When a person suffers from a physical trauma, joint inflammation pain is very common. Inflammation is the body’s natural way of protecting itself. It is a tissue response to the threat of bodily injury or invasion by antigens (foreign invaders). The inflammation response is controlled by chemical, cellular, and vascular functions that respond to the severity of the threat. The chemical component includes the release of inflammatory mediators, histamines and cytokines. The cellular component includes platelets and white blood cells to move to the infected or injured area. The vascular component involves vasodilation, vasoconstriction, and the change to the vessel walls to allow the migration of certain blood cells.
The symptoms of inflammation are very easy to recognize:
• Redness
• Pain
• Swelling
• Heat
• Loss of function
These symptoms can be localized or systemic. After an injury, like a sprain, the joint inflammation pain can be severe, and chronic inflammation causes even more pain.
Anti-inflammatories are used to reduce inflammation symptoms like steroids, aspirin, and ibuprofen. Rest is necessary for 24 to 48 hours after an injury to ensure proper healing and tp prevent further injury. Ice is an effective method used to reduce inflammation symptoms, by reducing the swelling. You should only ice 20 minutes at a time, 3 to 4 times a day. Ice is especially important during the first 48 hours after an injury. Compression and elevation, when possible, is also used to reduce inflammation symptoms. An ace bandage can be used for light compression, should be wrapped snug but not wrapped too tight. If the area beyond the compression is cold or turns blue, the wrap is too tight. Elevation is mostly used with injury to an extremity and the area should be elevated above your heart. Example: pillows under a sprained ankle or wrist when lying down or at bedtime.
Sometimes an inflammation is persistent and develops into chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation causes body aches and pains, frequent infections, indigestion, diarrhea, stiffness, and can even develop into more serious or permanent problems that can affect your long-term health. Some studies have shown that chronic inflammation causes obesity, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and cancer. Revising your diet may help with the symptoms: cutting back on red meat and soft drinks, eating more fish, regular exercise, and getting more sleep can make a difference.
Without inflammation wounds and infections would not be able to heal properly. However, chronic inflammation can lead to even more health problems, for that reason inflammation is closely regulated. If you have joint inflammation pain lasting longer than 3 days and a fever you should contact a medical professional.