Joint pain (arthralgia) is an important symptom in the diagnosis of a variety of diseases. She was the first to say that serious changes began at the junction of the bones.
Usually, with arthralgia, there is no swelling, curvature, severe pain when felt, redness. Significant restrictions on mobilitylarge jointsthe patient also does not complain. It also happens that even an X-ray examination does not allow us to see signs of inflammation. But that doesn't make arthralgia (joint pain) innocent.symptom:it can signal serious organic lesions and also diseases not related to the state of the joint itself.
As the statistics show,achevjoints of the handand one in two people over the age of 40 begins to disturb the legs. For those who have crossed the milestone of 70 years,illnessesthe musculoskeletal system is even more common - in 90% of cases.
Causes of joint pain
One of the main onesreasonsthe problem is infectionacuteinfection.In painpain can occur both before the onset of the first symptoms of the disease, and in its early stages. With an infectious lesionpainsall joints of the body. . . Mobility is preserved in them.
Post-infectioussharpjoint pains are felt after:
- urogenital infections;
- intestinal diseases.
Causes of the disease also include: secondary syphilis, tuberculosis, endocarditis. If the human body has foci of chronic infections - in the bile ducts, kidneys, pelvic organs, with parasitic infections - it can alsojoint pains. . .
Arthralgia (joint pain) often confirms the presence of rheumatic diseases. In this case, the pain syndrome is associated with changes in weather conditions. Most often, the patient feels severe discomfort in the large joints of the lower extremities. In the morning, he suffers from the fact that he cannot get up immediately and walk quickly - due to the pain and stiffness in his joints.
If the pain is paroxysmal, it occurs unexpectedly, intensifies during the day and persists for several days, whilepainsOnly one joint can be suspected, gouty arthritis (uric acid crystals accumulate in the joint structures).
If the pain grows very slowly, affecting large joints subject to stress (most often knee or hip), increasing with physical exertion and / or accompanied by morning stiffness, we can hypothesize the development of osteoarthritis (the old name of osteoarthritis), that is , degenerative-dystrophic processes in the joint.
Common causes of joint pain:
- pathology of the thyroid gland;
- time dependence;
- heavy metal poisoning;
- frequent physical injuries;
- long-term use of certain drugs;
Joint pain classification
There are several classifications of joint pain. According to the location criterion, there are:
- monoarthralgia (only one joint is affected);
- oligoarthralgia (woundseveral at the same timejoints - but no more than five);
- polyarthralgia (discomfort is present in more than 5 joints of the body).
Furthermore, taking into account the position of the joints, arthralgias are general and localized. Due to the nature of the lesion, the pathology can be non-inflamed and inflamed.
The pain that occurs in diseases of the musculoskeletal system is conventionally divided into:
- departure (appears at the beginning of the movement);
- mechanical (a consequence of exercise, long walks, running);
- reflex (marked in areas where, in fact, there are no pathological changes);
- night (disturb during the night's rest).
More joint pains can be:
- dull and sharp;
- permanent and transitory;
- weak, moderate and intense.
Post-inflammatory and pseudoarthralgia are divided into separate groups.
Joint Pain Diagnosis
Understandwhy the leg joints hurt,hands, the doctor prescribes the patient to undergo a number of diagnostic procedures. To begin with, laboratory tests are carried out:
- General blood test. It allows you to detect deviations, taking into account the nature of the joint injury and the degree of its severity. An increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which confirms the presence of inflammation, with a normal number of leukocytes is a sign of rheumatic pathology. If the leukocytes, on the contrary, are increased, pain predominates in the spine and individual joints, it is very likely that the nature of the disease is infectious.
- Blood chemistry. In case of joint inflammation, they examine the levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, total protein, seromucoid, diphenylamine reaction, as well as some other indicators that confirm a rheumatic diagnosis.
In addition, the following exams can be assigned:
- X-ray. It is mandatory for painful joints, as the doctor cannot make differential diagnoses and assess the degree of damage to the skeletal system without pictures.
- CT scan. Used to study the location of inflamed areas.
- Immunoelectrophoresis. Another type of diagnosis, which shows how far rheumatoid arthritis has spread.
- Arthroscopy. During the procedure, a specialist visually examines the structure of the knee joint, its structure and takes a sample of tissue from the desired area.
- Radionuclide scan. Effective in the early stages of joint diseases.
- Arthrography. The doctor injects special contrast agents into the joint (contrast cannot be used). A change in the initial image allows him to judge the presence of affected sections in parts of the joint that are difficult to reach.
If the doctor deems it necessary, a biopsy is done.
Joint pain treatment
Treatmentarthralgia will be effective only if doctors find out the cause of the symptom, establish the development of which disease it signals. To relieve inflammation, the patient can be prescribed:
- Hondoprotectors. They slow the progression of osteoarthritis, block further destruction of joint cartilage and reduce inflammation. An example of such drugs of this group are combined preparations containing 2 components of cartilage, chondroitin and glucosamine in therapeutic dosages, chondroitin sulfate 1200 mg, glucosamine 1500 mg, capsule release form. These components activate regenerative processes in the cartilage, due to which the pain gradually disappears, the patient's condition improves.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Eliminates pain, prevents the spread of inflammatory reactions. Normalizes the body temperature.
- Muscle relaxants. Designed to minimize the stiffness of the skeletal muscles.
- Antibacterial drugs. Used for arthritis of an infectious nature.
- Vitamin and mineral complexes. For the normal functioning of the joints and their early recovery, vitamins A, E, C, group B. Selenium, calcium, etc. are also important.
- Hormones, steroids. They are used if the joint is very inflamed and drug treatment has been ineffective.
In parallel with taking tablets, intramuscular and intravenous administration of drugs, the patient may be prescribed warming, analgesic and anti-inflammatory ointments.
If the pain is unbearable, the nerve block can be performed. During the procedure, powerful drugs are used that help to forget about the symptoms of arthralgia for a long time.
Additional methods of joint pain treatment include:
- physiotherapy exercises;
- massage;
- manual therapy;
- mechanotherapy;
- traction of joints using special equipment;
- diet.
From physiotherapy procedures, the patient is shown:
- Shock wave therapy;
- ozone therapy;
- phonophoresis;
- myostimulation and some others.
Surgery
In difficult cases, it is impossible to eliminate discomfort in the area of one or several joints at once using non-invasive methods. Then the patient is advised to undergo surgery. This could be:
- Arthroscopic debridement. The surgeon makes small incisions and through them removes dead tissue from the joint cavity. The operation involves the use of modern endoscopic equipment.
- sting. Using a special needle, the doctor takes the accumulated fluid from the joint.
- Periarticular osteotomy. In order to reduce the load and improve the mobility of the affected joint, the doctor will file the joint bones so that they grow together at a certain angle.
- Endoprosthesis. A very serious operation, which is used only if it is no longer possible to restore the joint. Then a prosthesis is installed.
The doctor decides which joint pain treatment method is indicated for a particular patient on an individual basis, taking into account age, history, symptoms and some other factors.
Prophylaxis
To avoid damage to the joints, you need to pay close attention to proper nutrition. All essential vitamins and minerals should be present in the daily diet. Junk food should be discarded. It is necessary to drink about 2 liters of clean drinking water per day - this has a positive effect on the work of the musculoskeletal system.
It is also important:
- do not overcool;
- live an active lifestyle;
- reject 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 occurs in the joint, it is necessary to undergo an examination. It is impossible to self-medicate if an inflammatory process is suspected.