Joint pain, or joint pain, occurs in a number of diseases, and until now their cause is not completely clear.Joint elements (ligaments, cartilage, capsule, bone) have pain receptors and respond to inflammatory processes and mechanical irritation.During movement, the joint receptors are irritated, signals from them enter the brain and the person feels pain.During inflammation, the receptors become more sensitive to any irritation as the cells of the immune system release substances that lead to pain.
Usually, joint pain is not accompanied by swelling in the surrounding soft tissues, deformities or redness.When palpating the joints, the pain is moderate.In some cases, there are no obvious signs of inflammation on the X-ray.There are also no complaints about a noticeable reduction in the mobility of large joints.
Joint pain often accompanies rheumatic diseases.In this case, the joints hurt and ache when the weather changes.Severe discomfort in the knee and hip joints is more common.In the morning, the patient cannot get up immediately and walk briskly due to stiffness and pain in the joints.
If joint pain is intermittent, comes on unexpectedly, gets stronger within a day, lasts for several days, and only one joint hurts, then it can be assumed that arthritis is present due to gout.Uric acid crystals accumulate in joint tissues and irritate the tissues and cause pain.
If joint pain occurs in large joints (knees, hips), grows slowly, becomes stronger during physical work and is combined with stiffness in the morning, then degenerative and muscle changes can be diagnosed - osteoarthritis.
Reasons
Joint pain has various causes.One of the most common causes of joint pain is an acute infection.Pain in the joints can appear before the first symptoms of the disease or in the early stages.Often, during the infectious process, it breaks joints throughout the body.At the same time, the amplitude of movements in them does not change.
Severe post-infection joint pain occurs with urinary tract and intestinal infections.
Joints suffer from secondary syphilis, endocarditis, tuberculosis.If there are foci of chronic infections in the body, for example in the kidneys, bile ducts, pelvic organs, parasitic diseases, then the body hurts.
Common causes of joint pain are:
- Thyroid disorders.
- Poisoning by salts of heavy metals.
- Physical injury.
- Long-term use of certain drugs.
I am worried about joint pain due to various diseases.They are divided into 2 large groups:
- Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints caused by infection, autoimmune processes, endocrine and metabolic dysfunction.
- Arthritis is a disease associated with the destruction of joint cartilage and the underlying joint surfaces of bones.Over time, the cartilage becomes rough, loses elasticity and cracks.
The division of joint diseases into arthritis and rheumatism is conditional.Without treatment, arthritis eventually turns into arthritis, where the inflammatory process disrupts cartilage metabolism.Undernourished, they quickly become thinner and gradually collapse.
With arthritis, originally associated with physical overloading of the joints, inflammation develops over time.It is caused by the accumulation of cartilage and bone tissue fragments in the joint cavity and triggering an inflammatory reaction.
The risk group for the development of this pathology includes:
- Menopausal women.
- Elderly people with noticeable age-related changes in the body.
- Obese people.
- Patients with a history of joint trauma.
- Athletes.
- People with certain professions.For example, the knee joint often suffers in those who spend many hours on their feet (teachers, surgeons, hairdressers, etc.).Pain in the joints of the hand is a common symptom among musicians, cashiers and loaders who perform monotonous movements with their hands.
Species
There are different classifications of joint pain.According to the location of joint pain, they are distinguished:
- Some arthritis (1 joint pain).
- Oligo Arthralgia (affects 2-5 joints).
- Polyarthritis (pain in more than 5 joints).
Depending on the location of the joints, joint pain is divided into general and local.
The nature of joint pain is:
- Sharp and dull.
- Temporary and permanent.
- Weak, moderate and intense.
The characteristics and conditions of joint pain depend on the diagnosis.The most common symptoms of joint pain are:
- Starting.Joint pain occurs when you walk at first, then disappears when you move.It is associated with friction on the articular surfaces of bones, which are covered with destroyed cartilage tissue.After a few steps, this mass accumulates in the domes of the joint capsule and the joint pain disappears.
- Pain.They appear after physical work on the joints and disappear with rest.
- Night.They confirm serious damage to the joint and are caused by congestion, pressure on the bone tissue under the cartilage.After a night's sleep, there is a feeling of stiffness in the joints, and when you move, the discomfort disappears.
- Permanent.Occurs when there is inflammation in the joint capsule.
- Sudden (collective blocking).Caused by a pinch in the bone or cartilage that gets stuck between two joint surfaces.
- Transportation.First one joint hurts, then the pain moves to the other.
- Reflected.They are not found in the affected joint, but in a nearby joint.For example, if you have hip joint disease, your knee hurts.
Analysis
If you have joint pain, you should not self-medicate.If you have joint pain, be sure to contact your doctor to determine the diagnosis.After the primary examination, he will refer you to an orthopedic and trauma specialist or a rheumatologist.If a previously injured joint becomes weak, it is recommended to consult a surgeon.
