Joint inflammation is the swelling of joints that can occur in any joint of the body. Joint inflammation is commonly called as arthritis in medical terms. Joint pain can develop due to minor injuries, fractures, and infection. When a particular joint is affected, the body response system of immunity is called into action and a series of events occur eventually bringing in white blood cells to the affected area for fighting against foreign particles. In some people, the autoimmune disorder triggers the inflow of WBC even when there is no debris to attack causing joint inflammation and tissue repair.
How exactly joint inflammation occurs ?
Joint inflammation or swelling is a process in which the affected joint will develop swelling. Although the series of events differ with respect to the causative factor of joint swelling, still for a localized joint pain the following event takes place:-
• Bacteria or fungus enter into the joint
• The blood vessels in that area gets dilated (widened) thereby increasing the blood flow to particular joint
• There would be increased accumulation of protein molecules inside
• Gradually the fluid is filtered and sent inside the joint causing swelling or inflammation
• This is followed by the entry of neutrophils and manocytes (both are white blood cells) into the tissue
• Any infectious bacteria present inside is destroyed
There are several kinds of arthritis (joint inflammation) like osteoarthritis, gout and rheumatoid arthritis affecting various joints of the body.
Symptoms :
There would be stiffness in the joint and is felt more in the mornings. Increased pain in the joint, redness and tenderness are some of the other signs of joint inflammation. Depending on the cause, the joint pain may be moderate or severe restricting the movement of joint. For some people it becomes very difficult to move the joint due to increased stiffness.
Due to the presence of increased white blood cells there can be irritation and some part of the cartilages are worn out adding swelling to the lining of joints.
Other symptoms are fever, chills, headache and fatigue.
Causes :
Autoimmune disorders cause rheumatoid arthritis which can be chronic (for long period). Common form of arthritis is caused by bursitis. Joint inflammation is caused by infections of virus and injury or fracture to the joint. Osteoarthritis is the type of inflammation affecting the bones. Septic arthritis is another type of joint infection causing joint pain and swelling.
Sometimes overuse of joints can trigger joint inflammation causing strain and sprain on particular joint.
Stress can also increase joint pain.
Diagnoses :
The doctor would physically examine the affected joint and look for symptoms of joint stiffness and pain. He may ask you to take X-ray or blood testing depending on the signs and area that is infected.
Treatment :
Joint inflammation can be treated by exercises, medication and even surgery, depending upon the extent of pain and joint damage. Your doctor will consider factors like age, health condition and the intensity of symptoms before starting with treatment.
The main aim of treatment will be to reduce the symptoms that cause pain and stiffness. Anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen, corticosteroids like prednisone are given. You need to modify your daily routine for reducing the joint pain. Further you will have to start doing physiotherapy or exercises for managing joint pain. The stress and pressure caused on the joint is reduced by adding splints or braces to the joint.
Certain drugs that stop the signals of feeling of pain in the brain are prescribed for severe pain. Sometimes chemotherapy drugs are also given for lowering the joint pain.
Medications are given for blocking the cyclo oxygenase 1 and 2 in the form of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Diet :
You should avoid fatty and fried foods and supplement it by adding more of fresh fruits and veggies. You can include salmon and tuna that contain Omega 3 for fighting inflammation.
Home Remedies :
You can take warm bath and do regular stretching exercise for getting relief from joint pain. In case the pain is not related to arthritis then your doctor will advise you to take enough rest.
You need to approach joint inflammation positively and adapt yourself for living with joint pain.