Why do joints and bones hurt?
There can be any number of reasons why your joints and bones have been aching more in the recent past than ever before. Possible reasons range from not sitting in the right position as you work at your computer or constantly lifting heavy things as part of your job. Extreme weather conditions are also cause for concern. The levels of pain you experience could range from a persistent yet relatively mild back pain, to severe bone and joint pain that causes fatigue and, in extreme cases, renders you immobile.
What does this mean for you?
Experiencing aches and pains in your bones and joints could mean that you are exhibiting early symptoms of arthritis including rheumatism or other similar conditions. Luckily, there are some simple things that you can do within the comfort of your own home to get a better idea as to whether the pain you are experiencing is an actual condition that you need to pay attention to, or if it is a sprain or an ache that can be easily taken care of with a visit to your GP or over-the-counter medication.
For one, you could monitor the frequency with which these aches and pains occur. If you find that you are consistently experiencing discomfort or stiffness and pain in your bones and joints and cannot perform everyday tasks that were a part of your routine prior to experiencing these symptoms, chances are you are exhibiting signs of arthritis. Another common and parallel symptom of arthritis is fatigue.
Common kinds of arthritis include Rheumatoid Arthritis and Spondylitis. Rheumatoid Arthritis causes inflammation of the lining of joints and affects twice as many women as it does men. Spondylitis on the other hand, affects more men than it does women. In total, the world’s medical community has identified over 100 different kinds of arthritis.
If you exhibit none of these symptoms that are related to arthritis, but instead experience severe back pain, the reasons could be as varied as osteoporosis, gallstones or depression.
Whatever be the case, if you are experiencing pain that is symptomatic of any of the above conditions, making a visit to your GP is a good idea.
Who is most prone to such aches and pains?
Technically arthritis, rheumatism, back pain and the like do not discriminate when it comes to what kind of person is more prone than others to these conditions. However, some studies have shown that women are more prone to certain kinds of arthritis like Osteoarthritis, while other studies have indicated that overweight people are more likely to develop arthritis.
What are the treatments available?
While no complete cure for arthritis and rheumatism has been found till date, there are a wide range of treatments and medication available which can go a long way to ease your discomfort, reduce pain or swelling and help you get your life back on track as soon as possible.
For example, people with early stages of inflammatory arthritis are in luck, as this period is what most doctors refer to as the perfect window of opportunity. This is because the chances of stopping the condition and preventing any further damage to bones and joints is possible at this stage. This is why it is advisable to visit your doctor as soon as you realise that you are exhibiting any or all of the symptoms mentioned above. Do not wait until it’s too late.
Good ways to prevent or increase your chances of beating any and all aches and pains however include eating healthy, regular exercise and timely health checks.
