Joint Pain

Joint pain is a common symptom with many possible causes.

There are many possible causes of joint pain. The causes can be divided into categories :
Wear-and-tear, such as from overuse, injury, or osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, or joint inflammation,
Conditions that affect metabolism, such as gout and pseudogout. These conditions result from materials being deposited into the joints,
Infections of the joint, sometimes called septic arthritis.
Autoimmune disorders, in which a person’s body produces antibodies against its own tissues. These disorders include rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Other causes are also possible. In some cases, no cause can be found.

Symptoms
– Involuntary weight loss of 10 pounds or more,
– The joint pain persists beyond 3 days,
– Severe, unexplained joint pain especially if accompanied by other unexplained symptoms,

Diet and Other Tips
Often the elimination of certain foods such as the following will help greatly :
dairy products, with the exception of plain yogurt with active culture
citrus, with the exception of lemon and grapefruit
alcohol
meat including beef, pork, and lamb (other sources of protein such as chicken, fish and beans are less likely to promote inflammation)
vegetable oils (continue using olive oil and the essential fatty acids flax seed, sesame, pumpkin, borage, sunflower oils)

Advice
Epsom Salt (magnesium sulfate): Magnesium has both anti-inflammatory and anti- arthritic properties and it can be absorbed through the skin. Magnesium is one of the most important of the essential minerals in the body, and it is commonly deficient in the American diet. A New England remedy for arthritis is a hot bath of Epsom salts. The heat of the bath can increase circulation and reduce the swelling of arthritis.

Dosage and Directions: Fill a bathtub with water as hot as you can stand. Add 2 cups of Epsom salts. Bathe for thirty minutes, adding hot water as necessary to keep the temperature warm. Do this daily as often as you’d like.