Joint pain (arthralgia) is an important symptom in the diagnosis of a number of 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 when palpated, or redness.For significant restrictions in mobilitylarge jointsthe patient does not complain either.It also happens that even an X-ray examination does not allow signs of inflammation to be seen.But that doesn't make arthralgia (joint pain) innocentsymptom:it can signal severe organic lesions and even diseases that are not related to the condition of the joint itself.
As statistics show,painVhand jointsand legs begin to bother every second person over the age of 40.For people over 70 years of age,diseasesmusculoskeletal system are even more common - in 90% of cases.
Causes of joint pain
One of the mainreasonsthe problem is infectionacuteinfection.Achingpain can occur both before the first symptoms of the disease appear and in its early stages.In case of infectionaches all joints of the body.Mobility is preserved in them.
Post-infectioussharpjoint pain makes itself 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 - it 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.More often, the patient feels severe discomfort in the large joints of the lower extremities.In the mornings, he suffers from the fact that he cannot immediately get up and walk quickly - due to 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, whilewhinesonly one joint, gouty arthritis can 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, the development of osteoarthritis (the old name osteoarthritis), i.e., degenerative-dystrophic processes in the joint, can be assumed.
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.According to the localization criterion, the following are distinguished:
- monoarthralgia (only one joint is affected);
- oligoarthralgia (paindifferent at the same timejoints - but no 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 inflamed.
Pain manifested in diseases of the musculoskeletal system is conventionally divided into:
- starting (appears at the very beginning of the movement);
- mechanical (consequence of doing exercises, long walking, running);
- reflected (noted in areas where, in fact, there are no pathological changes);
- nocturnal (disturbs during night rest).
Other joint pains 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 taken:
- General blood test.Makes it possible to detect deviations taking into account the nature of joint damage and the degree of its severity.An increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, confirming the presence of inflammation, with a normal number of leukocytes is a sign of rheumatic pathology.If leukocytes, on the contrary, are elevated, pain predominates in the spine and individual joints, it is most likely that the nature of the disease is infectious.
- Biochemical blood test.For inflammation of the joints, 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.
Additionally, the following examinations may be prescribed:
- Radiography.It is mandatory for painful joints, since without photographs the doctor cannot carry out a differential diagnosis and assess the degree of damage to the skeletal system.
- Computed tomography.Used to study the location of inflamed areas.
- Immunoelectrophoresis.An additional type of diagnosis that shows how much 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 may not be used).Changing the initial picture gives him the opportunity to judge the presence of affected parts in hard-to-reach parts of the joint.
If the doctor deems it necessary, a biopsy is performed.
Treatment of joint pain
Treatmentarthralgia will be effective only 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 down the progression of osteoarthritis, block further destruction of articular cartilage, and reduce inflammation.An example of such drugs from this group are combination drugs containing 2 components of cartilage, the substances chondroitin and glucosamine in therapeutic dosages, chondroitin sulfate 1200 mg, glucosamine 1500 mg, capsule form.These components activate regenerative processes in the cartilage, due to which the pain gradually disappears and the patient’s condition improves.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Eliminate pain and prevent the spread of inflammatory reactions.Normalizes body temperature.
- Muscle relaxants.Designed to minimize stiffness of skeletal muscles.
- 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 the drug treatment was ineffective.
In parallel 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, potent medications are used that help to forget about the symptoms of arthralgia for a long time.
Additional methods of treating joint pain include:
- physical therapy;
- 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 the area of one or several joints using non-invasive methods.Then the patient is recommended to undergo surgery.It could be:
- Arthroscopic debridement.The surgeon makes tiny incisions and uses them to remove dead tissue from the joint cavity.The operation involves the use of modern endoscopic equipment.
- Puncture.Using a special needle, the doctor draws out 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 articular bones so that they grow together at a certain angle.
- Endoprosthetics.A very serious operation, which is used only if it is no longer possible to restore the joint.Then a prosthesis is installed instead.
The doctor decides which method of treating joint pain is indicated for a particular patient individually, taking into account age, medical history, symptoms and some other factors.
Prevention
To avoid joint damage, you need to 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 drinking 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 one position for a long time.
If discomfort in the joint does occur, you need to undergo an examination.If you suspect an inflammatory process, you should not self-medicate.