If you are experiencing joint pain, you may be wondering if it is due to arthritis or possibly something else. Nearly 1 in 4 Americans suffer from some form of arthritis, but don’t jump the gun and diagnose yourself too quickly. 1 Joint pain can be attributed to other health issues besides arthritis.
By definition, Arthritis is the painful inflammation and stiffness of one or more joints. There are more than 100 different types, but the two most common are Osteoarthritis (causes cartilage to break down) and Rheumatoid (causes the immune system to attack the joints). Classic symptoms of arthritis include stiffness after waking up or sitting for long periods. Typically, morning stiffness lasts longer than one hour. Arthritis can cause pain, redness, tenderness, swelling, and warmth in the joints. Joint pain as a result of arthritis can be intermittent or constant and can occur while moving or at rest. One tell-tale sign of arthritis is pain accompanied by inflammation.
While most joint pain is caused by Arthritis, it can also be a result of injuries such as fractures, tendon and ligament tears, and dislocations. Some diseases such as bone cancers, Lyme disease, and Fibromyalgia can cause joint pain as well. It can be hard to differentiate between joint pain and arthritis joint pain but keep in mind that inflammation is consistent with arthritis.
Whether your joint pain stems from arthritis or another cause, it’s important to see your doctor for an accurate diagnosis. After a thorough examination, your doctor can determine the cause of your pain and prescribe you appropriate treatment to help alleviate your symptoms.
At North Central Surgical Center, our mission is to treat each and every one of our patients and their families as if they were our own family members. Each patient, each family, each and every time.
