5 Common Causes of Joint Pain After 50

It’s no cause for alarm if your joints ache now and again at any age. But if you’re over 50, you may find that this aching occurs more often than not.

As you age, your body experiences normal wear-and-tear, and your joints become less resilient and more vulnerable to conditions and accidents that can cause pain and stiffness.

Aging doesn’t have to be synonymous with pain. If you are living with chronic joint pain, it may not be just regular wear-and-tear; you may have an underlying condition that’s affecting your joints.

At SEPA Pain & Spine, we make it our business to get to the root cause of your pain and help you find ways to manage and relieve it. In most cases, we can see you within 24-48 hours, so we can get to work quickly to ease your pain.

Here, we explain five common causes of joint pain after 50 and what you can do about them.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down over time. This condition can affect the joints in your hands, knees, hips, and spine.

Beyond pain, people with osteoarthritis report experiencing stiffness, tenderness, and a grating feeling when they move their joints. The most effective way to manage osteoarthritis is with physical therapy and medications to relieve your pain.

In some severe cases, you may need surgery. Certain lifestyle changes, such as exercising regularly and losing excess weight, can also help reduce the strain on your joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. It triggers the immune system to attack the joints, causing pain and inflammation.

Rheumatoid arthritis can affect multiple joints simultaneously and often starts in smaller joints, such as those in your hands and feet.

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis. Your best bet against the disorder is early diagnosis and aggressive treatment to help manage your pain and prevent damage to your joints.

Bursitis

The bursae are tiny, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones, tendons, and muscles near your joints. If these sacs become inflamed, bursitis may develop.

Bursitis is painful, and the pain typically worsens when you move. It also causes swelling and tenderness around the affected joint. You must let the affected joint rest.

Applying ice to reduce swelling and taking anti-inflammatory medications can also help manage your symptoms. In severe cases, we may administer corticosteroid injections to ease your pain and prevent flare-ups.

Gout

Gout is yet another form of arthritis. Urate crystals build up in joints due to high levels of uric acid in your blood. Gout usually affects your big toe but can occur in any joint, causing sudden and severe pain.

To manage gout, you must focus on reducing uric acid levels. You can do this by adopting a healthier diet, drinking plenty of water, and taking medications like xanthine oxidase inhibitors.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis, as the name suggests, is the inflammation of your tendons. It’s typically the result of repetitive motion or overuse and commonly affects the joints in your shoulders, elbows, wrists, and heels.

Tendinitis causes significant pain and tenderness that feels worse when you move. To treat this condition, we typically recommend:

Lots of rest
Ice packs on the affected areas
Anti-inflammatory medications
Physical therapy

It’s not unusual to experience joint pain after 50, but it shouldn’t be so severe as to stop you from living a full, healthy life. At SEPA Pain & Spine, we help you identify and treat the cause of your joint pain, whether you’re dealing with osteoarthritis, gout, or any other condition that affects your joints.

If you’re struggling with joint pain, call us to schedule a consultation at any of our offices in Horsham, Langhorne, Meadowbrook, Chalfont, East Norriton, or Limerick in southeastern Pennsylvania. You can also request one online here.