Joints form the connections between bones. They provide support and help you move. Any damage to the joints from disease or injury can interfere with your movement and cause considerable joint pain.
Cause of joint pain
Joint pain is extremely common, especially as you age. In one national survey, about one-third of adults reported having joint pain within the past 30 days. Knee pain was the most common complaint, followed by shoulder and hip pain. But joint pain can affect any part of your body, from your ankles and feet to your shoulders and hands.
A wide range of conditions can lead to joint pain:
- Osteoarthritis, a “wear and tear” disease, is the most common type of arthritis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that happens when your body attacks its own tissues.
- Bursitis is when sacs of fluid that help cushion your joints get inflamed.
- Gout is a form of arthritis that most often affects your big toe joint.
- Strains, sprains, and other injuries.
Clinical symptoms
- You may feel joint pain or swelling, especially when you are overactive, going up and down stairs, or standing up after sitting for a long time.
- When you wake up in the morning, you will feel stiff joints. After a period of activity, the pain or stiffness will decrease, but the pain will increase at night.
- There may be noise when you move your joints.
- The joint may have joint deformities and contractures, and joints that cannot be straightened.
- Thigh muscle atrophies because of pain.
- X-ray examination: The characteristics of osteoarthritis include articular surface stenosis, deformation, bone spur formation, hardening of the cartilage underneath, and degenerative cysts.
How is joint pain treated?
Although there may not be a cure for the pain, it can be managed to bring the patient relief. Sometimes the pain may go away by taking over-the-counter medication, or by performing simple daily exercises. Other times, the pain may be signaling problems that can only be corrected with prescription medication or surgery.
- Simple at-home treatments, such as applying a heating pad or ice on the affected area, may be recommended for short periods, several times a day. Soaking in a warm bathtub may also offer relief.
- Exercise can help get back strength and function. Walking, swimming, or other low-impact aerobic exercise is best. Those who participate in strenuous workouts or sports activities may need to scale back or begin a low-impact workout routine. Gentle stretching exercises will also help. Check with your doctor before beginning or continuing any exercise program.
- Weight loss may also be suggested, if needed, to lessen the strain on joints.
- A beneficial diet is one of the most overlooked treatments and eating more of the following foods and beverages can offer relief.
Beneficial food and drinks for joint pain
Yuba
Yuba, also called bean curd stick, is a soy product that many people like. Not only does it taste delicious, but it also has high nutritional value. Yuba has a very good calcium supplement effect. And it contains a lot of dietary fiber, so eating more Yuba can also promote gastrointestinal digestion and protect the stomach.
Fish
Eating more fish is very good for the body, because the fat content of fish is very low, and fish contain a variety of trace elements and protein. Therefore, eating fish regularly can not only provide a large amount of protein, effectively increasing muscles, but also provide calcium, making the bones stronger and the body healthier.
Milk
Many people have the habit of drinking a glass of milk every day, which can not only provide a good calcium supplement, but it also promotes sleep and effectively improves sleep quality. Drinking a glass of milk at night can also release stress and relax the body and mind.
Soy milk
Although the calcium content of soy milk is not as rich as milk, drinking soy milk every day can also have a good calcium supplement effect. The most important thing is that soy milk contains very rich dietary fiber, and the fat content is much lower than milk. So drinking soy milk may not only prevent gaining weight, but it could also help you lose weight.
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