Joint pain (arthralgia) is an important symptom in the diagnosis of various 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 palpated, redness. Significant mobility limitationslarge jointsthe patient also does not complain. It also happens that even an X-ray does not allow us to see signs of inflammation. But that doesn't make arthralgia (joint pain) innocent.symptom:it can signal severe organic lesions and even diseases that are not related to the condition of the joint itself.
As statistics show,bolvwristsand every other person over the age of 40 begins to suffer legs. For those who have crossed the 70-year milestone,diseasesthe musculoskeletal system is even more common - in 90% of cases.
Causes of joint pain
One of the main onesreasonsthe problem is infectionacuteinfection.Achingpain can occur both before the first symptoms of the disease and in its early stages. With an infectious lesionpainto all joints of the body. . . Mobility is preserved in them.
Postinfectioussharpjoint pain is felt after:
- urogenital infections;
- intestinal diseases.
The causes of the disease are: secondary syphilis, tuberculosis, endocarditis. If the human body has foci of chronic infections - in the bile ducts, kidneys, pelvic organs, with parasitic infections - it canjoint pain. . .
Arthralgia (joint pain) often confirms the presence of rheumatic diseases. In this case, the pain syndrome is associated with changes in weather conditions. More often the patient feels strong 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 fast - due to pain and a feeling of stiffness in his joints.
If the pain is paroxysmal, it occurs unexpectedly, intensifies during the day and lasts for several days, whilepainonly one joint may be suspected, gouty arthritis (uric acid crystals accumulate in joint structures).
If the pain grows very slowly, affecting large joints that are susceptible to stress (usually the knees or hips), increasing physical exertion and / or accompanied by morning stiffness, we can assume the development of osteoarthritis (old name osteoarthritis), ie. , degenerative-dystrophic processes in the joint.
Common causes of joint pain:
- thyroid pathology;
- dependence on weather conditions;
- heavy metal poisoning;
- frequent physical injuries;
- long-term use of certain drugs;
Classification of joint pain
There are several classifications of joint pain. According to the criterion of localization, there are:
- monoarthralgia (only one joint is affected);
- oligoarthralgia (injuryat the same time differentjoints - but not more than five);
- polyarthralgia (discomfort is present in more than 5 joints of the body).
Also, taking into account the location of the joints, arthralgias are general and localized. By the nature of the lesion, the pathology can be non-inflammatory and inflammatory.
Pain that manifests itself in diseases of the musculoskeletal system is conventionally divided into:
- beginning (appear at the very beginning of the movement);
- mechanical (consequence of exercise, long walks, running);
- reflected (marked in areas where, in fact, there are no pathological changes);
- at night (distraction during night rest).
More joint pain can be:
- dull and sharp;
- permanent and transient;
- weak, moderate and intense.
Postinflammatory and pseudoarthralgias are divided into special groups.
Diagnosis of joint pain
Understandwhy my ankles hurt,hands, the doctor prescribes the patient to undergo a series of diagnostic procedures. To begin with, laboratory tests are performed:
- General blood test. It allows the detection of deviations, taking into account the nature of the joint lesion and the degree of its severity. Increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which confirms the presence of inflammation, with a normal number of leukocytes is a sign of rheumatic pathology. If, on the contrary, leukocytes are increased, pain predominates in the spine and individual joints, the nature of the disease is most likely contagious.
- Blood chemistry. In the case of arthritis, they look at the levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, total protein, seromucoids, diphenylamine reactions, as well as some other indicators that confirm the diagnosis of rheumatism.
Additionally, the following examinations can be scheduled:
- Radiography. It is obligatory for painful joints, because the doctor cannot perform a differential diagnosis and assess the degree of damage to the skeletal system without images.
- CT scanner. It is used to study the location of inflamed areas.
- Immunoelectrophoresis. An additional type of diagnosis that shows how far rheumatoid arthritis has spread.
- Arthroscopy. During the procedure, the specialist visually examines the structure of the knee joint, its structure and takes a tissue sample from the desired area.
- Radionuclide scanning. Effective in the early stages of joint disease.
- Arthrography. The doctor injects special contrast agents inside the joint (contrast should not be used). Changing the initial image allows him to assess the presence of affected parts in hard-to-reach parts of the joint.
If the doctor deems it necessary, a biopsy is done.
Treatment of joint pain
Treatmentarthralgia will be effective only if doctors discover the cause of the symptoms, determine the development that the disease signals. To alleviate the inflammation, the patient may be prescribed:
- Hondoprotectors. They slow down the progression of osteoarthritis, block further destruction of articular cartilage and reduce inflammation. Examples of such drugs from this group are combined preparations containing 2 cartilage components, chondroitin and glucosamine in therapeutic doses, chondroitin sulfate 1200mg, glucosamine 1500mg, release form in capsules. These components activate the regenerative processes in the cartilage, due to which the pain gradually disappears, and the patient's condition improves.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Eliminate pain, prevent the spread of inflammatory reactions. Normalize body temperature.
- Muscle relaxants. Designed to reduce skeletal muscle stiffness.
- Antibacterial drugs. It is used for arthritis of an infectious nature.
- Vitamin-mineral complexes. Vitamins A, E, C, group B are needed for the normal functioning of the joints and their early recovery. Selenium, calcium, etc. are also important.
- Hormones, steroids. They are used if the joint is severely inflamed and drug treatment has been ineffective.
In parallel with taking the tablets, intramuscular and intravenous administration of drugs, the patient may be prescribed warming ointments, analgesics and anti-inflammatory.
If the pain is unbearable, nerve blockage can occur. During the procedure, strong medications are used that help to forget the symptoms of arthralgia for a long time.
Additional methods of treating joint pain include:
- physiotherapy exercises;
- massage;
- manual therapy;
- mechanotherapy;
- pulling the joints with special equipment;
- diet.
From physiotherapeutic procedures the patient is shown:
- Shock wave therapy;
- ozone therapy;
- phonophoresis;
- myostimulation and some others.
Operation
In severe cases, it is impossible to eliminate the discomfort in the area of one or more joints at once by non-invasive methods. The patient is then 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.
- Puncture. Using a special needle, the doctor removes the accumulated fluid from the wrist.
- Periarticular osteotomy. In order to reduce the load and improve the mobility of the affected joint, the doctor files the articular bones so that they grow together at a certain angle.
- Endoprosthetics. A very serious operation, which is used only if it is no longer possible to restore the joint. Then a prosthesis is installed instead.
The doctor individually decides which way of treating joint pain is indicated for a certain patient, taking into account age, anamnesis, symptoms and some other factors.
Prophylaxis
To avoid damage to the joints, it is necessary to pay maximum attention to proper nutrition. All the necessary vitamins and minerals should be present in the daily diet. Unhealthy foods should be discarded. It is necessary to drink about 2 liters of clean drinking water a day - it has a positive effect on the work of the musculoskeletal system.
It is also important:
- do not catch a cold;
- lead an active lifestyle;
- reject bad habits;
- sleep at least 8 hours a day;
- walk regularly in the fresh air;
- avoid prolonged holding in one position.
If there is discomfort in the joint, it is necessary to undergo an examination. It is impossible to self-medicate if an inflammatory process is suspected.