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Joint pain is a common complaint among older people, though it can happen to a person of any age. Most joint pain is due to overuse or old age, though a chronic condition can cause it. In this article, you’ll learn about joint pain, its leading causes, and its relationship to celiac disease.

First, let’s establish the basics.

Joint: A joint is where two bones meet. Think of the elbow joint, where your upper and lower arms connect. If your arm were just one long bone, it wouldn’t bend. Joints allow you to move, twist, bend, and jump. Your shoulders, elbows, fingers, hips, and ankles all have joints.

Cartilage: Cartilage is a tough but flexible material in between your bones. It prevents the bones from hitting or grinding against each other when you move. Your ears and nose are also made out of cartilage. When joints don’t have enough cartilage, it can hurt to move and cause joint pain.

Arthritis: Arthritis is a general term for long-term health conditions with a primary symptom of joint pain. There are many kinds of arthritis, with different causes and affecting various body parts.

Both joint pain and arthritis can feel like:

• Pain when moving
• Stiffness
• Swelling at the joints (such as elbows, fingers, knees, ankles)
• Redness at joints (such as elbows, fingers, knees, ankles)

Symptoms: A symptom is caused by celiac disease and should ease up or go away entirely on a gluten-free diet.

Related Conditions: A related condition is a disease or illness entirely separate from celiac disease, but having celiac disease can put you at greater risk of getting the other condition.

Pain in joints can be a symptom of celiac disease that goes away on a strict gluten-free diet, but it could also caused by a related condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Joint Pain as a Symptom of Celiac Disease

Multiple studies suggest that 20-30% of individuals with celiac disease experience joint pain. However, it’s uncommon for joint pain to be the only symptom.^1-3 People with celiac disease experience joint pain in various ways, including early morning stiffness, pain in multiple joints (polyarthralgia), and pain in the back, lower back, and pelvis (sacroiliitis).

The exact cause of joint pain in those with celiac disease remains unknown. One theory suggests that ingesting gluten causes inflammation in these patients, contributing to joint discomfort.⁴ In patients with celiac disease, joint pain often goes away once the person is on a strict gluten-free diet.

What is Lumbar Facet Joint pain?

Facet joint pain, or facet joint syndrome as it is sometimes called, is a condition that affects the joints that sit either side of your lumbar vertebrae.

If these joints are overloaded from a sudden injury, or become irritated from degeneration or overuse, it can cause a significant amount of pain, loss of movement and function.

Facet joint pain is one of the most common causes of low back pain and neck pain. It can affect anywhere along the spine, but usually affects the lumbar spine (low back) as this region of the spine bears a large amount of stress and weight, making it vulnerable to injury and degeneration. The most common site of facet joint pain in the lumbar spine is at the L4-L5 level followed by L5-S1.

Lumbar Facet Joint Anatomy

The spine is a long column of moveable bones called vertebrae. Each vertebra functions as a three-joint complex; like a tripod it has a large disc in the front and two facet joints in the back that sit either side of the vertebra. This design keeps the joints stable and strong, while also allowing the spine to bed and twist.
The surfaces of the joints are covered in a very smooth layer of cartilage which minimises joint friction. A fluid filled capsule surrounds each joint, and provides lubrication.

Like any other joint in your body, the job of your facet joints is to provide healthy, normal movement and, along with the intervertebral disc and ligaments, provide stability for each spinal segment. The intervertebral discs also act as shock absorbers and reduce the impact going through the spine.

The lumbar spinal nerves exit just above the facet joint at each level, and provide sensory and motor control to the lower part of the body.

If you’ve been experiencing persistent pain in your hands, you may be wondering if arthritis could be to blame. But which type of arthritis in your hands might be the issue? The answer isn’t always obvious.

The two most common forms of arthritis — osteoarthritis (OA, or degenerative arthritis caused by wear and tear on the joints) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA, an inflammatory type of arthritis caused by inflammation in the joint) — share many symptoms in common. Plus, there are other, less common forms of inflammatory arthritis that affect the hands that your doctor will need to consider as well.

Types of Arthritis in the Hands

Both osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis can cause pain, stiffness (particularly in the morning), swelling, and tenderness of the joints in the hands. But people with inflammatory forms of arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis may display additional symptoms that aren’t seen in those with OA.

“OA patients lack the warmth and redness in the hands that patients with inflammatory arthritis have,” says Kevin Wayne Byram, MD, assistant professor of medicine, division of rheumatology and immunology and director of the Vanderbilt Vasculitis Clinic at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “In addition, both hands are usually affected in those with inflammatory arthritis, while symptoms of OA are typically worse in the patient’s dominant hand.”

How long morning stiffness lasts can be revealing in determining which kind of hand arthritis you may have, he adds. People with inflammatory arthritis usually experience prolonged stiffness that lasts an hour or longer, while stiffness often eases in just five to 15 minutes in those with OA.

If your hand arthritis symptoms suggest inflammatory arthritis, Dr. Byram says the most likely culprit is rheumatoid arthritis (which often begins in the hands) but it could also be psoriatic arthritis (PsA), which commonly affects the hands too. Other symptoms of PsA include having puffy fingers and toes that resemble sausages (a condition called dactylitis), skin plaques, and pitted nails.

Your doctor will also need to consider whether your symptoms are due to palindromic rheumatism (PR), an episodic form of inflammatory arthritis (though palindromic rheumatism is rare). PR can attack any joint, but most commonly affects the hands.

Gout, a type of arthritis caused by high levels of uric acid in the body, could also be the culprit. However, while gout can affect the wrist and fingers, it is most likely to attack your big toe.

Joint pain is a widespread issue affecting people of all ages and while surgery is often considered a last resort for chronic joint pain, there are several effective, non-surgical treatments available today. With advancements in medical science, innovative therapies are emerging that provide long-lasting relief without the risks and downtime associated with surgery.

Joint Pain: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Joint pain is a common complaint that can affect people of all ages. It can range from mild discomfort to debilitating pain that limits your ability to perform everyday activities. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for joint pain can help you find relief and improve your quality of life.

Joint Pain Causes 

Joint pain can stem from a variety of factors, including:

Osteoarthritis

This is the most common type of arthritis, caused by the wear and tear of cartilage, the protective tissue that cushions the ends of bones in a joint. It often affects weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion. Risk factors include age, obesity, previous joint injury, and family history.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

This is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints (synovium), causing inflammation, pain, and stiffness. It can affect any joint, but commonly targets the hands and feet. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition that can lead to joint damage and disability if left untreated.

Gout

This form of arthritis occurs when uric acid crystals build up in the joints, leading to sudden, intense pain and swelling, often in the big toe. Gout is caused by hyperuricemia, a condition where there is too much uric acid in the blood. It can be triggered by certain foods, alcohol, and medications.

Bursitis

Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion joints, reducing friction between bones, tendons, and muscles. Inflammation of these sacs, known as bursitis, can cause pain and tenderness. It often results from overuse, injury, or infection.

Tendinitis

This involves inflammation or irritation of a tendon, the fibrous cord that attaches muscle to bone. It often occurs in the shoulder, elbow, or wrist due to repetitive motions, overuse, or improper technique during activities.

Injury

Sprains, strains, and fractures can all cause joint pain. Sprains involve the stretching or tearing of ligaments, while strains affect muscles or tendons. Fractures are breaks in the bone.

Infections

Infections in the joint, such as septic arthritis, can cause severe pain, swelling, and redness. This is a serious condition that requires prompt medical attention.