Inflammation

Inflammatory Mechanism Anatomy of a joint Symptoms Comments Medical references
Arthritic diseases are characterized by inflammatory degeneration of joint tissues, pain and reduction of mobility function. If you live long enough, you are strongly at risk to suffer one day from arthritis or arthrosis.

Usually, known as a rheumatic disease, we often speak about arthritis as if it was one and only disease but, actually, it includes a hundred of different ailments from, the not very severe forms (bursitis, tendonitis, etc.) to the disabling forms (rheumatoid arthritis). Arthritis also includes syndromes such as fibromyalgia and affections associated with arthritis, like disseminated lupus erythematous which attacks the whole body. The others are very different from the image that one has of arthritis such as gout. There are also diseases like osteoarthritis, which is to some extent “the arthritis of wear”. What links these pathologies is the joint and skeletal-muscular pain which is common for them. The pain is often caused by tissue inflammation which lines the articular socket. This is why all of these diseases globally belong to “arthritis” which is it’s generic name.

The mechanism of inflammation uses histamine. The purpose of local vasodilatation is to increase blood circulation in order to remove dead cells and toxins, and bring necessary elements for healing, in particular, the white blood cells that fights foreign bodies. Local swelling caused by blood vessel dilation causes redness and feelings of heat. Plasma fluid is poured out by osmosis towards the tissues. It is what causes the edema that compresses the nerves and causes painful feelings.

Various forms of arthritis have their own symptoms and their own progression, which varies considerably according to individuals. Arthritis is characterized by periods of eruption and remission, even if the disease is chronic.

Inflammatory pain can be increased because of an attack to the integrity of tissues at a cellular level. This may occur at the time of: deep wounds, burns, freezing cold, fractures, sprains, sport wounds, arthritis, excessive stretching, etc. Of the multiple molecules intervening in the inflammatory process, some act directly and others act as precursors. Currently, the most effective molecules to reduce inflammatory pains are the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, whose purpose is to prevent prostaglandin inhibition through cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition. COX1 is used in the production activity and reconstruction of tissues, whereas COX2 is for inflammatory pain.

The pain felt during inflammation is in fact a “warning” which indicates that the body has a problem. The pain may be of various intensities: acute, violent, dull, burning sensation, sharp, pounding, palpitating, or throbbing. The pain appears when the nerve endings are irritated. This generally occurs when the cells swell after a contusion, due to muscular strain or after a significant effort. When that occurs, an inflammation results from this, compressing the nerves around the affected area, which causes pain. It also occurs when the nerves are damaged because of an accident or an “overuse” of a body part. Whatever the cause, pain is an alarm signal which one must listen to. It is important to find the source that is causing the pain and to heal it quickly.

Chronic pain, by itself, can cause a chain reaction that may become very harmful. It leads to strain or long-term stress, encouraging a great sensitivity to pain by thus, causing even more pain and possibly leading to depression. The inflammation is an important body response to the pain, disease, or trauma.
Joints are classified according to their functions and their structures:

  • Structural classification: consists of materials which link the skeletal system and the absence or presence of a socket.
  • Functional classification: refers to the degree of movement permitted by the joint. There are three kinds of mobility or types of joint: static, semi-mobile, and mobile.

The human body has 206 counted bones connected by more than 100 joints. The majority of the large joints of the human body are designed to allow a greater range of movement.

There are 4 types of joints:
  • Enarthrosis: hips and shoulders;
  • Saddle joint: which joins the thumb and the hand;
  • Hinge joint: fingers and knees;
  • Pulley-joint (trochoid): wrist articulation.

Maintained in place by tendons, the bones of the joints are covered at the ends by cartilage. This elastic and resistant substance is used as a shock absorber, and allows the bone ends to slide on one another. When cartilage is destroyed, as in osteoarthritis, the bones rub against each other, which cause pain, a loss of mobility, deformation, and joint dysfunction. The bones of the joints are separated by the socket which allows the bones to move. In several forms of arthritis, synovial membrane is inflamed, thickened, secreting an excessive quantity of synovial fluid which contains inflammatory cells. The inflammation of the synovial membrane and synovial fluid can damage cartilage and bone.

Joints are the junction between two or more bones. They hold the whole skeletal system together. They provide two essential functions:
  • Allow our skeleton a certain mobility and permit muscles to adopt various positions;
  • Connect the bones between them and sometimes protect certain significant parts of the body (skull, thorax).

Joint disease is very vast and is in accordance with the origin of the problem:
  • Current wounds:
  1. Distortion or elongation;
  2. Dislocation
  3. Ruptures or lacerations: muscles, ligaments, tendons, and even rips of the joint capsule;
  4. Intra-articular fractures;
  • Lesions of the cartilage (rupture of meniscus);
  • Inflammation: bursitis, tendinitis and various arthritis. In a variety of forms of arthritis, the synovial membrane inflames, thickens, and secretes an excessive quantity of synovial fluid containing inflammatory cells. The inflammation of the membrane and the increase in synovial fluid can damage the cartilage and the bone.
  • Degenerative diseases: gout, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosant spondylitis, SAPHO Syndrome (Synovitis - Acne - Pustulosis - Hyperostosis - Osteitis), osteoarthritis, arthrosis, cancer, Paget bone disease, etc.;
  • Occupational diseases: These can be considered as a class of its own, even if these joint ailments can be included in one of the categories described above: Carpal tunnel syndrome, epicondylitis or “tennis elbow,” tendinitis, ankylosant spondylitis, etc.

