Joint pain is a common problem. Questions about what it is connected with and how to get rid of it have not left people for a long time. Scientific discoveries have made it possible to successfully combat pathologies and extend the lifespan of joints.
In this article we will look at the causes and treatment of severe pain in the small joints of the arms and legs, what to do when all joints in the body hurt, how to treat aching pain in muscles and bones.
Causes of pain
Why do my joints hurt? The causes of joint pain can be linked to:
- with injuries (dislocations, sprains of ligaments or tendons, fractures, microtrauma); pain during an injury is an ache, a pulling, a tightness, which bothers the victim even at rest;
- physical overload (sporting or industrial); Constant physical overload leads to microdamage to muscles and connective tissue. Joints wear out prematurely, leading to degenerative diseases;
- joint pathologies.
The most common joint diseases are associated with connective tissue damage, cartilage destruction, decreased bone density, infectious processes and metabolic disorders. Diseases caused by developmental anomalies (dysplasia, congenital dislocation or subluxation, congenital inflammatory-degenerative processes) are quite rare. We will only consider acquired diseases.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease associated with decreased bone density.It most often affects the elderly, postmenopausal women and people suffering from metabolic disorders.
The pain syndrome develops slowly, gradually increasing, its strength increases, and the pain is disturbing even at rest.Most often, the initial development of osteoarthritis is the answer to the question of why knees hurt from the cold. As the disease is irreversible, its treatment aims to prevent further bone destruction and the development of joint deformities.
Arthritis
Has many varieties.This affects the connective tissue of the joint.The pain may increase gradually or develop quickly, over a few days. The joints swell, the skin turns red, and the joint tissues become warm to the touch.
The disease is treated according to its cause. If it is an infection - anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics, autoimmune diseases in rheumatoid arthritis - immunosuppressants, in gouty arthritis, as well as the use of NSAIDs, a diet is necessary.
Patient complaints about why the joints of the whole body hurt simultaneously at night may be a sign of an aggressive form of rheumatoid arthritis or its harbinger. In another case, it may be a sign of significant physical fatigue.
Chronic rheumatism
Chronic rheumatism can last for years and affect internal organs.Characteristic symptoms include joint pain, which occurs from time to time and is accompanied by swelling and an increase in body temperature.
Joint damage from gout is associated with metabolic disorders and the accumulation of uric acid in the joints.Pain occasionally occurs in small joints(hands, big toe).
The pain is pressing and throbbing, disturbing at night.In the chronic form, bumps may form– accumulation of uric acid in the joints.
If your entire spine starts to hurt, this may be a sign of conditions such as:
- osteochondrosis with damage to the intervertebral discs;
- spondylosis;
- infectious lesions of the spine, including tuberculosis;
- stress as a psychosomatic reaction to an irritant is the answer to the question: "Can joints hurt from nervousness? "
How to relieve joint pain in the morning? To resolve the problem, it is necessary to identify the cause. It can be:
- ankylosing spondylitis, which affects the large joints and the spine;
- deforming osteoarthritis;
- fusion of bone, cartilage, or fibrous tissue after injury;
- osteochondrosis;
- bursitis, tendovaginitis.
Other reasons
Tendon diseases have symptoms similar to osteoarthritis. They differ in that with osteoarthritis, pain will be felt even at rest, and with tendon disease it manifests itself only when the muscles are under tension.
A blockage, or pinched nerve, is also similar in pain to osteoarthritis. But the pain appears suddenly and strongly blocks the movement of the joint.
Vascular disorders are most often seen in the shoulder and knee joints. They are associated with vasospasm or decreased blood supply. This is common among adolescents and is because blood vessel growth occurs at a slower rate than bone growth.
The pain is symmetrical and "twisting" or "aching"-like. As you grow older, between the ages of 18 and 20, the pain goes away.
Diagnostic
Accurate diagnosis of joint diseases is the key to successful treatment.
General examination and palpation assess the patient's posture and movements, swelling, range of motion, distribution and nature of pain.
By palpating the sore spot, you can determine, for example, the presence of rheumatoid nodules under the skin, changes in temperature and humidity of the skin, the localization of pain and the condition of the joint capsule.
Analyzes
Laboratory blood and urine tests can reveal a number of factors indicating the presence of the disease. During a biochemical blood test, special attention is paid to the content of C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor.
