Condition: Degenerative joint disease, also known as osteoarthritis (OA), is a common “wear-and–tear” disease.  The underlying cause of this condition is typically chronic repetitive motion that results in inflammation and structural joint damage.  Inflammation causes pain, redness, and swelling. The tiniest amount of trauma triggers inflammation as the body attempts to clean-up/protect damaged tissue.  This cycle of joint damage and inflammation leads to the break-down of cartilage that serves as a smooth gliding surface and cushion in the joints.  Any joint can be affected, but frequently found in the knees, hands, hips, and spine.  

Background: More than 50% of adults over the age of 65 are affected by degenerative joint disease. This condition is associated with pain, loss of function, and reduced endurance, ultimately leading to weight gain and associated complications.

Credit: aapmr.org

Causes: The most common cause of shoulder pain occurs when rotator cuff tendons become trapped under the bony area in the shoulder. The tendons become inflamed or damaged. This condition is called rotator cuff tendinitis or bursitis.

Shoulder pain may also be caused by:

• Arthritis in the shoulder joint
• Bone spurs in the shoulder area
• Bursitis, which is inflammation of a fluid-filled sac (bursa) that normally protects the joint and helps it move smoothly
• Broken shoulder bone
• Dislocation of the shoulder
• Shoulder separation
• Frozen shoulder, which occurs when the muscles, tendons, and ligaments inside the shoulder become stiff, making movement difficult and painful
• Overuse or injury of nearby tendons, such as the bicep muscles of the arms
• Nerve injury that leads to abnormal shoulder movement
• Tears of the rotator cuff tendons
• Poor shoulder posture and mechanics

Credit: Penn Medicine

Hip pain may be caused by arthritis, injuries, or other problems.

• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• Osteoarthritis (The most common type of arthritis.)
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Septic arthritis

Credit: Mayo Clinic

Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek medical help or miss work. Back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide.

Fortunately, measures can help prevent or relieve most back pain episodes, especially for people younger than age 60. If prevention fails, simple home treatment and using the body correctly often will heal the back within a few weeks. Surgery is rarely needed to treat back pain.

When to see a doctor

Most back pain gradually improves with home treatment and self-care, usually within a few weeks. Contact your health care provider for back pain that:

• Lasts longer than a few weeks
• Is severe and doesn’t improve with rest
• Spreads down one or both legs, especially if the pain goes below the knee
• Causes weakness, numbness, or tingling in one or both legs
• Is paired with unexplained weight loss

Credit: Mayo Clinic

Neck pain is common. Poor posture, whether from leaning over a computer or hunching over a workbench, strains neck muscles. Osteoarthritis also is a common cause of neck pain.

Rarely, neck pain can be a symptom of a more serious problem. Seek medical care for neck pain with numbness or loss of strength in the arms or hands or for pain that shoots into a shoulder or down an arm.

Symptoms

Symptoms include:

• Pain that’s often worsened by holding the head in one place for long periods, such as when driving or working at a computer
• Muscle tightness and spasms
• Decreased ability to move the head
• Headache

When to see a doctor

Seek immediate care if severe neck pain results from an injury, such as a motor vehicle accident, diving accident or fall.

Contact a health care provider if neck pain:

• Is severe
• Persists for several days without relief
• Spreads down arms or legs
• Comes with headache, numbness, weakness or tingling