Recurrent joint pain combined with symptoms such as redness and swelling may indicate too much calcium in the blood. Excess amounts of calcium can be caused by certain medications, the presence of cancerous tumors, inherited conditions or taking too many supplements, according to Pub Med Health. Too much calcium sometimes leads to painful joint afflictions such as pseudogout. Speak to your doctor or health care provider if you regularly experience pain in your joints.
Hypercalcemia
Hypercalcemia is the medical term for too much calcium in the blood. Hypercalcemia can result from numerous causes. These include kidney or adrenal gland failure, medications such as diuretics, and being incapacitated -- confined to a bed, for example -- for a long period of time. Too much calcium in the diet also causes hypercalcemia; this condition is known as milk-alkali syndrome. According to Pub Med Health, milk-alkali syndrome typically occurs if you ingest 2000 mg or more of calcium on a daily basis.
Pseudogout
Pseudogout occurs when too much calcium crystallizes in the synovial fluid of the joints. Pseudogout carries many of the same symptoms as gout, including pain, swelling, redness and reduced range of motion. Pseudogout typically causes joint pain in the knees, but can also affect the hands, hips, ankles, shoulders and toes. Treatment typically involves medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids to minimize inflammation. No cure for pseudogout exists as of 2011.
Hyperparathyroidism
The hyperparathyroid glands are four small glands located at the rear of the thyroid; they rest on the thyroid gland's surface, yet serve completely different functions. Parathyroid hormone regulates the level of calcium in the body. In hyperparathyroidism, these glands overproduce parathyroid hormone, which causes too much calcium to flood the urine and the blood. Joint pain is one of the principal symptoms of hyperparathyroidism. Hyperparathyroidism typically requires surgery to correct, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Insufficient amounts of vitamin D may also play a role in hypercalcemia and joint pain. According to James E. Dowd, M.D., author of "The Vitamin D Cure," low levels of vitamin D cause the body to release greater amounts of calcium from the bones during cell and bone turnover. This, in turn, funnels more calcium into the bloodstream, which may end up deposited in the joints and causing pain.
References
- Pub Med Health; Hypercalcemia; Robert Cooper, M.D., et al; January 2010
- NYU Langone Medical Center; Pseudogout; Diane A. Safer, Ph.D.; September 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Hyperparathyroidism; Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D.; August 2008
- "The Vitamin D Cure"; James E. Dowd, M.D. and Diane Stafford; 2007
