Joint pain

Arthralgia or arthralgia occurs in a number of diseases and its mechanism is still not completely clear.Joint components (ligaments, cartilage, capsules, bones) have pain receptors and react to inflammatory processes and mechanical stimuli.During movement, the joint's receptors are stimulated, signals from them enter the brain and the patient feels pain.During inflammation, receptors become more sensitive to any irritation, as cells of the immune system release pain transmitters.

Typically, joint pain is not accompanied by swelling of the surrounding soft tissues, contour deformity, or redness.When palpating the joints, there is a feeling of moderate pain.In some cases, there are no obvious signs of inflammation on X-rays.There were also no complaints about a marked decrease in mobility of large joints.

Joint pain often accompanies rheumatic diseases.In this case, the joints ache when the weather changes.Severe discomfort in the knee and hip joints is more common.In the morning, the patient cannot get up and walk quickly due to stiffness and joint pain.

If the pain in the joints is paroxysmal, appears suddenly, becomes stronger during the day, lasts for several days and only hurts one joint, we can assume that it is gouty arthritis.Uric acid crystals accumulate in joint tissues and irritate the tissues, causing pain.

If joint pain appears in large joints (knees, hips), develops slowly, gets better with physical activity and is combined with morning stiffness, then degenerative-dystrophic changes - osteoarthritis can be diagnosed.

Reason

Joint pain has many different causes.One of the most common causes of joint pain is acute infection.Joint pain may appear before the first signs of the disease or in the early stages.Usually, during the infection, it breaks joints all over the body.At the same time, the amplitude of movement in them does not change.

Severe post-infectious joint pain appears in genital and intestinal infections.

Joints with secondary syphilis, endocarditis, tuberculosis.If there are foci of chronic infection in the body, for example, in the kidneys, bile ducts, pelvic organs, parasitic diseases, then the joints also hurt.

Common causes of joint pain are:

• Thyroid disease.
• Heavy metal salt poisoning.
• Physical trauma.
• Long-term use of certain medications.

I'm worried about joint pain caused by various diseases.They are divided into 2 large groups:

• Arthritis is an inflammatory joint disease caused by infection, autoimmune processes, endocrine and metabolic dysfunction.
• Arthritis is a disease that involves the destruction of joint cartilage and the underlying joint surfaces of bones.Over time, cartilage becomes rough, loses elasticity and cracks.

The division of joint diseases into arthrosis and arthrosis is conditional.Without treatment, arthritis will eventually turn into joint disease, because the inflammatory process disrupts the metabolism in the cartilage.They do not receive enough nutrition and quickly lose weight and decline.

With arthritis, which initially involves physical overload of the joints, inflammation develops over time.It is caused by the accumulation of pieces of cartilage and bone tissue in the joint cavity and causes an inflammatory response.

The risk group for developing this pathology includes:

• Women in menopause.
• Elderly people have obvious age-related changes in the body.
• Obese patients.
• The patient has a history of joint injury.
• Athlete.
• People with certain professions.For example, the knee joint often hurts in people who have to stand for many hours on their feet (teachers, surgeons, hairdressers, etc.).Hand joint pain is a common symptom in musicians, cashiers and porters who perform monotonous movements with their hands.

Species

There are many different classifications of joint pain.According to the location of joint pain, they are distinguished:

• Single joint pain (1 joint pain).
• Oligo joint pain (affects 2-5 joints).
• Polyarticular pain (pain in more than 5 joints).

Depending on the location of the joint, joint pain is divided into general and local.

The nature of joint pain is:

1. Sharp and dull.
2. Transient and permanent.
3. Weak, medium and intense.

The characteristics and conditions under which joint pain occurs depend on the diagnosis.The most common signs of joint pain are:

• Begin.Joint pain occurs initially when walking, then goes away as you move.It involves friction of the articular surfaces of bones, which are covered with destroyed cartilage tissue.After a few steps, the mass accumulates in the inverted part of the joint capsule and the joint pain disappears.
• Soreness.They appear after physical activity of the joints and disappear with rest.
• Night.They confirmed severe damage to the joint and that the cause was a blockage, with blood pressing on the bone tissue under the cartilage.After a night of sleep, a feeling of stiffness appears and when you move, the discomfort will disappear.
• Forever.Occurs when there is inflammation in the joint capsule.
• Sudden (joint blockade).The cause is due to a piece of bone or cartilage being compressed between two joint surfaces.
• Move.First one joint hurts, then the pain shifts to the other joint.
• reflect.They are felt not in the affected joint but in a nearby joint.For example, if you have hip disease, your knees will hurt.

Diagnose

If you have joint pain, you should not self-treat.If you have joint pain, be sure to consult your doctor to confirm the diagnosis.After the primary examination, he will refer you for consultation with an orthopedist-traumatologist or rheumatologist.If the previously injured joint becomes diseased, it is necessary to consult a surgeon.

