Joint pain is a common problem. Questions about what it is connected with and how to get rid of it have not left people for a long time. Scientific discoveries have made it possible to successfully combat pathologies and extend the service 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 when all the joints of the body hurt, how to treat aching pain in the muscles and bones.
Causes of pain
Why do my joints hurt? The causes of joint pain may be related to:
- with injuries (dislocations, sprains of ligaments or tendons, fractures, microtraumas); pain during injury is aching, pulling, shooting, which bothers the victim even at rest;
- physical overload (sports or industrial); Constant physical overload leads to microdamage to muscle and connective tissue. Joints wear out prematurely, leading to degenerative diseases;
- joint pathologies.
The most common joint diseases are associated with damage to connective tissue, destruction of cartilage, decreased bone density, infectious processes and metabolic disorders. Diseases caused by developmental abnormalities (dysplasia, congenital dislocation or subluxation, congenital inflammatory-degenerative processes) are quite rare. We will consider only acquired diseases.
Arthrosis
Arthrosis is a degenerative disease associated with a decrease in bone density.Most often it affects older people, women during menopause and people with metabolic disorders.
The pain syndrome develops slowly, gradually increasing, 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 knees hurt from the cold. The disease is irreversible, so its treatment is aimed at preventing further bone destruction and the development of joint deformation.
Arthritis
Has many varieties.It affects the connective tissue of the joint.The pain may increase gradually, or it may develop quickly, over a few days. The joints swell, the skin turns red, and the joint tissue becomes hot to the touch.
The disease is treated depending on its cause. If it is an infection - anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics, autoimmune disorders in rheumatoid arthritis - immunosuppressants, for gouty arthritis, along with the use of NSAIDs, diet is required.
Patient complaints about why the joints of the whole body ache simultaneously at night 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.Characteristic symptoms include joint pain, which occurs from time to time and is accompanied by swelling and increased body temperature.
Joint damage due to gout is associated with 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, disturbing at night.In the chronic form, bumps may form– accumulation of uric acid in the joint area.
If your entire spine begins to hurt, this may be a sign of diseases such as:
- osteochondrosis with damage to 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 resolve the issue, it is necessary to identify the cause. It can be:
- ankylosing spondylitis, which affects large joints and the spine;
- deforming osteoarthritis;
- fusion of bone, cartilage or fibrous tissue after injury;
- osteochondrosis;
- bursitis, tendovaginitis.
Other reasons
Tendon diseases are similar in symptoms to arthrosis. They differ in that with arthrosis, pain will be felt even at rest, and with tendon disease, it manifests itself only when the muscles are under tension.
A blockade, or pinched nerve, is also similar in pain to arthrosis. But the pain appears suddenly and sharply blocks movement in the joint.
Vascular disorders are most often observed in the shoulder and knee joints. They are associated with vasospasm or reduced blood supply. This is common in teenagers and is due to the fact that blood vessel growth occurs at a slower rate than bone growth.
The pain is symmetrical and similar to "twisting" or "ache. "As you grow, by the age of 18-20, the pain goes away.
Diagnostics
Accurate diagnosis of joint diseases is the key to successful treatment.
General examination and palpation make it possible to assess the patient’s posture and movements, swelling, range of motion, distribution and nature of pain.
By feeling the sore spot, you can determine, for example, the presence of rheumatoid nodules under the skin, changes in the temperature and humidity of the skin, the location of pain, and the condition of the joint capsule.
Analyzes
Laboratory tests of blood and urine can reveal a number of factors indicating the presence of the disease. When performing a biochemical blood test, attention is paid to the content of C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor.
An increased level of ESR will indicate the presence of an inflammatory process; a high level of uric acid manifests itself in arthritis and other joint pathologies.
Deviations from the norm in urine tests are detected only in severe forms of the disease.
X-ray and MRI
X-rays are often used to rule out bone damage due to injury, as well as to assess the condition of the joint in degenerative diseases.. In such cases, the symmetry of joint damage, the presence of deformation and the size of the interarticular space are determined.
Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography are performed if detailed analysis of bone and soft tissue is necessary.Using it, the doctor will be able to determine pinched nerve fibers, the condition of blood vessels, and the nature of damage to cartilage and bone tissue.
When to 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 orthopedic surgeon or surgeon will help;
- pain in the joint, with increased body temperature, a rash on the skin 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 to treat a sore joint? Anyone who has been injured or suffered from joint pathology has faced this question.
Treatment of joints depends directly on the cause of their damage.To reduce 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 speed up the healing process. How to get rid of joint pain and fever will be described below.
Medicines
Drug treatment depends on the clinical picture and condition of the patient.
To relieve pain and inflammation, complex drugs from the group of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used.They quickly and effectively relieve symptoms and act in several directions at once: pain, swelling and inflammatory processes. But it should be remembered that their excessive consumption leads to intoxication, damage to internal organs (liver, kidneys, stomach) or other disorders, so they should be taken only as prescribed by a doctor.
Attention!If there is no urgent need to take tablets, these 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 lymph outflow, remove toxins and improve tissue nutrition.
Muscle relaxants are used to relieve severe muscle spasms.This is necessary if compression of the nerve endings leads to severe tension in the adjacent muscles, which reduces mobility in the joint and causes persistent acute pain.
