Unexpected Root Causes of Joint Disorders

Joints connect bones and enable movement, but injury or illness can impair function and cause discomfort. Common joint issues include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and bursitis, which can be highly debilitating. According to a recent survey, approximately one-third of adults experience joint pain monthly, with knees, hips, and shoulders being the most affected areas.

Here are some less obvious underlying factors that can lead to joint problems:

• Gout Gout is a form of arthritis affecting various age groups. It causes sudden intense pain, swelling, and redness, especially at the big toe's base. Uric acid crystal buildup near the toe is the culprit, resulting from impaired purine metabolism.
• Lupus An autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks tissues and organs, affecting joints, skin, blood, lungs, heart, and brain. A key symptom is butterfly-shaped rashes across cheeks.
• Hypothyroidism When the thyroid produces insufficient hormones, it can lead to weight gain and joint discomfort. Early stages may show no symptoms but develop into more noticeable issues over time.
• Lyme Disease Bacterial infection transmitted via tick bites, causing joint swelling, especially in knees, with pain migrating between joints.
• Osteomyelitis Bone infection that spreads through blood, tissues, or injury exposure, sometimes causing septic arthritis with bone and joint pain.
• Fibromyalgia A disorder marked by widespread musculoskeletal pain, often triggered by trauma, surgery, infection, or stress. It can also cause temporomandibular joint problems resembling dull, persistent aches.