Many conditions can cause arthritic symptoms like joint pain and stiffness in the body. Such symptoms can occur either throughout the body or locally, i.e., within just one joint. To enquire about the causes of joint pain all over the body, read the following article.
Are All Your Joints Painful?
More than one condition can cause widespread joint inflammation in the body. The major causes are as follows.
Flu
It is an infectious condition. Flu usually occurs with sudden symptoms like achy joints and muscles. To be more precise, it is a respiratory illness. The cause of this condition is the influenza virus.
Usually, joint pain from the flu only lasts 1-2 weeks on average. Yet, symptoms might linger for more than that in some patients.
Post-Viral Conditions
Some people recover after viral fever with time and don’t require any medical interventions at all. However, certain people might experience joint pain all over the body for a long time. The condition is known as post-viral fatigue.
Doctors usually use physiotherapy, medicines and other coping strategies for pain relief and mobility restoration.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
This is a specific health problem where the body experiences chronic inflammation and fatigue. The exact cause of this condition is still unknown. However, this fatigue syndrome can also develop after a viral fever, i.e., covid 19. The condition is also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.
Gout
When uric acid in the blood increases, it causes crystals to form inside the joints. This crystallisation causes joint inflammation.
Gout often initiates joint inflammation locally, i.e., affecting one joint at a time. However, polyarticular gout can affect multiple joints in the body at the same time.
Autoimmune Disorders
Sometimes, the immune system itself turns against healthy cells and tissues of the body. This condition is generally called an autoimmune disorder. Joint pain throughout the body can also be due to an autoimmune disorder, e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriatic arthritis, etc.
However, such conditions don’t have any permanent cure. Pain can be managed effectively with the help of physiotherapy, medications and other conservative treatment options.
Overuse Syndrome
Overusing the body for a long period of time without enough rest is also a common cause of joint pain all over the body.
Over-exercise, prolonged sitting, prolonged standing, bad sitting posture, etc—all such conditions—strain the body and often lead to joint inflammation when adequate rest isn’t taken.
If you have been experiencing pain in more than one joint for a long period of time, consult a joint specialist or an orthopedist. Visit the following link to schedule an appointment: joint pain specialist in South Delhi.
Joint Pain Diagnosis
Joints are points where the bone ends meet. In medical parlance, a joint is called an articulation. Problems inside articulations or joints can be diagnosed with the help of the following.
- Medical History Examination
- Physical Examination
- X-Ray
- Ultrasound
- MRI
- CT Scan
- Blood Tests
- Joint Fluid Analysis
A joint specialist might start the diagnostic procedure with the analysis of medical history. Analysing a patient’s past medical history is crucial in orthopedic diagnostics.
Furthermore, a physical examination can also be performed. The doctor might inspect walking patterns, check tenderness on joints, evaluate signs of inflammation etc. Apart from that, imaging tests can also be used to diagnose a variety of joint conditions.
X-ray, Ultrasound, MRI and CT scan are major imaging tests. An X-ray helps find diseased bone and joint conditions. An ultrasound test is good for soft-tissue parts. However, it cannot produce images of the internal body organs too deep within the skin.
So, MRIs and CT Scans are used for detailed imaging of bones and non-bony parts in the body where the ultrasound technology doesn’t work.
If a patient already has a metal implant within their body, MRI tests are usually not recommended. An MRI test utilises strong magnetic fields to produce images that might interfere with the implant. In this situation, a CT scan becomes a viable option.
Blood tests and joint fluid analysis are also used in diagnosis. They also help discover various joint conditions, i.e., infections, bone cancer, gout, etc.
A joint specialist will physically examine your joint conditions and then accordingly devise a diagnostic plan before offering any treatment.
Joint Pain Treatment
Treatment for joint pain majorly depends on joint conditions and the root cause.
The doctor will diagnose the condition first and then use any of the medical interventions practically available. Generally, treatment options include:
Rest: If the joint inflammation is because of overuse syndrome, the doctor will recommend sufficient rest to promote natural healing.
Physiotherapy: Special exercises, hand manoeuvres and education are major pillars of physiotherapy. It helps alleviate pain, regain mobility and strengthen the weak muscles so that joints can better withstand external traumas and avert injuries.
Medications: Painkillers are also used to work on symptoms and offer relief from inflammation. The doctor might also combine antidepressants or mood lifters with painkillers.
Surgery: Surgery might be required. Sometimes, joint pain cannot be treated without surgery. It might involve joint replacements or arthroscopic procedures.
For the best treatment, connect with a renowned joint specialist. Visit the following link to schedule an appointment: top orthopedic doctor in South Delhi.
Types of Joint Inflammation
If all your joints are painful, it might be because of an autoimmune disorder like Rheumatoid Arthritis. This type of chronic polyarticular inflammation is in short called chronic joint inflammation or arthritis.
However, if a joint becomes inflamed after a one-time single traumatising event, the inflammation is termed acute. In other words, if the joint pain starts after an injury, it is acute inflammation.
Thus, two types of inflammation can occur in the joints, namely acute and chronic.
When to Consult A Joint Specialist
Do your body, joints and muscles feel painful? Have you been popping painkillers but it doesn’t offer permanent relief? Have all home remedies failed? It is the right time for you to consult a joint specialist. An orthopedic doctor will help you get better relief from joint pain.
