How to Know if Your Joint Pain Is a Red Flag for Something Serious

Joint pain, pain in the area where two or more bones come together, is extremely common. It’s estimated that about half of adults 50 and older in the United States experience joint pain that limits their daily activities.

Joint pain can have many causes. Some of these, like osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear damage), are common as you get older. Injury is another common reason for pain. But when do you know if your joint pain signals something less common and more serious? 

Board-certified general orthopedic surgeon Dr. Joseph Daniels and the team of providers at Southwest Orthopedic Associates want you to understand when joint pain warrants a visit to our office to follow up on something that needs urgent medical attention. 

What are the parts of a joint?

Every joint contains many different parts:

• Ligaments: tough, rope-like tissue that connects bones
• Cartilage: spongy tissue that cushions bones
• Synovium: a thin membrane that lines the joints
• Muscles: help move and stabilize joints
• Tendons: thick bands of tissue that connect muscle to bone
• Nerves: tell muscles to move and send pain signals to the brain

A problem with any of these parts can lead to pain or discomfort in the joints. For example, worn cartilage fails to protect the bones from rubbing against each other, leading to pain. A sprained or ruptured tendon destabilizes the joint and leads to painful symptoms, as well.

What causes joint pain?

Aside from osteoarthritis and injuries, there are many other causes of joint pain, some more serious than others.

Autoimmune diseases

This category includes conditions that arise when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, leading to pain and inflammation. Some examples include rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PA), and lupus.

While anybody can develop these conditions at any age, they’re most common in teens and younger adults, and they occur more often in men than women. Researchers believe they’re the result of both genetic and environmental factors, but more research is needed.

Gout

This is a form of arthritis where uric acid crystals deposit in the joint space. Uric acid is a normal bodily waste product that develops from consuming foods that contain purines, such as red meat, organ meats, fructose, and alcohol, especially beer.

Gout often comes on suddenly and usually develops first in the big toe, with attacks and flare-ups often sneaking in during the night. It can be controlled with medication to reduce uric acid levels and with lifestyle changes, including dietary changes.

Inflamed or pinched nerve

If a nerve that serves a joint becomes inflamed, or if something presses on it (pinches it), it can become painful. One of the characteristic symptoms is pain that radiates from the nerve into the joint space.

A common example of this is carpal tunnel syndrome, an overuse injury. The median nerve in the wrist becomes trapped by the bony carpal tunnel, leading to pain and inflammation in the wrist.

Joint infection

While less common than most other causes of joint pain, infections can be much more dangerous. If you have an infection elsewhere in your body, it can spread through the blood and settle in a joint. Symptoms usually develop quickly and are accompanied by fever, chills, and redness and swelling around the joint.

When joint pain is a red flag for something serious

Joint pain that develops gradually and is relatively mild requires treatment, but it’s not necessarily urgent. Most cases of joint pain can be managed by self-care at home.

However, if you’ve had an injury that leads to joint pain, seek immediate medical attention if the joint appears out of shape, you’re unable to move the joint, the pain is severe, and/or there’s a lot of swelling.

You should also seek medical care if pain comes on suddenly, especially if it’s accompanied by a fever, chills, and redness or swelling – you may have an infection that needs to be treated.

If you’re unsure whether or not your joint pain needs medical help, always err on the side of caution and make an appointment at Southwest Orthopedic Associates.