Joint pain is a common problem. The questions of what is connected and how to get rid of it did not leave people for a long time. Scientific discoveries have made it possible to successfully fight pathologies and prolong 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 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 can be linked to:
- with injuries (dislocations, sprains of ligaments or tendons, fractures, microtraumas); the pain during the injury is aching, pulling, stabbing, which bothers the victim even at rest;
- physical overload (sports or industrial); Constant physical overload leads to microdamage to muscles 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 anomalies (dysplasia, congenital dislocation or subluxation, congenital inflammatory-degenerative processes) are quite rare. We will consider only acquired diseases.
Arthrosis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease associated with a decrease in bone density.It most often affects older people, menopausal women and people with metabolic disorders.
The pain syndrome develops slowly, gradually increasing, its strength increases, and the pain is annoying 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 deformations.
Arthritis
It 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 becomes warm 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, in gouty arthritis, along with the use of NSAIDs, diet is necessary.
Patients' complaints about why joints all over the body hurt at the same time at night may be a sign of an aggressive form of rheumatoid arthritis or its harbinger. In another case, it could 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 occasionally 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 starts to hurt, this 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 resolve the problem, you need to identify the cause. Can be:
- ankylosing spondylitis, which affects large joints and the spine;
- deforming osteoarthritis;
- fusion of bone, cartilage, or fibrous tissue after an injury;
- osteochondrosis;
- bursitis, tendovaginitis.
Other reasons
Tendon diseases are similar in symptoms to osteoarthritis. They differ in that with arthrosis the pain will be felt even at rest and with tendon disease it occurs only when the muscles are under tension.
A blockage, or pinched nerve, is also similar in pain to osteoarthritis. But the pain appears suddenly and sharply blocks the movement of 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 adolescents and is due to the growth of blood vessels occurring at a slower rate than the growth of bones.
The pain is symmetrical and similar to a "twist" or "ache. "As you grow up, at the age of 18-20, the pain disappears.
Diagnostics
Accurate diagnosis of joint diseases is the key to effective treatment.
General examination and palpation allow you to evaluate the patient's posture and movements, swelling, range of motion, distribution and nature of pain.
By touching the sore spot you can determine, for example, the presence of rheumatoid nodules under the skin, changes in skin temperature and humidity, the location of the pain and the condition of the joint capsule.
Analyses
Laboratory tests of blood and urine can reveal a number of factors that indicate 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 increase in the ESR level 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 magnetic resonance imaging
X-rays are often used to rule out bone damage due to injury and to evaluate 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 inter-articular space are determined.
Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography are performed if a detailed analysis of the bones and soft tissues is needed.Using it, the doctor will be able to determine crushed 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;
- joint pain, with increased body temperature, skin 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 to treat a painful joint? Anyone who has suffered an injury or suffered from joint pathologies has been faced with this question.
Treatment of joints directly depends on the cause of their damage.Modern non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to reduce symptoms.
In combination with them, vitamins and tissue-restoring agents are prescribed.Physiotherapy and manual therapy methods accelerate the healing process. Below will be described how to get rid of joint pain and fever.
Medicines
Pharmacological treatment depends on the clinical picture and the patient's condition.
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 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 the outflow of lymph, 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 the mobility of the joint and causes persistent acute pain.
Vitamins and chondroprotectors– an integral part of any joint therapy. They restore tissues and prevent 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 its destruction.
Vitamin D is necessary for the synthesis of calcium in the body, regulates the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus, participates in the formation of the bone skeleton and improves the absorption of calcium in the intestine.
Zinc is necessary for the maintenance of 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 performed.The type and duration of the course depends on the form of the pathogen.
Hormonal drugs are prescribed in severe cases when NSAIDs do not produce positive results.These are powerful drugs and are used as a last resort. They quickly relieve intense pain and restore joint mobility. To do this, they are 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 diseases and are taken only under the supervision of a doctor.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine offers many ways to treat joints. Before using them, 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 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 infuse 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 cling film and a warm, dry cloth. Leave the compress overnight, repeat the operation for two weeks.
- Wrap.For wrapping, take leaves of cabbage, coltsfoot or burdock, 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, stirring the mixture periodically. After that, the tincture can be used to rub sore joints.
- Rub in the pork lard.Rub a small piece of lard with circular movements on the painful part until it completely dissolves.
- Honey and salt compress.Mix honey and fine salt in equal parts, apply to the joint, cover with cling film and wrap warmly, leave to rest overnight.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is carried out for:
- restoration of metabolism in joint tissues;
- improve microcirculation and lymphatic drainage;
- reduce 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, pacemakers, neoplasms, epilepsy, pregnancy).
Massage and manual therapy have a beneficial effect on the elasticity of joint muscles and ligaments. They can be used both as prevention and treatment.
Gymnastics
During the rehabilitation period, a course of physiotherapy (physical therapy) is carried out to restore mobility and prevent stagnation.It is prescribed by the attending physician, orthopedist or physical therapy doctor.
Initially, it is better to perform the exercises under the supervision of a doctor, who will explain how to correctly 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 visits to the pool are helpful in keeping joints healthy.
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 pathological fluid is removed or a medicinal agent is administered.
Arthroscopy involves 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 chondromal bodies and sanitize 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 near the affected joint is sawn off and fused at a new angle. Due to this, the load is redistributed, pain decreases and the development of the pathological process is prevented.
Endoprosthesis replacement is performed to completely replace a joint while maintaining its mobility.
Prevention
To keep your joints healthy or maintain a long-term state of remission, you need to follow simple advice.
If you suffer from chronic joint diseases, first carefully 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 fruits and vegetables, nuts, minimally processed cereals (rice, buckwheat, millet, pearl barley), fresh lean meat, eggs, seafood and fresh fish, dishes containing gelatin (jellied or jellied meat), bread wholemeal and semolina pasta varieties of wheat.
At the same time, avoid too salty, pickled and smoked foods, fatty and sweet meats. To learn how to create a balanced menu and form correct eating habits, you can ask a nutritionist for help.
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 for a long period of time. To learn the best way to take vitamins, consult your doctor.
If you are overweight, you need to understand that this puts a lot of stress on your joints and make an effort to reduce this.
To maintain mobility, you need to exercise and attend workouts suited to your physical abilities.To maintain good physical condition, they must be regular and not cause overload and discomfort. There are many types of workouts designed specifically for problem joints and spine. These are kinesis, pilates, yoga, TRX, water aerobics and other varieties.
Use special sports and orthopedic devices: accessories for arms, legs and body that provide shock-absorbing and protective functions: knee pads, corsets, elbow pads, sportswear with a compressive effect, shields and much more.
Avoid intense physical activity and stress.
Conclusion
With the modern development of medicine, we have acquired 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.