Joint pain (joint pain) is an important symptom in the diagnosis of many diseases. It was she who was the first to say that serious changes begin at the junction of the bones.
Normally, when there is pain in the joints, there will be no swelling, crooked, intense pain when touched, redness. Significant limitation on portabilitybig jointThe patient did not complain. It also happens that even X-ray examination does not allow us to see signs of inflammation. But that doesn't make joint pain (joint pain) innocent.symptom:it can signal serious organic lesions and even diseases unrelated to the condition of the joint itself.
As statistics show,painvknucklesand one in two people over the age of 40 begins to lose their legs. For those who have passed the 70-year mark,diseasesmusculoskeletal system is even more common - in 90% of cases.
Causes of joint pain
One of the mainreasonthe problem is infectionsharpinfection.Hurtpain can occur both before the onset of the first symptoms of the disease and in its early stages. With an infected lesionachesall joints of the body. . . Portability is preserved in them.
Post-contagioussharpjoint pain that makes you feel the following:
- urogenital infections;
- intestinal diseases.
Other causes include: secondary syphilis, pulmonary tuberculosis, endocarditis. If the human body has foci of chronic infection - in the biliary tract, kidneys, pelvic organs, infected with parasites - it is also possibleathritis. . .
Joint pain (joint pain) often confirms the presence of rheumatic diseases. In this case, the pain syndrome is related to a change in weather conditions. More often, the patient feels strong discomfort in the large joints of the lower extremities. In the morning, he encountered the fact that he could not immediately get up and walk quickly - because of pain and stiffness in the joints.
If the pain is paroxysmal, comes on suddenly, is intense during the day and persists for several days, whileachesWith only one joint, gouty arthritis (uric acid crystals accumulate in joint structures) may be suspected.
If pain develops very slowly, affects large stress joints (usually the knee or hip), increases with exertion, and/or is accompanied by morning stiffness, we may assume that thedevelopment of osteoarthritis (old name for degenerative joint disease), i. e. , degenerative-dystrophic processes in the joints.
Common causes of joint pain:
- pathology of the thyroid gland;
- weather dependence;
- heavy metal poisoning;
- frequent physical injuries;
- long-term use of certain drugs;
Classification of joint pain
There are several classifications of joint pain. According to localization criteria, there are:
- monoarticular pain (only one joint is affected);
- neuromuscular pain (pain)different at the same timematch - but not more than five);
- polymyalgia (discomfort in more than 5 joints of the body).
In addition, it is necessary to take into account the location of the joint, the joint in general and the locality. According to the nature of the lesion, the pathology may be non-inflammatory and inflammatory.
Pain manifested in diseases of the musculoskeletal system is conventionally divided into:
- start (appear at the very beginning of the movement);
- mechanical (consequence of exercise, long walking, running);
- reflected (marked in areas where, in fact, there are no pathological changes);
- night (disturbing when resting during the night).
Other joint pains can be:
- dull and sharp;
- permanent and temporary;
- weak, medium and intense.
Postinflammatory and pseudomembranous are differentiated into separate groups.
Diagnosis of joint pain
Understandwhy do the joints of the legs hurt,hand, a doctor prescribes a patient to undergo a series of diagnostic procedures. To begin with, laboratory tests are performed:
- General blood analysis. It makes it possible to detect deviations, considering the nature of the joint damage and its severity. An elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate confirms the presence of inflammation, with a normal white blood cell count being a sign of rheumatic disease. Conversely, if the white blood cell count is elevated, and the pain is mainly in the spine and joints, it is most likely that the nature of the disease is contagious.
- Blood chemistry. In the case of arthritis, they will look at levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, total protein, seromuco, diphenylamine reactivity, as well as several other indicators to confirm a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.
In addition, the following exams may be indicated:
- X-ray. This is a must for painful joints, as the physician cannot make a differential diagnosis and assess the extent of skeletal damage without imaging.
- CT scan. Used to study the location of inflamed areas.
- Immunoelectrophoresis. An additional diagnostic category, showing how far the rheumatoid arthritis has spread.
- Arthroscopy. During the procedure, the specialist will visually examine the structure of the knee joint, its structure, and take tissue samples from the desired area.
- Radionuclide scanning. Effective in the early stages of diseases of the joints.
- Match capture. The doctor injects a special contrast material inside the joint (contrast may not be used). A change in the initial image makes it possible to assess the presence of affected parts in hard-to-reach parts of the joint.
If the doctor deems it necessary, a biopsy will be performed.
Treatment of joint pain
TreatmentJoint pain will only be effective if doctors find the cause of the symptom, identify the development of the disease it signals. To reduce inflammation, patients may be prescribed:
- Hondoprotectors. They slow the progression of osteoarthritis, prevent further destruction of joint cartilage, and reduce inflammation. An example of drugs in this class are combination preparations containing the 2 cartilage ingredients, chondroitin and glucosamine in therapeutic doses, chondroitin sulfate 1200mg, glucosamine 1500mg, extended-release capsules. These components activate regenerative processes in the cartilage, thanks to which the pain gradually disappears, the patient's condition improves.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Eliminates pain, stops the spread of inflammatory reactions. Normalization of body temperature.
- Muscle relaxants. Designed to minimize stiffness of skeletal muscles.
- Antibacterial drugs. Used for arthritis of an infectious nature.
- Vitamin and mineral complex. For bones and joints to function normally and recover soon, it is necessary to supplement vitamins A, E, C, group B. Selenium, calcium, . . . are also very important.
- Hormones, steroids. They are used if the joint is very inflamed and drug treatment is not effective.
Along with taking pills in the form of tablets, intramuscularly, intravenously, patients may be prescribed ointments to warm, relieve pain, and fight inflammation.
If the pain is intolerable, a nerve blockade can be performed. During surgery, strong drugs are used to help forget the symptoms of joint pain for a long time.
Additional joint pain treatments include:
- physical therapy exercises;
- Massage;
- manual therapy;
- physiotherapy;
- traction of the joints using special equipment;
- Diet.
From the physiotherapy procedure, the patient is shown:
- Shockwave therapy;
- ozone therapy;
- phonophoresis;
- myostimulation and some others.
Surgery
In difficult cases, it is not possible to eliminate discomfort in the area of one or several joints at once by non-invasive methods. The patient was then advised to have surgery. This could be:
- Arthroscopic resection. The surgeon makes small incisions and through them removes dead tissue from the joint cavity. The operation involves the use of modern endoscopic equipment.
- Puncture. Using a special needle, the doctor sucks accumulated fluid from the joint.
- Peripheral osteotomy. To reduce the load and improve mobility of the damaged joint, the doctor will file the bones of the joint so that they grow together at a certain angle.
- Endogenous drugs. A very serious operation, used only if there is no longer a possibility to restore the joint. A prosthetic is then installed instead.
Doctors decide which joint pain treatment is indicated for a particular patient on an individual basis, taking into account age, history, symptoms, and several other factors.
Preventive
To avoid damage to bones and joints, you need to pay maximum attention to proper nutrition. All essential vitamins and minerals should be included in the daily diet. Junk food should be thrown away. It is necessary to drink about 2 liters of clean water per day - this has a positive effect on the work of the musculoskeletal system.
It is also quite important:
- do not overcool;
- live an active lifestyle;
- refuse bad habits;
- sleep at least 8 hours a day;
- frequent walks in the fresh air;
- Avoid staying in one position for long periods of time.
If joint discomfort occurs, you need to see a doctor. Self-medication is not possible if an infectious process is suspected.