Vitamins and chondroprotectors– an integral part of any joint therapy. They restore tissues 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 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 the synthesis of calcium in the body, it regulates the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus, takes part in the formation of the bone skeleton and improves the absorption of calcium in the intestines.
Zinc is necessary for maintaining the reproductive system and the synthesis of sex hormones. When they are deficient, 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 carried out.The type and duration of the course depend on the form of the pathogen.
Hormonal drugs are prescribed in severe cases when NSAIDs do not produce positive results. These are potent drugs and are used as a last resort. They quickly relieve severe pain and restore joint mobility. To do this, they are most often used in the form of injections and injected directly into the joint.
Immunosuppressants are also powerful drugs used in extreme cases. They are prescribed for autoimmune pathologies and are taken only under the supervision of a doctor.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine offers a lot of ways to treat joints. Before using them, be sure to consult with your doctor and discuss whether there are any contraindications or risk of allergies.
Treatment of joints with folk remedies at home can only be used as an auxiliary method. You should not put it first and neglect the recommendations of your doctor.
- Bay leaf tincture.Pour 20 bay leaves into 0. 5 liters of boiling water in a thermos and leave to 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 - 15-50 g) on the joint and cover with a cloth or gauze soaked in hot water, then wrap with film and a warm, dry cloth. Leave the compress on all night, repeat this for two weeks.
- Wrap.For wrapping, take cabbage, coltsfoot or burdock leaves, tie them to the joint and leave them overnight, wrapped in a warm bandage.
- Chestnut tincture.200 g of chestnut flowers are poured into 1 liter of vodka and left to infuse for 2 weeks, shaking the mixture periodically. After this, the tincture can be used to rub sore joints.
- Pork lard rub.A small piece of lard is rubbed in a circular motion onto the sore spot until it is completely dissolved.
- Honey and salt compress.Mix honey and fine salt in equal parts, apply to the joint, cover with cling film and wrap warmly, leave overnight.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is carried out for:
- restoration of metabolism in joint tissues;
- improving microcirculation and lymphatic drainage;
- reducing pain, swelling and inflammation;
- deeper penetration of the drug into the tissue (electrophoresis with medicinal ointments);
- activation of natural regeneration processes.
Methods such as phonophoresis, electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, laser therapy, cryotherapy, and shock wave therapy are used.
Physical therapy 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, pacemaker, neoplasms, epilepsy, pregnancy).
Massage and manual therapy have a beneficial effect on the elasticity of muscles and joint ligaments. They can be used both as prevention and as treatment.
Gymnastics
During the rehabilitation period, a course of physical therapy (physical therapy) is carried out to restore mobility and prevent stagnation. It is prescribed by the attending physician, orthopedist or exercise therapy doctor.
Initially, the exercises are best done under the supervision of a doctor; he 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. Then the course can be repeated at home.
Various types of gentle fitness and visiting the pool are useful to maintain healthy joints.
Surgical treatment
Surgical treatment is performed in cases where conservative treatment methods have been exhausted and do not give a positive result.
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 medicinal agent is administered.
Arthroscopy provides minimal intervention.All manipulations are performed through small punctures using special endoscopic instruments.
It is performed to remove dead tissue, plastic ligaments, replace cartilage defects, remove chondromic bodies and sanitation of the joint with deforming arthrosis.
Periarticular osteotomy is performed on the lower extremities to restore support and improve mobility. During the operation, the bone located next to the affected joint is sawed and fused at a new angle. Due to this, the load is redistributed, pain is reduced and the development of the pathological process is prevented.
Endoprosthesis replacement is performed to completely replace a joint while maintaining its mobility.
Prevention
In order to maintain healthy joints or maintain a state of long-term remission, you need to follow simple recommendations.
If you have chronic joint diseases, first of all strictly follow your doctor’s recommendations and, if necessary, undergo periodic examinations.
To provide nutrition to both the joint itself and the entire body as a whole, include a variety of foods in your diet.These are fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, minimally processed cereals (rice, buckwheat, millet, pearl barley), lean fresh meat, eggs, seafood and fresh fish, dishes containing gelatin (jellied meat or aspic), wholemeal bread and pasta fromdurum wheat varieties.
At the same time, avoid over-salted, pickled and smoked foods, fatty meats and sweets. In order to learn how to create a balanced menu and form correct eating habits, you can seek help from a nutritionist.
If necessary, use vitamin and mineral complexes.Glucosamine, chondroitin, vitamins B and D, calcium, and polyunsaturated fatty acids are beneficial for joints.To achieve positive results, they must be taken in courses over a long period of time. To know the best way to take your vitamins, consult your doctor.
If you are overweight, you need to understand that it puts a lot of stress on your joints and strive to reduce it.
To maintain mobility, you need to exercise and attend workouts that suit your physical capabilities.To maintain good physical condition, they must be regular and not cause overload and discomfort. There are many types of workouts specifically designed for problematic joints and spine. These are kinesis, Pilates, yoga, TRX, water aerobics and other varieties.
Use special sports and orthopedic devices - 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.
Conclusion
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 preserve the health of our joints for a long time, maintain mobility and maintain a high quality of life.