The bones in your body are strong enough to support your entire weight. They also contain soft bone marrow that makes the body's red blood cells and platelets, the part of your blood that's responsible for clotting.
Joints are located wherever 2 bones meet. The purpose of joints is to make your body flexible. The main joints are the hips, shoulders, elbows, knees, wrists, and ankles.
When iron builds up in the body, it can cause osteoarthritis—damage to the cushions, or cartilage, at the ends of bones. Osteoarthritis typically occurs at the knees or hips but can occur at other joints as well. Osteoarthritis typically develops slowly, gets worse over time, and is permanent. Signs of osteoarthritis include pain and stiffness, redness and warmth, and swelling of the joints.
In some cases, the joints need to be surgically replaced to relieve pain and improve flexibility.
People can have iron overload and have no symptoms. Other people may mistake the signs and symptoms of iron overload for other conditions. For this reason, people with iron overload often don't know they have it until they have serious health problems.
If you've had or are having blood transfusions, be sure to ask your doctor about iron overload and how it may affect your bones and joints. A simple blood test called the serum ferritin test can tell your doctor how much iron is in your body. If your serum ferritin level continues to be over 1000 mcg/L (micrograms per liter), you have iron overload and should talk with your doctor about treatment options.
