At one point or another, we have all heard people complain about a back that is killing them, or a shoulder that hurts like hell or a knee that is just unbearable. These are common manifestations of arthritis pain.

Arthritis pain is commonly associated with old age. But unbeknownst to many, arthritis pain can also hit young people - a quarter million of them to be exact.

Most of the time, arthritis pain is not taken seriously by people who do not directly suffer from it, and who can blame them? Arthritis is almost always never been taken seriously in the first place.

But why does arthritis hurt anyway?

Arthritis, which literally means joint inflammation, is the word used to describe the disease that has over a hundred variations. Different kinds of this disease could have different symptoms. These types of arthritis can also target different parts of the body, sometimes including body parts that are not connected to bones. Abnormal internal organ function could arise as a complication of arthritis. The most popular kinds of arthritis are ostheoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, which incidentally is the worst type of arthritis.

Arthritis pain can be categorized into two: acute pain and chronic pain.

Acute pain is what we experience when we get a wound. The pain is temporary. But chronic pain is recurrent.

Some types or arthritis cause acute pain. Like when you hold the same position for a period of time and you feel some of your joints aching. This pain eventually goes away. But other kinds of arthritis cause chronic pain which is constant torture to a person suffering from it. The pain can last for day, weeks, months, even years and in some cases, the pain even lasts for a lifetime.

Chronic pain is the worst effect of arthritis. It can disable a person and it limits his activity.

The pain from arthritis is can be caused by different things. Fatigue is a common cause of arthritic pain. It can also be caused by muscle strain or it can be because of the inflammation of the tissue that lines the joints. However, there are instances when all these factors attack simultaneously, making the pain greater for a person with the disease.

Every person has a different level of pain threshold, therefore, it is hard to create a comprehensive description of pain. Also, the debilitating effects of pain also vary from person to person. Some people can continue to function despite pain, while some simply stop moving after feeling a little discomfort.

However, pain from arthritis can be relieved by medical professionals. Doctors can offer quick relief through medications like Tylenol, aspirin or some anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. Other remedies like a massage, an ice pack or a hot compress can also be used to alleviate the pain.

There are also long-term solutions for arthritis like stronger medications like biological response modifiers, corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Exercise, like brisk walking and swimming, is also recommended for people with arthritis. In some extreme cases however, surgery is necessary.