Most of your body is made up of water. It’s found in your muscles, heart, brain, and bones. You need water for digestion, circulation, and temperature control. Water also supports joint movement by keeping your joints lubricated.
You may expect a dry mouth when you’re dehydrated, and even a headache. But not getting enough fluids may also cause joint pain.
At LiveWell Pain Management in Elmwood Park, New Jersey, our physical medicine and interventional pain management physician, Dr. Nora Taha takes a holistic approach when treating arthritis, a common cause of joint pain. Though we offer many innovative therapies, simple lifestyle changes like drinking more water can make a significant difference in your pain levels.
Here, we want to share with you the link between dehydration and joint pain and how proper hydration can alleviate your discomfort.
Many of the structures in your joints contain water, including your cartilage, a strong connective tissue that provides cushioning between the bones of a joint. Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of joint pain and develops from the gradual wearing away of cartilage over time.
Cartilage is made up mostly of water. Without enough water, the cartilage in your joints may shrink, accelerating the degeneration of your connective tissue.
Synovial fluid is also an important component in your joints, keeping them lubricated to reduce friction. Synovial fluid also supplies your joints with nutrients.
If you’re not getting enough fluids, your body may not make enough synovial fluid to protect and nourish your joints, leading to joint pain.
If you’re thirsty, you’re dehydrated. Dehydration means your body doesn’t have enough water. Even mild dehydration causes symptoms like fatigue and headaches.
Dehydration occurs when you’re not drinking enough fluids or you’re losing fluids faster than you can replace them, usually due to excessive sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea. Signs and symptoms of dehydration include:
You may also notice an increase in joint pain when you’re dehydrated. In addition to affecting joint lubrication, dehydration slows down the removal of toxins from your body, increasing inflammation and pain
The best way to combat dehydration is to drink when you’re thirsty. You can also monitor your urine to check your hydration status. If your urine is a pale yellow or clear, you’re drinking enough.
Fluid needs vary and depend on many factors, like your age, sex, and activity level. Healthy adults need about 12-16 cups of water a day.
We can help determine how much fluid you need per day to stay hydrated. Though we encourage water for hydration, juice, soup, and high-water content fruits and vegetables (watermelon, cucumbers, and tomatoes) provide fluids too.
Dehydration affects your whole body, including your joints. Though drinking more water won’t ease all your aches and pains, it may prevent them from getting worse.
Making simple changes in your lifestyle, like drinking more water, can help you feel more in control of your joint pain. Let us help you take charge of your pain. Call our office today or request an appointment online to set up a consultation with Dr. Taha.