The joint ailments are multiple and they are common in pain and inflammation. The pain is a warning which indicates that the body has a problem. It can be of various intensities: acute, blunt, silent, burning, sharp, pounding or throbbing. It appears when the nerve terminals are irritated, that is to say following a contusion, muscle strain, or when a reaction is produced in response to an allergy or a stress, these cause nerve compression and pain around the affected area. It also occurs when the nerves are damaged through an accident or “overuse” of a limb. Whatever the cause, the pain sounds an alarm signal which one must listen to. It is necessary to find the source of the pain and relieve it quickly.


We must find the source of pain and take immediate corrective action.  Chronic pain can cause a chain reaction that can be very harmful.  In the long run, it leads to tension and stress, it brings greater sensitivity and thus coping with pain may possibly lead to depression.

Symptoms of inflammation

The main symptoms of inflammation include the appearance of:

  • Redness;
  • Pain;
  • Swelling or edema;
  • Heat (at touch);
  • Loss of mobility.

In medical terms, the suffix “itis” means inflammation. One may be able to feel pain without inflammation, but inflammation without pain is rare. Pain and inflammation can be acute (abrupt onset but of short duration) or chronic (progressive onset, but of long duration).

Inflammation is an immune defense reaction by the body to an aggression: infection, burn, allergy, etc.

These symptoms include:

  • Swelling (edema);
  • Redness where there is local vasodilation;
  • Impaired functioning of touch element(difficulty of joint movement);
  • Feelings of heat or pain which seems to pulsate.
These reactions are similar to those which are experienced when a splinter is planted into the hand, for example. When joint inflames, one or several of these symptoms may appear. This may block the normal use of joint and cause the loss of joint function.

Advice: Prevention
  • Perform physical exercises: exercises that involve amplitude of movements, muscular training, and stamina. According to the National Institutes of Health, arthritic people must perform exercises in order to preserve the mobility of the joints and to maintain muscle mass. Exercise also has an analgesic effect since it involves endorphin release in the body. Several exercises are possible so you must choose one that is appropriate for you. Movements must be regular, flexible and slow. Warm water on joints will allow for reduced stress on the joints. It is suggested to combine various types of exercises to benefit from the advantages of each one.

Exercise categories:

  • To eliminate cardiovascular conditions, to increase the wellbeing and to allow the weight control, exercises of endurance are recommended. Excess weight on the joints makes it more painful;
  • To help maintain motoricity and the joint flexibility while decreasing stiffness; exercises supporting the amplitude of movement such as stretching and dancing are recommanded;
  • In order to maintain or develop the musculature necessary to support the joints affected by the disease, exercises that improve the muscle groups are advised;
  • Heat therapy consists of cold or heat application on the inflamed area of the joint. Independent of the form of arthritis, this application will relieve short-term pain. It is however contraindicated in the case of blood circulation disorders.
  1. Cold may be used to fight inflammation or when joints are swollen and sensitive because it causes vasoconstriction and decreases swelling while soothing the pain. Cold contracts the blood vessels, which slows down the progression of the inflammation and reduces swelling.
  2. Application of heat is used when muscles are sore and tense. Heat allows a relaxant effect, but more important, will give a better blood circulation with the articulations, which will reduce pain. One can take a shower or a bath for about fifteen minutes with hot water, or apply heating bags or a hot water bag to the affected areas.
  • Food diet: it is advised that patients who are vegetarians have a healthy intake of fats including fish such as tuna, sardine, salmon, since these have inflammatory properties;
  • It is important to consume green vegetables and citrus fruits, vegetable juice, oysters, products containing zinc, ginger, garlic and clove;
  • Regular massages on the affected area may bring relief. It is particularly important to keep active because inactivity may aggravate joint problems;
  • One of the problems with the inflammatory process is the accumulation of acids in the tissues. Each time a muscle or a nerve is stimulated, acid is released as a by-product and the role of the blood is to get rid of these toxin deposits. If circulation is not effective enough in getting rid of the by-products, the acid concentration will then increase in the tissues;
  • A way to handle the progressive fall of acid scale is to balance the pH of the food we eat. It’s necessary to try adding fruits and vegetables to each meal. The fruits and vegetables, except tomatoes and oranges, have an alkalization effect on the body while carbohydrates and proteins have an acidic reaction. It is important to balance acids in order to reduce acid accumulation in tissues;
  • Cider vinegar is another treatment for arthritis, because of its alkalization action that is similar to that of lemon. One can take 1 to 2 teaspoons 3 times a day in a glass of water, juice or warm water, with a little honey for better taste;
  • Spearmint oil, an extract of capsaicin or of menthol may be used as a rubbing cream. These oils have calorific actions and contain a substance similar to that of Aspirin™ which has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects;
  • Confrey ointment can also be used for further treatment.

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