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When experiencing joint or muscle pain, it might be difficult to decide whether you need to see a doctor. You might even think your discomfort is just temporary and doesn¡¯t indicate any larger overall health issue. But if you¡¯re suffering from persistent joint and muscle pain, or are undergoing evaluation for autoimmune diseases, then you should schedule an appointment with a Rheumatologist. If left untreated, these conditions can permanently damage your health and lead to chronic pain, loss of joint function, bone erosions, and more.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is the most common type of arthritis, affecting over 30 million Americans. This condition causes a breakdown of cartilage, which results in painful swelling, stiffness, and loss of flexibility of the joints in your hands, knees, hips, or spine.

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Some of the common risk factors of osteoarthritis include:

• Family health history?
• Older age
• Obesity
• Joint injuries
• Gender (more common in women than men)

Inflammatory Joint Pain

Although rarer than osteoarthritis, inflammatory joint pain is still one of the most common rheumatological conditions.

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Some common types of inflammatory joint pain are:

• Rheumatoid arthritis:?Autoimmune disease where your body's immune system attacks its own joint and cartilage tissue and causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in your joints
• Gout:?Sudden, severe attacks of pain in one or more joints, most often in the big toe
• Pseudogout:?Condition similar to gout, mostly affecting the knees or wrists
• Polymyalgia rheumatica:?Muscle pain and stiffness, particularly in the shoulders and hips