Arthralgia (arthralgia) is an important symptom in the diagnosis of many diseases. She was the first to say that drastic changes began to take place at the junction in the bones.
Usually, when the joint is painful, there is no swelling, bending, sharp pain and redness when feeling. Significant restrictions on liquidityBig jointThe patient did not complain. As it happens, even X-rays can't let us see signs of inflammation. But this does not make joint pain (joint pain) innocent.symptom:It can predict severe organic disease, even disease that has nothing to do with the state of the joint itself.
According to the statistics,painvHand jointsEveryone over the age of 40 begins to experience leg discomfort. For those who cross the 70-year-old milestone,diseaseThe musculoskeletal system is more common-in 90% of cases.
Causes of joint pain
Main onereasonThe problem is infectionacuteInfect.painPain may occur before the first symptoms of the disease appear, or it may occur in the early stages. Have infectious diseasepainAll the joints of the body. . . They retain liquidity.
After infectionsharpAfter joint pain makes you feel:
- Genitourinary system infection;
- Intestinal diseases.
The causes of the disease also include: secondary syphilis, tuberculosis, and endocarditis. If the human body has chronic infection foci-parasitic infection in the bile ducts, kidneys, pelvic organs-it can alsojoint pain. . .
Arthralgia (arthralgia) usually confirms the presence of rheumatic disease. In this case, the pain syndrome is related to changes in weather conditions. More commonly, patients experience intense discomfort in the large joints of the lower extremities. In the morning, due to joint soreness and stiffness, he was unable to get up immediately and walk quickly.
If the pain is paroxysmal, occurs unexpectedly, worsens during the day and lasts for several days, andpainWith only one joint, gouty arthritis (uric acid crystals accumulating in the joint structure) can be suspected.
If the pain grows very slowly, affects the large joints under pressure (the most common is the knee or hip), increases with physical exertion and/or is accompanied by morning stiffness, we can assume the development of osteoarthritis (the old form of osteoarthritis). Name), that is, the process of degenerative dystrophy in the joints.
Common causes of joint pain:
- Thyroid pathology;
- Weather dependent
- Heavy metal poisoning;
- Frequent physical injury;
- Long-term use of certain drugs;
Classification of joint pain
There are many categories of joint pain. According to the positioning criteria, there are:
- Single joint pain (only one joint is affected);
- Less joint pain (injuryDifferent at the same timeJoints-but not more than five);
- Polyarthralgia (discomfort in more than 5 joints of the body).
In addition, considering the location of the joints, joint pain is systemic and local. Depending on the nature of the lesion, the pathology can be non-inflammatory and inflammatory.
Pain manifested in diseases of the musculoskeletal system is usually divided into:
- Start (appear at the very beginning of the movement);
- Mechanical (the result of exercise, long-distance walking, running);
- Reflect (marked in an area where there is actually no pathological change);
- Night (interrupted during night breaks).
More joint pain may be:
- Blunt and sharp
- Permanent and short-lived;
- Weak, medium and strong.
Post-inflammation and pseudoarthralgia are divided into different groups.
Diagnosis of joint pain
learnWhy do the joints of the legs hurt,In hand, the doctor prescribes a series of diagnostic procedures for the patient. First, perform laboratory tests:
- General blood analysis. Taking into account the nature and severity of joint disease, it can detect deviations. The increase in red blood cell sedimentation rate confirms the presence of inflammation and the normal number of white blood cells is a sign of rheumatism. Conversely, if white blood cells increase and pain in the spine and individual joints dominate, the nature of the disease is likely to be contagious.
- Blood chemistry. In the case of joint inflammation, they will check the levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, total protein, serum mucin, diphenylamine reaction, and some other indicators to confirm the diagnosis of rheumatism.
In addition, the following exams can also be specified:
- Radiography. For painful joints, this is mandatory because doctors cannot make differential diagnosis and assess the degree of damage to the skeletal system without pictures.
- CT scan. Used to study the location of the inflamed area.
- Immunoelectrophoresis. Another type of diagnosis shows the spread of rheumatoid arthritis.
- Arthroscopy. During the operation, the expert will visually inspect the structure of the knee joint and its structure, and collect tissue samples from the desired area.
- Radionuclide scan. Effective for the early stage of joint disease.
- Arthrography. The doctor injects a special contrast medium (contrast medium may not be used) into the joint. The change in the initial picture allows him to judge whether there is an affected part in the hard-to-reach part of the joint.
If the doctor considers it necessary, a biopsy is performed.
Joint pain treatment
treatmentJoint pain is only effective when the doctor finds out the cause of the symptoms and determines which disease it indicates the development of. In order to relieve inflammation, the patient can be prescribed:
- Hondoprotectors. They slow down the progression of osteoarthritis, prevent further destruction of articular cartilage, and reduce inflammation. An example of this group of drugs is a combined preparation containing two components of cartilage, chondroitin and glucosamine in therapeutic doses, chondroitin sulfate 1200 mg, and glucosamine 1500 mg, in capsule release form. These components activate the regeneration process in the cartilage, so the pain gradually disappears and the patient's condition is improved.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Eliminate pain and prevent the spread of inflammation. Normalize body temperature.
- Muscle relaxants. Designed to minimize skeletal muscle stiffness.
- Antibacterial drugs. Used for infectious arthritis.
- Vitamin and mineral complex. For normal function and early recovery of joints, vitamins A, E, C, and B are needed. Selenium and calcium are also important.
- Hormones, steroids. Use them if the joints are very inflamed and medications are ineffective.
While taking pills, intramuscular injections and intravenous injections, patients can be prescribed warm, analgesic and anti-inflammatory ointments.
If the pain is unbearable, a nerve block can be performed. During the operation, the use of powerful drugs can help to forget the symptoms of joint pain for a long time.
Other ways to treat joint pain include:
- Physical therapy exercises;
- massage;
- Manual therapy
- Mechanical therapy
- Use special equipment to pull the joints;
- diet.
From the physical therapy procedure, the patient showed:
- Shock wave therapy
- Ozone therapy
- Vocalize
- Muscle stimulation and some others.
Surgery
In difficult situations, the use of non-invasive methods cannot eliminate the discomfort of one or more joint areas at the same time. Then recommend that the patient undergo surgery. this might be:
- Arthroscopic debridement. The surgeon makes tiny incisions and uses them to remove dead tissue from the joint cavity. The operation involves the use of modern endoscopic equipment.
- prick. The doctor uses a special needle to draw the accumulated fluid from the joint.
- Osteotomy around the joint. In order to reduce the load and increase the range of motion of the affected joints, the doctor will file the joint bones into a certain angle to make them grow together.
- Endoprosthesis. Very serious surgery, only used when the joint can no longer be restored. Then install the prosthesis.
The doctor will decide which treatment method is suitable for joint pain according to the patient's age, medical history, symptoms and other factors.
prevention
To avoid joint damage, you need to pay the utmost attention to proper nutrition. All necessary 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 every day-this has a positive effect on the work of the musculoskeletal system.
This is also important:
- Don't get too cold
- Lead 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 joint discomfort does occur, an examination is necessary. If you suspect an inflammatory process, you cannot treat yourself.