Arthritis Pain

Inflammation is a process by which the body’s white blood cells and chemicals protect our bodies from infection by foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses.

In some diseases, however, the body’s defense system -- the immune system -- triggers an inflammatory response when there are no foreign substances to fight off. In these diseases, called autoimmune diseases, the body’s normally protective immune system causes damage to its own tissues. The body responds as if normal tissues are infected or somehow abnormal.

Some, but not all types of arthritis are the result of misdirected inflammation. Arthritis is a general term that describes inflammation in the joints. Some types of arthritis associated with inflammation include the following:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Gouty arthritis

Other painful conditions of the joints and musculoskeletal system that may not be associated with inflammation include osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, muscular low back pain, and muscular neck pain.

The symptoms of inflammation include:

• Redness
• Swollen joint that’s warm to the touch
• Joint pain
• Joint stiffness
• Loss of joint function

Often, only a few of these symptoms are present.

When inflammation occurs, chemicals from the body’s white blood cells are released into the blood or affected tissues to protect your body from foreign substances. This release of chemicals increases the blood flow to the area of injury or infection, and may result in redness and warmth. Some of the chemicals cause a leak of fluid into the tissues, resulting in swelling. This protective process may stimulate nerves and cause pain.

The increased number of cells and inflammatory substances within the joint cause irritation, swelling of the joint lining, and eventual wearing down of cartilage (cushions at the end of bones).

Inflammatory diseases are diagnosed after careful evaluation of the following:

• Complete medical history and physical exam
• The location of painful joints
• Presence of joint stiffness in the morning
• Evaluation of other symptoms
• Results of X-rays and other tests

There are a number of treatment options for inflammatory diseases including medications, rest, exercise, and surgical procedures to correct joint damage. The type of treatment prescribed will depend on several factors, including the type of disease, the person’s age, type of medications he or she is taking, overall health, medical history, and severity of symptoms.

• Avoid or modify activities that aggravate pain
• Relieve pain through pain medications and anti-inflammatory drugs
• Maintain joint movement and muscle strength through physical therapy
• Decrease stress on the joints by using braces, splints, or canes as needed
• Correct, control, or slow down the underlying disease process

Procedures to Treat Arthritis Pain:

The goals of treatment are the following: