Joint pain is a common problem. The question of what it is connected with and how to get rid of it has been bothering people for a long time. Scientific knowledge has made it possible to successfully combat pathologies and extend the life 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 if all the joints of the body hurt, and how to treat aching pain in the muscles and bones.
Causes of pain
Why do my joints hurt? The causes of joint pain can be as follows:
- in the event of injuries (dislocations, sprains of ligaments or tendons, fractures, microtraumas); The pain during the injury aches, pulls, shoots, which disturbs the victim even at rest;
- physical overload (sport or industry); Constant physical overload leads to micro-damage 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, reduced bone density, infectious processes and metabolic disorders. Diseases caused by developmental disorders (dysplasia, congenital dislocation or subluxation, congenital inflammatory-degenerative processes) are quite rare. We will only consider acquired diseases.
arthrosis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that is associated with a decrease in bone density.Older people, menopausal women and people with metabolic disorders are most commonly affected.
The pain syndrome develops slowly, increases gradually, its strength increases and the pain is disturbing even at rest.Most often, the initial development of arthrosis is the answer to the question of why the knees hurt from the cold. The disease is irreversible, so its treatment is aimed at preventing further bone destruction and the development of joint deformity.
arthritis
Has many varieties.It affects the connective tissue of the joint.The pain may increase gradually or develop rapidly over a few days. The joints swell, the skin turns red, and the joint tissue feels hot.
Treatment of the disease depends on the cause. If it is an infection - anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics, in autoimmune diseases, in rheumatoid arthritis - immunosuppressants, in gouty arthritis, a diet is required in addition to taking NSAIDs.
Patient complaints about why the joints of the entire body hurt at night at the same time may be a sign of an aggressive form of rheumatoid arthritis or its harbinger. In another case, it may be a sign of severe physical fatigue.
Chronic rheumatism
Chronic rheumatism can last for years and affect internal organs.The characteristic symptoms include joint pain that occurs from time to time and is accompanied by swelling and increased body temperature.
Joint damage caused by gout is accompanied by metabolic disorders and the accumulation of uric acid in the joints.Pain occurs from time to time in small joints(hands, big toe).
The pain is pressing and throbbing and disturbs at night.In the chronic form, bumps can form– Accumulation of uric acid in the joint area.
If your entire spine begins to hurt, it may be a sign of diseases 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 due to nervousness? ""
How to relieve joint pain in the morning? To fix the problem, the cause must be determined. It may be:
- ankylosing spondylitis, which affects large joints and the spine;
- deforming arthrosis;
- Fusion of bone, cartilage, or fibrous tissue after an injury;
- osteochondrosis;
- Bursitis, tendovaginitis.
Different reasons
The symptoms of tendon diseases are similar to osteoarthritis. They differ in that with osteoarthritis the pain can be felt at rest and with tendon diseases it is only noticeable when the muscles are under tension.
A blockage or a pinched nerve also causes pain similar to that of osteoarthritis. But the pain occurs suddenly and severely blocks movement in the joint.
Vascular diseases are most commonly observed in the shoulder and knee joints. They are associated with vascular spasms or reduced blood supply. This is common in teenagers and is because blood vessel growth occurs more slowly than bone growth.
The pain is symmetrical and resembles a "twisting" or "ache". With increasing age, between the ages of 18 and 20, the pain disappears.
diagnosis
An accurate diagnosis of joint diseases is the key to successful treatment.
General examination and palpation allow assessment of the patient's posture and movement, swelling, range of motion, distribution and nature of pain.
For example, by feeling the sore spot, you can determine the presence of rheumatoid nodules under the skin, changes in the temperature and humidity of the skin, the location of the pain and the condition of the joint capsule.
Analyzes
Laboratory tests of blood and urine can reveal a number of factors that indicate the presence of the disease. When conducting a biochemical blood test, attention is paid to the content of C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor.
An increased ESR value indicates the presence of an inflammatory process; A high level of uric acid manifests itself in arthritis and other joint diseases.
Deviations from the norm are detected in urine tests only in severe forms of the disease.
X-ray and MRI
X-rays are often used to rule out bone damage caused by injuries and to assess the condition of the joint in degenerative diseases.. In such cases, the symmetry of the joint damage, the presence of deformation and the size of the joint space are determined.
If a detailed analysis of bones and soft tissue is required, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography are performed.This allows the doctor to determine pinched nerve fibers, the condition of the blood vessels and the type of damage to cartilage and bone tissue.
When should you see a doctor?
You need to 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 orthopedist or surgeon will help;
- Pain in the joint, with increased body temperature, rash or conjunctivitis, stomatitis;
- severe pain does not go away after taking painkillers;
- Your joints hurt for more than a week for reasons unknown to you.
Treatment
How do you treat a painful joint? Anyone who has been injured or suffered from joint disease has faced this question.
Treatment of joints directly depends on the cause of their damage.To relieve symptoms, modern non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used.
In combination with them, vitamins and tissue-restoring agents are prescribed.Physiotherapy and manual therapy methods accelerate the healing process. The following describes how to get rid of joint pain and fever.
Medication
The drug treatment depends on the clinical picture and the condition of the patient.
To relieve pain and inflammation, complex drugs from the group of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used.They relieve symptoms quickly and effectively and have an effect in several directions: pain, swelling and inflammatory processes. However, it should be borne in mind that their excessive consumption leads to poisoning, damage to internal organs (liver, kidneys, stomach) or other disorders and therefore should only be taken as prescribed by a doctor.
Attention!If there is no urgent need to take tablets, the 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 drainage, remove toxins and improve tissue nutrition.
Muscle relaxants are used to relieve severe muscle spasms.This is necessary if the compression of the nerve endings causes severe tension in the adjacent muscles, which limits the mobility of the joint and causes persistent acute pain.
Vitamins and chondroprotectors– an integral part of every joint therapy. They restore tissue and prevent their further destruction. This is especially important if you are diagnosed with a degenerative disease, the development of which can be stopped but not completely eliminated. Preparations containing glucosamine and chondroitin are involved in the regeneration of cartilage and connective tissue of the joints and prevent their destruction.
Vitamins with calcium improve the condition of bone tissue, increase its density and prevent destruction.
Vitamin D is necessary for calcium synthesis in the body, it regulates calcium and phosphorus metabolism, is involved in the formation of the bone skeleton and improves calcium absorption in the intestine.
Zinc is necessary for the maintenance of the reproductive system and the synthesis of sex hormones. If there is a deficiency, 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 the diagnosis, antibiotic therapy is given.The type and duration of the course depend on the form of the pathogen.
In severe cases, if NSAIDs do not give positive results, hormonal drugs are prescribed.These are effective drugs and are used as a last resort. They quickly relieve severe pain and restore mobility to the joints. For this purpose, they are usually used in the form of injections and injected directly into the joint.
Immunosuppressants are also effective medications used in extreme cases. They are prescribed for autoimmune diseases and only taken under medical supervision.
home remedies
Traditional medicine offers many options for treating joints. Before use, 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 0. 5 liters of boiling water into 20 bay leaves in a thermos flask and let it steep 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 - 15-50g) onto the joint and cover with a cloth or gauze soaked in hot water, then wrap with foil and a warm, dry cloth. Leave the compress on all night and repeat for two weeks.
- Wrap.For wrapping, take cabbage, coltsfoot or burdock leaves, tie them to the joint point and leave overnight, wrapped in a warm bandage.
- Chestnut tincture.200 g of chestnut flowers are poured into 1 liter of vodka and left to brew for 2 weeks, shaking the mixture periodically. The tincture can then be used to rub sore joints.
- Rub in lard.A small piece of lard is rubbed on the sore spot in a circular motion until it is completely dissolved.
- Honey-salt compress.Mix equal parts honey and fine salt, apply to the joint, cover with cling film and wrap warm, leave overnight.
physical therapy
Physiotherapy is carried out for:
- Restoration of metabolism in joint tissues;
- improving microcirculation and lymphatic drainage;
- Relieving 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 field therapy, laser therapy, cryotherapy and shock wave therapy are used.
Physiotherapy has a number of benefits. It is suitable for most patients, does not cause allergies and has a minimum of contraindications (acute phase of infectious diseases, pacemakers, neoplasms, epilepsy, pregnancy).
Massage and manual therapy have a positive effect on the elasticity of muscles and joint ligaments. They can be used for both prevention and treatment.
gymnastics
During the rehabilitation period, physical therapy (physiotherapy) is performed to restore mobility and prevent stagnation.The prescription is made by the treating doctor, orthopedist or exercise therapist.
It is best to initially perform the exercises under the supervision of a doctor who 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.
To maintain healthy joints, various forms of gentle fitness and visiting the swimming pool are useful.
Surgical treatment
Surgical treatment is carried out in cases where conservative treatment methods have been exhausted and do not give a positive result.
The joint puncture is used for diagnosis and treatment.A thin needle is inserted into the joint cavity, with the help of which the pathological fluid is removed or a medicine is administered.
Arthroscopy offers minimal intervention.All manipulations are carried out through small punctures using special endoscopic instruments.
It is performed to remove dead tissue and plastic ligaments, replace cartilage defects, remove cartilage bodies and rehabilitate the joint in 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. This redistributes the load, relieves pain and prevents the development of the pathological process.
Endoprosthesis replacement is used to completely replace a joint while maintaining its mobility.
prevention
To maintain healthy joints or maintain long-term remission, you must follow simple recommendations.
If you have chronic joint diseases, first strictly follow your doctor's recommendations and, if necessary, have yourself examined regularly.
To provide nutrients to both the joint itself and the entire body, include a variety of foods in your diet. These are fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, minimally processed grains (rice, buckwheat, millet, pearl barley), lean fresh meat, eggs, seafood and fresh fish, dishes containing gelatin (aspic or aspic), whole grain bread and durum wheat pasta.
At the same time, avoid overly salted, pickled and smoked foods, fatty meats and sweets. To learn how to create a balanced menu and develop proper eating habits, you can consult a nutritionist.
Use vitamin and mineral complexes if necessary.Glucosamine, chondroitin, vitamins B and D, calcium and polyunsaturated fatty acids have a positive effect on the joints.To achieve positive results, they must be completed in courses over a longer period of time. To learn how best to take your vitamins, consult your doctor.
If you are overweight, you need to understand that it puts a lot of strain on your joints and try to reduce it.
To maintain your mobility, you need to exercise and participate in workouts appropriate to your physical abilities.To maintain good physical condition, they must be done regularly and not cause overwork and discomfort. There are many types of training designed specifically for problematic joints and the spine. These are Kinesis, Pilates, Yoga, TRX, water aerobics and other variants.
Use special sports and orthopedic equipment - accessories for the arms, legs and body that provide shock-absorbing and protective functions: knee pads, corsets, elbow pads, sportswear with a compression effect, shields and much more.
Avoid heavy physical activity and stress.
Diploma
With the modern development of medicine, we have gained great opportunities for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of many diseases. Modern treatment methods, advances in pharmacology and surgery make it possible to maintain the long-term health of our joints, maintain mobility and maintain a high quality of life.