Understand the three causes of joint pain

Hong Kong has high temperatures and heavy rains in summer, and many people suffer fromJoint problemsSome patients even joked that they were more accurate than the astronomical observatory. Whenever the air pressure changes or it is about to rain, their joints start to ache. Rheumatologists remind that if the hands or other joints experience morning stiffness for more than 30 minutes, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible to avoid missing the best time for treatment.

Rheumatologist Yu Jialong pointed out that most diseases that cause joint pain can be classified as rheumatism. From a medical point of view, joint swelling and pain may be related to changes in temperature, humidity and air pressure. The causes of arthritis are mainly divided into three categories: the first is degenerative arthritis, which is the most common type of arthritis and is usually caused by aging or accidental injury.

The second type is inflammatory arthritis, which is mainly caused by immune system disorders. The body attacks its own joints and soft tissues. Common symptoms include redness, swelling, heat, pain and morning stiffness. Most patients feel discomfort in the wrists and finger joints. Common diseases include rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus. Some cases have a genetic tendency. The third type is crystalline arthritis, such as gout, which is caused by excessive accumulation of uric acid in the body, triggering local joint inflammation.

Each of these three types of arthritis is treated differently. The first task is to differentiate between inflammatory arthritis and mechanical arthritis. People with inflammatory arthritis often experience morning stiffness that takes a long time to resolve after activity. If this is the case, it is likely inflammatory arthritis.

Mechanical arthritis is more painful when you move, and there is no morning stiffness. Dr. Yu stressed that if you suspect you have inflammatory arthritis, you should get treatment early, otherwise it may cause cartilage and bone damage, joint deformation, and affect your ability to move around. Treatment usually uses drugs and biological agents.

As for degenerative arthritis, its causes are related to aging, overweight, incorrect posture and excessive activity. Treatment is mainly physical therapy, including reducing the burden on the knee joint, losing weight, strengthening thigh muscle training and knee joint exercises. Severe cases may require surgical correction or artificial joint replacement.arthritisDrugs are needed to lower uric acid levels and prevent joint inflammation.

Dr. Yu Jialong suggested that people should develop the habit of regular exercise because arthritis is often accompanied by joint stiffness. When knee pain occurs, the first measure is to get enough rest. Depending on the situation, you can choose to apply ice, heat or use knee pads to reduce the burden on the joints.