Do your joints hurt? Could this be due to the synovial membrane?

Have you ever wondered how our joints like our elbows, knees, and shoulders bend and unbend so easily without any problems? It's like a well-oiled machine, isn't it? There's a very important little hero inside our joints that helps with this amazing job, but that none of us talk about much. That's what we're going to talk about today. He's the "Synovial Membrane."

What is this synovial membrane?

Simply put, it's like a bag made of a thin membrane. It's what lines the inside of our joints. Sometimes doctors call it the "synovium."

This synovial membrane is filled with a special fluid. We call it "synovial fluid" . This fluid is what protects our joints and helps them move smoothly without any friction. So this synovial membrane is a very important part of our musculoskeletal system that helps us sit, stand, walk, run, that is, move.

What service does this do for our bodies?

Imagine that you use a door hinge without oiling it. After a while, it starts to creak and make a noise, gets stuck, and rusts, right? That's how it is. The main function of this synovial membrane and the fluid inside it is to lubricate the hinges of our joints, preventing them from rubbing against each other and helping them to work smoothly.

That is, it prevents two bones in a joint from rubbing against each other. We call this reducing friction.

• For example, when you bend or extend your arm, this fluid helps the large bone in your upper arm (humerus) and the two bones in your lower arm (radius and ulna) slide together without hitting each other.
• Another example is our hip joint. The ball-like part of our thigh bone (femur) fits into a cup-like part of our pelvis. It is this synovial membrane and fluid that help these two bones move smoothly without rubbing when we walk or run.

Where are these located in our bodies?

In fact, most of our joints, where two bones meet and move, have this protective covering. For example:

• Elbows
• Knees
• Ankles
• Joints in feet
• Fingers and thumbs
• Wrists
• Shoulders
• Hips

Inside each of these joints, this little hero sits and quietly does his duty.

What is the synovial membrane made of?

This is a very amazing design. This synovial membrane has two main layers.

1. Intima: This is a very thin layer. This is where the synovial fluid that we talked about earlier, which acts like oil for the joints, is produced. This fluid is made from the blood plasma in our blood.

2. Subintimal layer: This is a layer that is a little stronger than the inner layer, and is fibrous in nature. It protects the delicate inner layer. It is also flexible enough to bend and stretch with the joint. This outer layer contains several other important things.

• Nerve cells
• Lymphatic cells
• Blood vessels

What are the common diseases that affect this synovial membrane?

Okay, now let's see what are the diseases that bother our joints and interfere with their work. In such a situation, the synovial membrane becomes inflamed and starts to hurt. We call this "synovitis" .

The main and most common cause of this is arthritis.

Symptoms that require you to see your doctor

If you have any of these symptoms in your joints, don't ignore it and see a doctor immediately.

• Swelling: If a joint or the area around it is swollen.
• Pain: If there is pain that does not subside after a few days.
• Pain when touched: If you feel pain when touching or pressing on the joint.
• Difficulty moving: Bend a joint as usual, if unable to extend.
• Skin discoloration: If the skin around the joint becomes red, blue, or looks bruised.

How does a doctor check this?

When you go to the doctor, he will first ask you about your symptoms and examine your joint. Then, he may order several tests to determine the exact cause of the condition.

• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan: This helps to clearly see the soft tissues of the joint, such as the synovial membrane and cartilage.
• CT (Computed Tomography) scan: This can provide a better understanding of the condition of the bones.
• Ultrasound scan: This is used to check for fluid buildup inside the joint or swelling of the membranes.
• Synovial fluid testing: Sometimes, your doctor may want to take a few drops of the synovial fluid inside your joint and test it. This involves using a small syringe to take a few drops of fluid from inside your joint and testing it in a lab to see if there are any infections or uric acid crystals. This is called a synovial fluid analysis .

How do we keep our synovial membrane healthy?

Taking good care of this synovial membrane is essential to keeping our joints healthy. There are a few simple things you can do to help.

Reduce the risk of arthritis

• Avoid tobacco products: Smoking and the use of other tobacco products are not only harmful to the joints, but also to the entire body.
• Do joint-friendly exercises: Engage in exercises that don't put too much strain on your joints. For example, things like swimming and cycling are great.
• Maintain a healthy body weight: When you gain weight, the weight is most felt on your joints, such as your knees and hips. Therefore, maintaining a healthy body weight that suits you can reduce the pressure on your joints.

Protect your joints from accidents.

• Always wear a seat belt when riding in a vehicle.
• Wear appropriate protective equipment (e.g. knee pads, elbow pads) when playing sports or riding a bicycle.
• If there are items at home or at work that could cause you to slip and fall, put them away in an orderly manner.
• When reaching for something high up, use a suitable ladder instead of climbing on chairs or tables .
• If you have difficulty walking or are unable to walk, don't be afraid to use a walker or cane . It can help you avoid accidents.

Until our synovial membranes are working properly, we don't even feel them. But if a joint is painful or swollen, there's a good chance that it's caused by a problem with this synovial membrane. So, never ignore joint pain. The sooner you find the cause and get treatment, the sooner you can get back to your normal activities without pain.