An increased level of ESR will indicate the presence of an inflammatory process, an elevated level of uric acid is manifested in arthritis and other joint pathologies.
Deviations from the norm in urine tests are detected only in severe forms of the disease.
X-ray and MRI
X-rays are often used to exclude bone damage due to injury, as well as to assess the condition of the joint in cases of degenerative diseases.. In such cases, the symmetry of joint damage, the presence of deformation and the size of the interarticular space are determined.
Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography are performed if detailed analysis of bone and soft tissue is needed.Thanks to it, the doctor will be able to determine the pinched nerve fibers, the condition of blood vessels and the nature of damage to cartilage and bone tissue.
When to consult a doctor
You should see a doctor if:
- after the injury, severe pain is felt, the joint is swollen and its contours have changed; this may indicate a dislocation or fracture; in this case, an orthopedic surgeon or surgeon will help you;
- pain in the joint, with increased body temperature, rash or conjunctivitis, stomatitis;
- severe pain does not go away after taking painkillers;
- your joints have been hurting for over a week for reasons you don't know.
Treatment
How to treat a painful joint? Anyone who has been injured or suffering from a joint pathology has been confronted with this question.
Treatment of joints directly depends on the cause of their damage.To reduce symptoms, modern nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used.
In combination with them, vitamins and tissue restoration agents are prescribed.Physiotherapy and manual therapy methods accelerate the healing process. How to get rid of joint pain and fever will be described below.
Drugs
Drug treatment depends on the clinical picture and condition of the patient.
To relieve pain and inflammation, complex drugs from the group of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used.They quickly and effectively relieve symptoms and act in several directions at once: pain, swelling and inflammatory processes. But it should be remembered that their excessive consumption leads to poisoning, damage to internal organs (liver, kidneys, stomach) or other disorders, so they should be taken only as prescribed by a doctor.
Attention!If there is no urgent need to take tablets, these same products can be used in the form of gels and ointments.
To improve blood supply, venotonics are prescribed.They restore blood supply, help reduce swelling due to lymphatic outflow, remove toxins and improve tissue nutrition.
Muscle relaxers are used to relieve severe muscle spasms.This is necessary if compression of the nerve endings leads to severe tension in the adjacent muscles, which reduces the mobility of the joint and causes persistent sharp pain.
Vitamins and chondroprotectors– is an integral part of any joint therapy. They restore tissues and prevent their further destruction. This is especially important if you are diagnosed with a degenerative disease whose development can be stopped, but not completely eliminated. Preparations containing glucosamine and chondroitin participate in the regeneration of cartilage and connective tissue of joints and prevent their destruction.
Vitamins containing calcium improve the condition of bone tissue, increase its density and prevent its destruction.
Vitamin D is necessary for the synthesis of calcium in the body, it regulates the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus, participates in the formation of the bone skeleton and improves the absorption of calcium at the intestinal level.
Zinc is necessary for the maintenance of the reproductive system and the synthesis of sex hormones. When they are deficient, bone tissue is destroyed.
Copper is important for the formation of elastin and collagen, which are part of the connective tissue of the joint.
If an infection is detected during diagnosis, antibiotic therapy is carried out.The type and duration of treatment depends on the form of the pathogen.
Hormonal drugs are prescribed in severe cases where NSAIDs do not give positive results.These are powerful medications and used as a last resort. They quickly relieve intense pain and restore joint mobility. To do this, they are most often used in the form of injections and injected directly into the joint.
Immunosuppressants are also powerful medications used in extreme cases. They are prescribed for autoimmune pathologies and are taken only under the control of a doctor.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine offers many ways to treat joints. Before using them, be sure to consult your doctor and discuss whether there are any contraindications or allergy risks.
Treatment of joints with folk remedies at home can only be used as an auxiliary method. You should not put it first and neglect your doctor's recommendations.
- Bay leaf tincture.Pour 20 bay leaves into 0. 5 liters of boiling water in a thermos and leave to infuse for a day. The decoction can be taken in small sips throughout the day, the duration of treatment is 2 months.
- Gelatin compress.Sprinkle gelatin (1 sachet - 15-50 g) over the joint and cover with a cloth or gauze soaked in hot water, then wrap with film and a warm, dry cloth. Leave the compress to act overnight, repeat this operation for two weeks.
- Wrap.For wrapping, take leaves of cabbage, coltsfoot or burdock, tie them to the joint and leave them overnight, wrapped in a warm bandage.
