Ask Dr. Marks: 02/03

What causes joint inflammation? Can you develop arthritis in any joint? Pain in a joint can be caused by inflammation or neuro-mechanical factors. Inflamma-tion is the primary cause of joint pain in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), while neuro-mechanical factors predominate in osteoarthritis (OA). When articular cartilage is worn away and bone is exposed, simple pressure on the bone surface will cause pain. This explains why joint pain is increased when an involved joint is placed in…