When you visit a doctor, it is important to talk about the following things:
- When pain occurs.
- From there the pain lessens and disappears.
- How often do painful attacks occur?
- Joint pain occurred for the first time or existed before.
- Is it a case of blood inflammation, swelling or deformation of the joint.
- Have you had stress, acute respiratory illness or a lot of exercise in the past few days?
This information will help the specialist to come to a conclusion about the condition of the patient's joints and make a diagnosis.
After determining the nature of joint pain, the doctor will prescribe an examination and give a referral for:
- General blood and urine analysis.
- Biochemical blood test.
- Immunoassays.
- X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound of joints.
- If necessary, a biopsy of the damaged tissue.
X-ray of joints.This procedure allows you to view the joint in two projections and it is possible to perform a radiographic joint analysis.
Using magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography, the condition of osteochondral structures and soft tissues can be assessed in detail.
Ultrasound examination of joints.Helps to identify synovial effusions, erosions of the articular surfaces of bones, synovial changes and assess the width of synovial spaces.
Invasive research methods.If indicated, a joint puncture and biopsy of the joints are performed.In difficult cases, arthroscopy is performed (examination of the joint cavity from the inside).
Laboratory tests help identify signs of inflammation and rheumatic diseases.In peripheral blood, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, levels of C-reactive protein, uric acid, nuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor and ACCP are determined.Synovial fluid undergoes microbiological and cytological analysis.
Treatment
For joint pain, treatment should be comprehensive.Methods include reducing mechanical stress on the joint, eliminating inflammation, and preventing the progression of the underlying disease.This is the only way to slow the degeneration of cartilage, maintain joint mobility and improve the quality of life of a patient with joint pain.
To reduce joint pain, the following is prescribed:
- Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Physiotherapy (shock wave therapy, ozone therapy, muscle stimulation, phonophoresis).
- Therapeutic training.
- Massage.
- Acupuncture.
- Orthopedic or surgical correction.
Conservative treatment is carried out with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, they relieve pain and have an anti-inflammatory effect.Chondroprotectors slow down the development of osteoarthritis.These drugs reduce inflammation and prevent further degeneration of the cartilage in the joints.They contain cartilage components - chondroitin, glucosamine.Chondroprotectors promote restoration processes in cartilage tissue.
To eliminate spasms in skeletal muscles, muscle relaxants are prescribed.
If arthritis is associated with an infection, antibiotics are prescribed.
Complexes of vitamins and minerals are also prescribed for good joint function and recovery.Vitamins A, C, E, group B and the minerals calcium and selenium are particularly important.
In case of severe inflammation and no effect of treatment, glucocorticoids are prescribed according to the plan.
Chemotherapy is supplemented with ointments that heat, relieve pain and have an anti-inflammatory effect.
If joint pain is very severe, then a nerve block is performed.To do this, they use powerful drugs that allow you to forget about joint pain for a long time.
To reduce joint pain, joints are protected from overload.Prolonged standing, lifting and carrying heavy objects puts pressure on joints far beyond the allowable load and contributes to cartilage damage.
To prevent joint pain, follow these rules:
- Normalize your body weight.
- Wear comfortable shoes with low heels;if you have flat feet, use orthopedic insoles.
- Avoid psychological and emotional and physical overload.
- During work, change your posture more often, take five minutes to move and relieve muscle tension.
- To maintain fitness, choose moderate exercise.Alternate exercise and rest periods.
- Do exercises regularly that relieve stress on your joints.For example, you can bend and straighten your legs while sitting or lying down for 20-30 minutes and perform the "cycling exercise".After this, rest for 7-10 minutes to improve blood circulation.These exercises help to strengthen the cartilage in the joints of the feet.
In severe cases, surgery is necessary.Through small incisions, the doctor will remove necrotic tissue from the joint cavity.If fluid has accumulated in the joint, a puncture is made.
To reduce the load and increase the mobility of the diseased joint, a periarticular osteotomy is performed.The bones that make up the joint are sawed down so that they can then grow together at a certain angle.
In severe cases, teams are changed.
Prevention
To avoid joint disease, follow these tips:
- If you are obese, normalize your body weight.
- Drink at least 1.5-1.7 liters of water per day.
- Avoid hypothermia.
- Lead an active lifestyle.
- Avoid excessive use of alcohol and tobacco.
- A night's sleep should last at least 8 hours.
- Walk outside as often as possible.
- Try to change your posture more often.
Summary
According to statistics, joint pain in the upper and lower limbs occurs in half of people over 40 years of age.In patients over 70 years of age, joint diseases are seen in 90% of cases.If a joint hurts suddenly, contact a doctor immediately to determine the cause and prescribe treatment.Take care of your teams and load them with useful activities.Only physical activity can keep your joints mobile, even if the cartilage is damaged and movement causes discomfort.