Joint Pain or Arthritis? How to Tell the Difference

More than 92 million people in the United States suffer from joint pain in the form of arthritis, with symptoms ranging from moderate to severe.

While arthritis is by far the most common cause of joint discomfort, it is not the only one.

To help you grasp the situation, here’s a look at the difference between arthritis and joint pain.

Arthritis Signs and Symptoms

Chronic joint discomfort (pain that lasts for weeks or months) may indicate arthritis or joint damage. There are over 100 distinct varieties of arthritis, the most prevalent of which is osteoarthritis, which occurs as a result of joint wear and tear over time.

Another frequent type of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, produces joint damage and degeneration over time, but it is caused by an autoimmune illness in which the immune system erroneously targets the joints.

The following are some of the indications and symptoms of arthritis-related joint pain:

Swelling
Stiffness
Range of motion is restricted or reduced

Differentiating Between Joint Discomfort and Arthritis

It’s critical to remember that joint discomfort and arthritis are frequently linked.

Arthritis technically refers to any ailment that produces inflammation and discomfort in your joints. In truth, the discomfort is frequently caused by the characteristic inflammation of arthritis.

You may have an achy or painful joint without inflammation if you have joint discomfort. This frequently precedes arthritis and is a symptom of a developing condition that will result in inflammation.

Acute joint pain appears quickly and is typically unrelated to an existing ailment or joint injury. Other than arthritis, some of the probable reasons for acute joint pain include the following:

Bursitis
Sprains and strains
Gout
Traumatic inflammation
Overuse

Acute joint pain is generally treated with rest, ice, medication, and, if necessary, physical therapy, depending on the underlying cause and severity. Depending on the etiology, acute joint pain generally resolves within a few weeks with self-care and conservative therapy.

Arthritis Has Many Faces

Making matters even more difficult, there are over 100 distinct forms of arthritis.

To make things easier, we’ve divided arthritis-related diseases into four categories:

Degenerative Arthritis

This type of arthritis develops when the soft tissues within your joints begin to deteriorate. Osteoarthritis, a disorder in which the cartilage within your joint wears away, is the most prevalent kind of degenerative arthritis.

Inflammatory Arthritis

This form of arthritis is caused by a malfunctioning immune system, which causes inflammation within your joints. Rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis are the most frequent types of this type of arthritis.

Arthritis Caused by Bacteria

These forms of arthritis, as the name indicates, are caused by an infection in your body, which causes inflammation and discomfort in your joints.

Metabolic Arthritis

As with gout, the most prevalent form of metabolic arthritis, this kind of arthritis is caused by a problem with your metabolic system.

Joint Discomfort That Is Not Caused By Arthritis

While the majority of joint pain is caused by one of the various types of arthritis, it can also be caused by:

Injury (dislocations, fractures, soft-tissue rips) (dislocations, fractures, soft-tissue tears)
Cancer of the bones
Fibromyalgia

Again, many of these illnesses cause joint pain and inflammation, but they are not the same as arthritis.

Taking Care of Your Joint Pain

Whatever the cause of your joint discomfort, there are ways to find relief. Depending on the nature of your condition, there are a variety of therapy alternatives, which include:

Acupuncture
Injections of cortisol
Injections into the facet joints
Therapy with stem cells
Injections of the bursa
Injections into the sacroiliac joint
Blocks of peripheral nerves
Nerve stimulation in the periphery
Ablation using radiofrequency
Bracing at the joints
Viscosupplementation
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) treatment

Understand Your Risk Factors

Anyone can get arthritis, although certain people are predisposed to it owing to variables such as age, family history, past joint damage or injury, or underlying health issues such as obesity.

It might be difficult to determine if your joint discomfort is caused by inflammation or arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation suggests that you keep note of your symptoms, including if the pain and stiffness worsen at certain times of day, after physical activity or rest, and the length of your symptoms.

If your symptoms persist for more than a few weeks or worsen, or you develop additional symptoms such as a fever or rash, get medical assistance as soon as possible.