When visiting your doctor, it is important to talk about the following points:

• When pain appears.
• From then on, the pain gradually decreased and subsided.
• How often do painful attacks occur?
• Joint pain appears for the first time or is pre-existing.
• There is congestion, swelling or joint deformity.
• Have you been stressed, had an acute respiratory illness, or engaged in heavy physical activity in recent days?

This information will help the specialist draw conclusions about the patient's joint condition and make a diagnosis.

After determining the nature of joint pain, the doctor will prescribe an examination and introduce:

• General blood and urine analysis.
• Biochemical blood test.
• Immunodiagnosis.
• X-ray, CT, MRI, joint ultrasound.
• If necessary, biopsy the damaged tissue.

Joint X-rays.This method allows you to examine the joint in two views and can perform a contrast arthrogram.

Using MRI and CT, you can evaluate in detail the condition of the bone-cartilage and soft tissue structures.

Joint ultrasound.Helps identify effusion in the joint cavity, erosion of the articular surface of bones, changes in the synovial membrane and evaluate the width of the joint space.

Invasive examination methods.If indicated, arthrocentesis and joint biopsy will be performed.In difficult cases, arthroscopy is performed (examination of the joint cavity from the inside).

Laboratory tests help identify signs of inflammation and rheumatism.In peripheral blood, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, concentrations of C-reactive protein, uric acid, antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor and ACCP were determined.Synovial fluid was analyzed microbiologically and cytologically.

Treatment

For joint pain, treatment must be comprehensive.Tactics include reducing the mechanical load on the joint, eliminating inflammation and preventing the progression of the underlying disease.This is the only way to slow down the process of cartilage degeneration, maintain joint mobility and improve the quality of life of patients with joint pain.

To relieve joint pain, the following are prescribed:

• Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Physical therapy (shock wave therapy, ozone therapy, muscle stimulation, phonology).
• Therapeutic exercises.
• Massage.
• Acupuncture.
• Orthopedics or surgery.

Conservative treatment is carried out with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, they relieve pain and have an anti-inflammatory effect.Chondroprotectors slow the development of osteoarthritis.These medications reduce inflammation and prevent further deterioration of cartilage in the joints.They include cartilage components - chondroitin, glucosamine.Chondroprotectors promote recovery processes in cartilage tissue.

To eliminate skeletal muscle spasms, muscle relaxants are prescribed.

If the arthritis is related to an infection, antibiotics will be prescribed.

For good joint function and recovery process, vitamin complexes and mineral elements are also prescribed.Vitamins A, C, E, group B and the mineral elements calcium and selenium are especially important.

In case of severe inflammation and no therapeutic effect, glucocorticosteroids are prescribed according to the scheme.

Medical treatment is supplemented with ointments that warm, relieve pain and have anti-inflammatory effects.

If the joint pain is very severe, a nerve block will be performed.To do this, they use strong drugs that will help you forget about joint pain for a long time.

To relieve joint pain, the joints are protected from overload.Standing, lifting and carrying heavy objects for long periods of time puts pressure on joints beyond the allowable load and contributes to cartilage damage.

To prevent joint pain, follow these rules:

• Normalize your body weight.
• Wear comfortable shoes with low heels;If you have flat feet, use orthotic insoles.
• Avoid psychological and emotional overload.
• When working, change your body position more often, spend 5 minutes moving and reducing muscle tension.
• To stay physically active, choose moderate exercise.Alternate mobility with rest periods.
• Do regular exercises to reduce stress on your joints.For example, you can bend and straighten your legs while sitting or lying down for 20-30 minutes and do the “bike” exercise.Then, rest for 7-10 minutes to improve blood circulation.These exercises help strengthen the cartilage in the leg joints.

In severe cases, surgical treatment is necessary.Through small incisions, the doctor will remove necrotic tissue from the joint cavity.If fluid accumulates in the joint, a puncture will be performed.

To reduce the load and increase the mobility of the diseased joint, surgical removal of the bones around the joint is performed.The bones that form the joint are sawed down so that they can then grow together at a certain angle.

In severe cases, joint replacement is performed.

prevent

To avoid joint diseases, follow these recommendations:

1. If you are obese, normalize your body weight.
2. Drink at least 1.5-1.7 liters of water every day.
3. Avoid hypothermia.
4. Lead an active lifestyle.
5. Avoid excessive use of alcohol and tobacco.
6. Night sleep should last at least 8 hours.
7. Walk outdoors as often as possible.
8. Try to change your body position more often.

Summary

According to statistics, joint pain in the upper and lower limbs occurs in half of people over 40 years old.In patients over 70 years old, arthropathy is observed in 90% of cases.If your joints hurt suddenly, see your doctor immediately to find out the cause and prescribe treatment.Take care of your joints and load them with useful activities.Only exercise can keep your joints mobile, even when the cartilage is damaged and movement causes discomfort.