develop arthritis in that joint eventually.
• Family history. Some types of arthritis run in families, so you may be more likely to develop arthritis if your grandparents, parents, or siblings have the disorder, too.

Complications from Arthritis

Arthritis and joint pain can cause complications to your health as you get older. Severe arthritis, particularly if it impacts your hands or arms, can make it increasingly difficult for you to perform daily tasks. Arthritis in weight-bearing joints can stop you from being able to walk comfortably or for a long period or can stop you from sitting up straight. In some cases, joints may gradually lose their alignment and shape, leading to physical deformation.

Arthritis Diagnosis

If you think you might be developing arthritis, the first port of call is to see your doctor for a physical check-up. During this physical exam, a doctor will check your joints for any obvious swelling, redness around the joint, or warmth. They’ll also test your movement and want to see how well you can move your joints without pain or discomfort.

Laboratory analysis of various types of body fluids can help healthcare providers determine the type of arthritis you may have developed. Fluids commonly analyzed in a lab include urine, blood and joint fluid. To obtain a sample of joint fluid for testing, doctors will cleanse and numb the area before inserting a needle in the joint to withdraw some fluid and send it to the lab.

Medical imaging can also detect problems within your joints that may be causing pain. Typically, you might undergo an X-ray, CT, MRI or ultrasound scan to diagnose arthritis.

Arthritis and Joint Pain Treatment

Arthritis treatment prescribed by a medical professional will focus on relieving your painful symptoms and improving your joint function. Sometimes, you’ll need to trial a range of different treatments, inducing medication to find the mix that works best for you.

Medication/Pharmaceuticals

Different medications used to treat arthritis and joint pain will vary depending on the type of arthritis you have. Frequently used arthritis medications can include:

• Counterirritants. These are creams and ointments that contain either menthol or capsaicin, which is the ingredient that makes hot peppers and chillies spicy. Rubbing these medicines on the skin over your aching and painful joints may interfere with the transmission of pain signals from the joint itself and relieve symptoms.
• Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can slow down the progression of rheumatoid arthritis and prevent permanent tissue damage. In addition to conventional DMARDs, there are different biologic agents and targeted synthetic DMARDs that can help. However, side effects vary, but most DMARDs increase the risk of infections, which is a risk for some people.
• Steroids. Corticosteroid medicines, such as prednisone and other steroids, reduce pain and inflammation and can slow joint damage. They may be taken either as a pill or given as an injection directly into the painful joint. However, side effects are present and may include thinning of bones, diabetes, and weight gain.
• NSAIDs. Drugs called Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) can relieve pain and reduce inflammation for those experiencing arthritis and joint pain. Examples of these drugs include ibuprofen (such as Advil), naproxen sodium (Aleve) and meloxicam. Stronger NSAIDs can cause stomach irritation and can increase your risk of stroke or heart attack. These types of drugs are also available as creams or gels, which can be rubbed on joints.

As you can see, there are a range of medical interventions available as treatment, however it is worth considering the side effects in consultation with your treating doctor or healthcare professional.