Reasons For Your Joint Aches
There
are many reasons why your joints might be achy, exercise could be one
plausible explanation. So, when the cause of your discomfort is that
obvious, there's no reason to panic. But if the pain doesn't go away,
you should seek advice from your doctor. There are instances, however,
were your joints may hurt, and you may not know why. In these rare
instances, your joint pain might be a signal that something pretty
serious is going on, including the possibility of a sexually transmitted
disease or an autoimmune disorder. Here are some possible reasons that
could be making your joints sore:
1. Infectious (septic) arthritis
If
you get a cut or puncture wound that you didn't clean well a nearby
joint can get infected with common bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus
or Streptococcus. Symptoms include an intense swelling and pain in the
area. Fever and chills will likely follow.
The
knees tend to be the most commonly affected joint, but the hips, ankles
and wrists are also possible targets. Treatment is required as you
might need IV antibiotics and your doctor may need to drain fluid from
the infected joint. If left untreated, septic arthritis can lead to full
body-sepsis which can be fatal.
2. Gout
A
diet that includes too much protein may also affect your joints. When
you eat too much protein, your body produces a lot of uric acid. As the
body is unable to excrete all of it, it may cause an intense
inflammatory reaction.
Known as gout,
it is one of the most painful types of arthritis you can experience.
Symptoms may include heat, swelling redness and pain that is hard to
ignore. The pain usually starts off in your big toe which eventually
spreads to other joints. Protein overload isn't the only contributing
factor. Drinking too much alcohol or sugary drinks, dehydration and even
certain types of medicines can cause gout. Being overweight also puts
you at risk.
3. Lyme disease
An
estimated 30,000 people are bitten by a tick each year, causing them to
come down with this disease. The tick latches onto the skin, sucking
blood out of the body. In doing so, your bloodstream can become
infected. Early symptoms of Lyme disease includes fatigue, fever,
headache and in many cases, a bull's eye rash.
It
tends to be difficult to diagnose if you're not in an area endemic to
ticks. Consequently, if Lyme disease remains untreated, the bacteria can
spread to your joints, particularly your knees. You may also develop
neck stiffness and sore hands and feet. Over time, your heart and
nervous system may also be affected.
4. Lupus
This
autoimmune disorder can cause pain in all your joints if left
untreated. Lupus is the result of an overactive immune system which can
mistakenly target your joints, skin, blood, kidneys and other organs.
Aside from swollen, painful joints, symptoms also include a
butterfly-shaped rash across your cheeks. Still, not all symptoms appear
equally for everyone. Hair loss, trouble breathing, memory problems,
mouth sores, as well as dry eyes and mouth can also be a sign of lupus.
5. Gonorrhea
It
may come as a surprise to discover that this sexually transmitted
disease (STD) doesn't just affect your genitals. It may cause problems
on your joints too and can result in a painful condition known as
gonococcal arthritis. It tends to affect women more so than men and is
most common among sexually active teen girls.
Alongside
symptoms of the STD itself,which includes a burning sensation when you
urinate or increased discharge in the penis or vagina, other symptoms
include hot, red swollen joints - although several painful areas in
large joints is not uncommon either.
6. Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a different kind of wear and tear that commonly develops with age.
Rather, it is an autoimmune disorder and is most common among women. In
fact, statistics show that from the 1.3 million people in the US who
have it, 75% are female. Tender, swollen joints and feeling stiff in the
morning are classic RA symptoms. You may also experience fatigue, fever
or unexplained weight loss.
Joint
pain cannot always be cured, though it can be treated. Some will
require a course of antibiotics or other prescription medicine. Others
may improve in their own with time and rest. Nevertheless, any lingering
pain in your joints should be a good enough reason to check with your
doctor.
Labels: gonorrhea, Gout, infectious arthritis, inflammatory, Joint Pain, lupus, Lyme disease, reaction, rheumatoid arthritis
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