- Chestnut tincture.200 g of chestnut flowers are poured into 1 liter of vodka and left to infuse for 2 weeks, stirring the mixture periodically. After that, the tincture can be used to rub into sore joints.
- Rub the pork lard.A small piece of lard is rubbed in a circular motion onto the sore spot until it is completely dissolved.
- Honey and salt compress.Mix honey and fine salt in equal parts, apply to the joint, cover with cling film and wrap warmly, leave to sit overnight.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is carried out for:
- restoration of metabolism in joint tissues;
- improve microcirculation and lymphatic drainage;
- reduce pain, swelling and inflammation;
- deeper penetration of the drug into the tissues (electrophoresis with medicinal ointments);
- activation of natural regeneration processes.
Methods such as phonophoresis, electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, laser therapy, cryotherapy and shock wave therapy are used.
Physiotherapy has many benefits. It is suitable for most patients, does not cause allergies and has a minimum of contraindications (acute phase of infectious diseases, pacemaker, neoplasms, epilepsy, pregnancy).
Massage and manual therapy have a beneficial effect on the elasticity of muscles and joint ligaments. They can be used both preventatively and therapeutically.
Gymnastic
During the rehabilitation period, a course of physiotherapy (physiotherapy) is carried out to restore mobility and prevent stagnation.It is prescribed by the attending physician, orthopedist or physiotherapist.
Initially, it is better to carry out the exercises under the supervision of a doctor, he will explain how to properly perform this or that exercise and what it is intended for, how to breathe correctly and what not to do. The course can then be repeated at home.
Various forms of gentle fitness and pool attendance are helpful in maintaining healthy joints.
Surgical treatment
Surgical treatment is carried out in cases where conservative treatment methods have been exhausted and do not give a positive result.
Joint puncture is used for diagnosis and treatment.A thin needle is inserted into the joint cavity, with the help of which pathological fluid is removed or a medicinal agent is administered.
Arthroscopy allows minimal intervention.All manipulations are carried out by small punctures using special endoscopic instruments.
It is carried out to eliminate dead tissues, plastic ligaments, replace cartilage defects, eliminate chondromic bodies and clean up the joint in cases of deforming osteoarthritis.
A periarticular osteotomy is performed on the lower extremities to restore support and improve mobility.During the operation, the bone next to the affected joint is sawn and fused at a new angle. As a result, the load is redistributed, pain is reduced and the development of the pathological process is avoided.
Endoprosthesis replacement involves completely replacing a joint while maintaining mobility.
Prevention
In order to maintain healthy joints or maintain a long-term state of remission, you must follow simple recommendations.
If you suffer from chronic joint diseases, first of all strictly follow your doctor's recommendations and, if necessary, undergo periodic examinations.
To nourish both the joint itself and the entire body, include a variety of foods in your diet.These include fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, minimally processed cereals (rice, buckwheat, millet, pearl barley), lean fresh meat, eggs, seafood and fresh fish, dishescontaining gelatin (jellied meat or aspic), wholemeal bread and durum wheat pasta. varieties of wheat.
At the same time, avoid overly salty, marinated and smoked foods, fatty meats and sweets. In order to learn how to create a balanced menu and adopt good eating habits, you can seek help from a nutritionist.
If necessary, use vitamin and mineral complexes.Glucosamine, chondroitin, vitamins B and D, calcium and polyunsaturated fatty acids are beneficial for the joints.To achieve positive results, they must be followed in courses over a long period of time. For the best way to take your vitamins, consult your doctor.
If you are overweight, you need to understand that this puts a lot of strain on your joints and work to reduce it.
To maintain your mobility, you must exercise and attend training sessions adapted to your physical abilities.To maintain good physical condition, they must be regular and not cause overload or discomfort. There are many types of workouts specifically designed for problem joints and spine. These are kinesis, Pilates, yoga, TRX, aqua aerobics and other varieties.
Use special sports and orthopedic devices - accessories for arms, legs and body that provide shock absorption and protective functions: knee pads, corsets, elbow pads, sportswear with compression effect, shields and much moreAgain.
Avoid strenuous physical activities and stress.
Conclusion
With the modern development of medicine, we have acquired great opportunities for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of many diseases. Modern treatment methods, advances in pharmacology and surgery make it possible to preserve the health of our joints for a long time, maintain mobility and maintain a high quality of life.