More often than not, joint pains are as a result of the inflammation of the joints. This inflammation may be caused as a result of several factors. The factors include:
- Injuries, where ligaments, cartilage and even bones that constitute the joint suffer mechanical damage.
- Joint inflammation resulting from arthritis and other infections. Cancer of the joint may also be considered to be in this category as the effects are similar.
- Sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea have also been known to cause joint pains.
Normally, joint pains are associated with several signs and symptoms. These symptoms may include joint redness, joint swelling and stiffness, weakness of the joint, joint warmth, and locking of the joint.
Though joint pain is not contagious, when your partner is in pain, it affects you. When a person is in pain, all events in their lives are affected. From lack of sleep to difficulty in performing simple activities, all these new challenges also become your challenges. It will be difficult to sleep when your partner tosses in bed all night because they are in pain. The effects may be felt more where the pain is on delicate parts such as the jaw.
Unlike pains in other joints such as the knee, jaw pain makes the situation a lot worse. This is because whereas it is possible to limp as you move from one point to another, jaw pain makes it almost impossible to feed. In worse cases, a person may even find it hard to talk due to the unbearable pain resulting from moving the jaw. Imagine living with your partner who you are not able to talk to as you were used to, or have to eat a meal as they watch you because they cannot eat due to pain. The psychological effects of such situations are bad.
Of all kinds of jaw pains, Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) is the most severe. When your partner is suffering from TMD or TMJ, they are usually in severe pain. In serious conditions, their jaws may become completely stiff as a result of locking of the joints. There are several ways in which TMD may be treated. Self-treatment often involves stress managements and relaxation techniques. You can assist your partner in taking deep breaths and rhythmic exercises using jaw muscles to help ease their pain. Other treatments may involve taking them to therapies, or hospitals where they may be given devices and medications to deal with their pain.
For other joint pains such as on the ankle, knee, elbow or shoulder, gently massaging your partner’s aching joints using pain relief ointments may help a great deal. Also, ensure that they have enough rest as regular movements involving the joints in pain may cause more injury resulting in more pain.