Joint pain is recognized as a primary or secondary symptom of several autoimmune conditions. Autoimmune diseases can overlap in symptoms and systems affected, and more than one autoimmune condition can be present concurrently in the same individual. As part of the immune response, inflammation, along with associated stiffness and pain, characterize autoimmune joint pain symptoms. Autoimmune conditions are characterized by pain that migrates around the body, and can involve both sides of the body simultaneously, flaring up and then resolving in one place, only to reappear in another place.
Types
A variety of autoimmune diseases can involve joint pain to varying degrees. In some conditions, joint pain is a predominant part of the symptom picture, and in other conditions, it occurs as a peripheral, or second-tier, symptom. Ankylosing spondilitis is an autoimmune arthritis that affects the joints of the spine. In Reiters syndrome, joint pain arises as a reaction to a bacterial infection elsewhere in the body. Celiac disease is a gluten sensitivity that causes widespread inflammation affecting the joints and other tissues. Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Grave's disease are autoimmune conditions of the thyroid with secondary joint involvement. Psoriatic arthritis is a skin disease that develops into a form of erosive arthritis.
Features
The cause or causes of autoimmune diseases remain unknown. Genetics seems to play a part, as family history can often be a predictor. Overall, 75 percent of autoimmune diseases affect women and represent the fourth leading cause of disability for women in the U.S., according to the website Wrong Diagnosis. Bacterial and viral infections can be triggers for some autoimmune arthropathies, and lifestyle factors such as diet, stress and pregnancy can trigger others.
Symptoms
Inflammation is part of the immune response that leads to the joint pain, stiffness and joint fatigue experienced with autoimmune arthritis. Joint pain and deformity occur in varying degrees and locations across the different conditions. Lupus primarily affects the joints of the hands with little deformity, while rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis can result in considerable joint destruction. Reiter's syndrome targets the knees. Burning and tingling sensations often accompany the aching and stiffness, according to the website Organized Wisdom.
Tests and Diagnosis
Many autoimmune arthropathies can be challenging to diagnosis, as symptoms tend to be diffuse, appear and then self-resolve; are slowly progressive; and overlap with those of other diseases. Lab tests for antibodies and inflammatory markers may or may not prove definitive, and a combination of testing and history is often required in order to arrive at a diagnosis. Thyroid disorders and lupus, in particular, are notoriously imitative of other, more limited illnesses, leading patients and clinicians on elaborate and lengthy quests for a satisfactory explanation.
Treatment Options
Treatments are aimed at relieving symptoms, minimizing organ damage and addressing the underlying mechanism of the disease. Anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressive drugs are utilized, as needed, depending on the severity of symptoms. In some cases hormone therapy or surgery, such as thyroid removal, may be necessary. Dietary modifications can help greatly in some arthropathies, where food sensitivities play a role in triggering symptoms, according to the website Wellsphere.
