Why Are My Joints So Stiff? What Can I Do?

Why Are My Joints So Stiff? What Can I Do?

You’re Getting Older
As you age, your cartilage -- the spongy
material that protects the ends of your
bones -- begins to dry out and stiffen. Your
body also makes less synovial fluid, the
stuff that acts like oil to keep your joints
moving smoothly. The result: Your joints
may not move as freely as they used to. It
sounds a little crazy, but the best thing you
can do is keep on trucking. Synovial fluid
requires movement to keep your joints
loose.

It’s Morning
When you’re asleep and still for
several hours, the fluid that
helps your joints move easily
can’t do its job. That’s why you
wake up with knees or hands
that are stiff and swollen. To
make it better, try to move
around more during the day.

Osteoarthritis (OA)
A joint is the place where two bones
meet. The end of each bone is
covered in a layer of rubbery stuff
called cartilage. This keeps them from
rubbing together. But cartilage can
wear away over time or after an injury.
When it’s gone, the bones hit one
another, and sometimes, tiny pieces
break off. The result is a stiff, swollen,
painful joint.

Treating Osteoarthritis
Your first move might be to do fewer things that
bother the joint in question. Over-the-counter
drugs can help with pain and swelling. If they
don’t, your doctor might inject stronger
treatments directly into problem areas. You can
wrap joints to protect them and stop overuse,
but this could weaken your muscles, so don’t
overdo it. Some people need surgery, but it’s
rare. Your doctor will discuss these treatments
plus others, such as physical therapy and
losing weight, with you.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Your immune system is supposed to protect
you from outside germs. Sometimes, it
attacks the lining of your joints instead (your
doctor will call this the synovium). RA is
most likely to affect your wrist or finger
joints, but it can show up anywhere in your
body. It often causes constant pain and
stiffness. Sometimes, it stays in the
background and only flares up now and
then.

Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis
Doctors treat RA with medications that slow
or stop the disease process. You might hear
yours call them DMARDs, which stands for
disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. The
goal is for you to have no signs of
inflammation in your body. Your doctor will
refer to this as this remission. Along with
drugs, you can also take care of yourself --
eat well, rest when you need to but keep
moving, and take good care of your joints.

Another Type of Arthritis
OA and RA are the most well known, but other types also
affect your immune system and result in stiff joints:
•Ankylosing spondylitis: This type mostly affects your
spine, but it can make your hips, hands, or feet feel stiff.
•Gout: The first sign of this build-up of uric acid in your body
is often a searing pain in your big toe.
•Infectious arthritis: It often starts with an infection
somewhere else in your body that travels to one big joint, like
your hip. Your doctor might call it septic arthritis.
Psoriatic arthritis: People with psoriasis or family members
who have it are most likely to get this type. Signs include
swollen fingers and pitted nails.

A Change in the Weather
Did your grandma say she knew
when a storm was coming because
her joints ached? She was right.
Doctors aren’t sure why, but joint
pain seems to get worse when the
weather changes. It’s most
common when the air pressure (the
weather forecaster will call it
barometric pressure) falls. That
typically happens just before a
storm.

Fibromyalgia
This chronic condition causes joint and
muscle pain, along with sleep, mood,
and memory problems. Scientists think
your brain takes normal pain signals and
makes them worse. They aren’t sure
what causes it, but it often follows an
illness, surgery, or intense stress. It
doesn’t damage your joints the way
arthritis does, though.

Treating Fibromyalgia
There’s no cure, but over-the-counter
meds should ease your pain. Your doctor
might prescribe other medications. A
physical therapist can teach you special
exercises to help. You might also try a
relaxation technique like deep breathing
or a gentle exercise like yoga or tai chi.
They’ll help you stretch and strengthen
your muscles and tendons.

Joint Injury
The two most common types are
both forms of inflammation. They
usually result from overuse or
misuse of a joint over time:
Bursitis involves the bursae,
fluid-filled sacs that act as
cushions between your bones
and other moving parts.

Treating a Joint Injury
These conditions are easy to treat. You’ll
likely make a full recovery. The first thing
to do is give that joint a rest and take an
over-the-counter pain medication. Your
doctor will probably give you a splint to
wear and tell you to put ice on it. She
might show you some exercises to do,
too. If that doesn’t help, she could inject a
stronger drug straight into the bursa or
tendon to manage pain and swelling.

Exercise
The more you move your joints, the less
likely they are to get stiff. A little afternoon
gardening or a walk around the block can
help. You’ll strengthen the muscles that
support your joints, keep your bones
strong, improve your balance, and burn
calories. Start slow, so you don’t get hurt.
Talk to your doctor first if even gentle
exercise makes the stiffness worse

Heat Therapy
If your joints are extra stiff in the
morning, try a hot shower or bath.
It’ll get blood flowing to the area,
which loosens things up. You can
also buy moist heat pads from the
drugstore or make your own. Toss a
washcloth into a freezer bag and
microwave it for 1 minute. Wrap it in
a towel and leave it on the area for
15-20 minutes.

Cold Therapy
Ice down an achy joint. It narrows
blood vessels, which slows blood
flow to the area and eases swelling.
You can use a store-bought cold
pack, or try a bag of frozen veggies
instead. Put it on the area, but use
a towel to protect your skin. Don’t
do it for more than 20 minutes at a
time. If you really want to chill a
problem joint, try an ice bath.

See the Doctor Right Away If
…
•You’re in extreme pain.
•You’ve been injured.
•The joint looks deformed.
•You can’t use it.
•It swells suddenly.

Make a Doctor’s Appointment
If …
•Your joints are tender or hard to
move.
•The skin is red or warm to the
touch.
•Joint symptoms last more than
3 days or happen several times
a month.

Thank You