OUT of joint
IT’S OLD AGE
As we get older, cartilage – the spongy, rubbery material that protects the ends of bones – dries out and stiffens. Plus our bodies are less effective at making synovial fluid, the stuff that keeps joints moving smoothly in a similar way to how oil lubricates machine parts.
Keeping mobile is one of the best things you can do to keep synovial fluid working properly.
YOU’RE GETTING UP
IN THE MORNING
After you’ve been lying still for hours, the synovial fluid is less effective and, as a result, your joints are likely to feel stiff and sore the first time you try to move them. Doing a few gentle exercises in bed before you get up can help, as can being mobile throughout the day.
YOUR JOINTS ARE SUFFERING FROM WEAR AND TEAR Over the years, joints can get worn down simply by being used. This is known as osteoarthritis. It occurs when the cartilage that stops bones rubbing together is worn away so that the bones end up touching each other, causing pain. It can be worse if you have suffered an injury or are overweight.
Medication helps with pain and swelling, and you may have to do some activities a little differently. In severe cases, damaged joints can be replaced.
YOU’VE GOT AN AUTOIMMUNE DISORDER Joint pain is a symptom of rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks healthy parts of the body, such as the lining of the joints. This causes inflammation, stiffness and pain, and can lead to joint deformities. Rheumatoid arthritis can’t be cured, but it can be managed thanks to medication and other treatments.
Other autoimmune disorders, such as lupus, can also cause joint pain.
YOU’VE GOT BURSITIS
This is a condition that affects the bursae, tiny fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones, ligaments and muscles in your joints. If those sacs become inflamed – which can happen due to an injury, repetitive pressure or biomechanical issues – it can cause pain in and around the joint.
Fortunately, it is usually temporary. The best form of treatment is to rest the affected joint for several weeks, giving the bursae time to recover and the inflammation to ease. IT’S GOUT
Gout is a type of arthritis that can affect any joint, although it is often first noticed in the big toe. Unlike other possible causes of joint stiffness, which get worse over time, gout comes on suddenly. It tends to affect men more than women, although women’s chances of developing it increase after menopause.
Gout can be managed with anti-inflammatory medication and changing diet to lower levels of uric acid in the body, which make the pain worse. The best foods to eat are wholegrains, vegetables, low-fat dairy products and plant oils. Avoid red meat and organ meats such as liver, shellfish, sugary beverages and excessive alcohol.
IT COULD BE FIBROMYALGIA This is another chronic condition that causes joint pain, among other things. It doesn’t damage your joints the way arthritis does, fortunately. Unfortunately, there is no cure but antiinflammatory medication and gentle exercise can help.
IT MAY BE CANCER
Very rarely, joint pain can be due to bone cancer. Some people with the disease experience joint pain, or may have swelling or sensitivity near the joint.