Joint pain (arthralgia) is an important symptom in the diagnosis of many diseases.She is the first to say that serious changes have begun at the junction of the bones.
Usually with arthralgia there is no swelling, curvature, severe pain on palpation or redness.For significant mobility restrictionslarge jointsthe patient does not complain either.It also happens that even an x-ray examination cannot detect signs of inflammation.But that doesn't make arthralgia (joint pain) innocent.symptom:it can signal serious organic damage and even diseases that are not related to the condition of the joint itself.
As statistics show,painInhand jointsand the legs start to bother one in two people after the age of 40.For people over 70 years old,diseasesproblems of the musculoskeletal system are even more common – in 90% of cases.
Causes of joint pain
One of the mainreasonsthe problem is the infectionacuteinfection.Painfulpain can occur both before the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease and in its early stages.In case of infectionbody aches all joints of the body.Mobility is preserved there.
Post-infectioussharpjoint pain is felt after:
- urogenital infections;
- intestinal diseases.
The causes of the disease also include: secondary syphilis, tuberculosis, endocarditis.If there are foci of chronic infections in the human body - in the bile ducts, kidneys, pelvic organs, with parasitic infections - this can alsobreak joints.
Arthralgia (joint pain) often confirms the presence of rheumatic diseases.In this case, the pain syndrome is associated with changes in weather conditions.Most often, the patient experiences severe discomfort in the large joints of the lower extremities.In the morning he suffers from the fact that he cannot immediately get up and walk quickly - because of pain and a feeling of stiffness in the joints.
If the pain is paroxysmal, occurs unexpectedly, intensifies during the day and persists for several days, whilemoanssingle joint, gouty arthritis may be suspected (uric acid crystals accumulate in the joint structures).
If the pain increases very slowly, affecting large joints exposed to stress (most often the knee or hip), intensifying with physical activity and/or accompanied by morning stiffness, we can assume the development of osteoarthritis (former name of osteoarthritis), that is, degenerative-dystrophic processes in the joint.
Common causes of joint pain:
- pathology of the thyroid gland;
- weather dependence;
- heavy metal poisoning;
- frequent physical injuries;
- long-term use of certain medications;
Classification of joint pain
There are several classifications of joint pain.Depending on the location criterion, we distinguish:
- monoarthralgia (only one joint is affected);
- oligoarthralgia (paindifferent at the same timejoints - but not more than five);
- polyarthralgia (discomfort is present in more than 5 joints of the body).
Also, taking into account the location of the joints, arthralgia can be general and localized.Depending on the nature of the lesion, the pathology can be non-inflammatory or inflammatory.
Pain manifested in diseases of the musculoskeletal system is conventionally divided into:
- start (appears at the very beginning of the movement);
- mechanical (consequence of doing exercises, long walks, runs);
- reflected (noted in areas where, in fact, there are no pathological changes);
- nocturnal (disturbance during nighttime rest).
Other joint pain may include:
- dull and sharp;
- permanent and transient;
- weak, moderate and intense.
Post-inflammatory and pseudoarthralgia are divided into separate groups.
Diagnosis of joint pain
To understandwhy do my leg joints hurt?hands, the doctor prescribes the patient to undergo a series of diagnostic procedures.To begin with, laboratory tests are carried out:
- General blood test.Allows deviations to be detected taking into account the nature of joint damage and their degree of severity.An increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, confirming the presence of inflammation, with a normal number of leukocytes, is a sign of rheumatic pathology.If, on the contrary, the leukocytes are high and the pain predominates in the spine and in some joints, it is most likely that the nature of the disease is infectious.
- Biochemical blood test.For joint inflammation, they look at the levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, total protein, seromucoid, diphenylamine reaction, as well as some other indicators that confirm a rheumatic diagnosis.
In addition, the following examinations may be prescribed:
- X-ray.It is mandatory for painful joints, because without photographs the doctor cannot carry out differential diagnosis and assess the degree of damage to the skeletal system.
- CT scan.Used to study the location of inflamed areas.
- Immunoelectrophoresis.An additional type of diagnosis that shows how far rheumatoid arthritis has spread.
- Arthroscopy.During the procedure, the specialist visually examines the structure of the knee joint, its structure and takes a tissue sample from the desired area.
- Radionuclide scanning.Effective in the early stages of joint diseases.
- Arthrography.The doctor injects special contrast agents into the joint (contrast cannot be used).Changing the initial image gives it the opportunity to judge the presence of affected parts in hard-to-reach parts of the joint.
If the doctor considers it necessary, a biopsy is performed.
Treatment of joint pain
Treatmentarthralgia will only be effective if doctors find out the cause of the symptom and determine what disease it signals.To relieve inflammation, the patient may be prescribed:
- Chondoprotectors.They slow the progression of osteoarthritis, block the destruction of articular cartilage and reduce inflammation.An example of such drugs of this group are combined drugs containing 2 components of cartilage, the substances chondroitin and glucosamine in therapeutic doses, chondroitin sulfate 1200 mg, glucosamine 1500 mg, in capsule form.These components activate the processes of cartilage regeneration, thanks to which the pain gradually disappears and the patient's condition improves.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Eliminates pain and prevents the spread of inflammatory reactions.Normalizes body temperature.
- Muscle relaxers.Designed to minimize skeletal muscle stiffness.
- Antibacterial drugs.Used for arthritis of an infectious nature.
- Vitamin and mineral complexes.For the normal functioning of joints and their speedy recovery, vitamins A, E, C and group B are necessary.Selenium, calcium, etc.are also important.
- Hormones, steroids.They are used if the joint is very inflamed and drug treatment has proven ineffective.
Along with taking pills, intramuscular and intravenous administration of drugs, the patient may be prescribed warming, analgesic and anti-inflammatory ointments.
If the pain is unbearable, a nerve block may be performed.During the procedure, powerful medications are used to help forget about the symptoms of arthralgia for a long time.
Additional methods of treating joint pain include:
- physiotherapy;
- massage;
- manual therapy;
- mechanotherapy;
- joint traction using special equipment;
- diet.
Physiotherapeutic procedures are indicated for the patient:
- Shock wave therapy;
- ozone therapy;
- phonophoresis;
- myostimulation and some others.
Surgical treatment
In complex cases, it is impossible to eliminate discomfort in one or more joints by non-invasive methods.The patient is then recommended to undergo surgery.This could be:
- Arthroscopic debridement.The surgeon makes tiny incisions and uses them to remove dead tissue from the joint socket.The operation involves the use of modern endoscopic equipment.
- Puncture.Using a special needle, the doctor extracts the accumulated fluid from the joint.
- Periarticular osteotomy.In order to reduce the load and improve the mobility of the affected joint, the doctor files the joint bones so that they grow together at a certain angle.
- Endoprostheses.A very serious operation, which is only used if it is no longer possible to restore the joint.Then a prosthesis is installed instead.
The doctor decides individually which method of treating joint pain is indicated for a particular patient, taking into account age, medical history, symptoms and some other factors.
Prevention
To avoid damage to the joints, you should pay maximum attention to proper nutrition.Your daily diet should contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals.Junk food should be avoided.You need to drink about 2 liters of clean water per day - this has a positive effect on the functioning of the musculoskeletal system.
It is also important:
- do not overcool;
- lead an active lifestyle;
- give up bad habits;
- sleep at least 8 hours a day;
- take regular walks in the fresh air;
- avoid staying in the same position for a long time.
If there is discomfort in the joint, you should undergo an examination.If you suspect an inflammatory process, you should not self-medicate.