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A joint is where two or more bones come together, like the knee, hip, elbow, or shoulder. Joints can be damaged by many types of injuries or diseases, including

  • Arthritis - inflammation of a joint. It causes pain, stiffness, and swelling. Over time, the joint can become severely damaged.
  • Bursitis - inflammation of a fluid-filled sac that cushions the joint
  • Dislocations - injuries that force the ends of the bones out of position

Treatment of joint problems depends on the cause. If you have a sports injury, treatment often begins with the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) method to relieve pain, reduce swelling, and speed healing. Other possible treatments include pain relievers, keeping the injured area from moving, rehabilitation, and sometimes surgery. For arthritis, injuries, or other diseases, you may need joint replacement surgery to remove the damaged joint and put in a new one.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Symptoms of Joint Disorders

The following features are indicative of Joint Disorders:
  • hurt more when you move it
  • swelling
  • redness
  • pain
  • swelling
  • joint stiffness
  • malaise
  • fatigue
  • tenderness
  • muscle weakness
  • loss of flexibility
  • decreased mobility
It is possible that Joint Disorders shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.

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Common Causes of Joint Disorders

The following are the most common causes of Joint Disorders:
  • throwing something over the head repeatedly
  • leaning on the elbows for long periods
  • prolonged sitting
  • sitting on hard surfaces
  • increased uric acid levels
  • family inheritance
  • being overweight

Other Causes of Joint Disorders

The following are the less common causes of Joint Disorders:
  • injury to the affected area
  • inflammatory arthritis
  • gout

Risk Factors for Joint Disorders

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Joint Disorders:
  • repetitive motion on particular bursae
  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • gout
  • diabetes
  • increases with age
  • being a women
  • obesity
  • genetically presence
  • joint injuries

Prevention of Joint Disorders

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Joint Disorders. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
  • using kneeling pads
  • lifting things properly
  • taking frequent breaks
  • maintaining a healthy weight
  • strengthening the muscles by warming up and stretching
  • prevent yourself from infections
  • prevent joints from injuries

Occurrence of Joint Disorders

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Joint Disorders cases seen each year worldwide:
  • Very common > 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Joint Disorders can occur at any age.

Common Gender

Joint Disorders can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Joint Disorders

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Joint Disorders:
  • Musculoskeletal ultrasound: To produce the pictures of muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints throughout the body
  • X-rays: To visualize bone and view cartilage loss, bone damage and bone spurs
  • Computerized tomography scan: To visualize both bone and the surrounding soft tissues
  • Magnetic resonance imaging: To produce more-detailed cross-sectional images of soft tissues
  • Ultrasound: To view soft tissues, cartilage and fluid-containing structures

Doctor for Diagnosis of Joint Disorders

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Joint Disorders:
  • Rheumatologist
  • Orthopedic surgeon
  • Osteopathic physician
  • Nurse practitioner
  • Podiatrist
  • Psychiatrist
  • Occupational therapist
  • Physical therapist

Complications of Joint Disorders if untreated

Yes, Joint Disorders causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Joint Disorders is left untreated:
  • bone collapses
  • pain
  • arthritis
  • joints may become twisted and deformed
  • joint damage

Procedures for Treatment of Joint Disorders

The following procedures are used to treat Joint Disorders:
  • Surgery: Inflamed bursa is surgically drained
  • Joint replacement surgery: Removes the damaged joint and replaces it with an artificial one
  • Joint repair: Reduces pain and improve function
  • Joint fusion: Removes the ends of the two bones in the joint

Self-care for Joint Disorders

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Joint Disorders:
  • Take rest: Immobilize the affected area
  • Icing therapy: Apply ice to reduce swelling
  • Keep the affected area in comfortable position: Cushion your knees when you sleep
  • Reduce elbow pressure: Avoid elbow pressure by not placing the weight on elbows
  • Regular exercise: Strengthen the muscles surrounding joints
  • Weight loss: Reduces the stress on your weight-bearing joints
  • Quit smoking: Reduces stress on connective tissues

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Joint Disorders

The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Joint Disorders:
  • Physical Therapy: Strengthen the muscles in the affected area
  • Use assistive device: Use of a walking cane or other device will help in relieving pressure
  • Acupuncture therapy: Reduce many types of pain, including that caused by some types of arthritis
  • Do yoga: Improve joint flexibility and range of motion in people with some types of arthritis
  • Do massage: Increases blood flow and warm affected joints

Patient Support for Treatment of Joint Disorders

The following actions may help Joint Disorders patients:
  • Patient education and support: Improves or maintain function and quality of life

Time for Treatment of Joint Disorders

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Joint Disorders to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
  • In 3 - 6 months

Is Joint Disorders Infectious?

Yes, Joint Disorders is known to be infectious. It can spread across people via the following means:
  • septic bursitis spreads through cut, scrape and punctured skin

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Joint Disorders.
Ankle Injuries and Disorders
Arthritis
Bursitis
Cartilage Disorders
Connective Tissue Disorders
Dislocations
Elbow Injuries and Disorders
Hip Injuries and Disorders
Infectious Arthritis
Juvenile Arthritis
Knee Injuries and Disorders
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Shoulder Injuries and Disorders
Wrist Injuries and Disorders

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