Painful sensations in the joint area are a common reason for a visit to the doctor.What to do if the joints of your arms and legs hurt depends on the cause of the problem.
Various causes of joint pain
The most common causes of joint pain are associated with the following conditions:
- arthritis (infectious and rheumatic);
- Gout;
- osteoarthritis;
- psoriasis (psoriatic arthritis);
- osteomyelitis;
- osteophytes;
- bursitis;
- flat feet;
- Injury.
Pain can also be caused by neurological diseases and vascular diseases.
arthritis
Arthritis is a common disease that is often disabling.While such a diagnosis used to only be made to people over the age of 30, today quite young people are also confronted with it.
The most typical symptoms of arthritis include severe pain in the joint area, which initially only occurs at night and then becomes permanent.When arthritis affects the joints of the legs, walking becomes uncomfortable and the gait changes.The skin turns red, muscles begin to break down, and body temperature may rise slightly.
After sleeping, a feeling of stiffness sets in and the pain reaches its peak.
There are two forms of this disease:
- Rheumatoid arthritis.It can occur as a result of age-related changes, severe hypothermia, injuries, and also under the influence of hereditary factors.
- Infectious arthritis.It develops against the background of various types of infectious diseases.
Arthritis involves complete destruction of the articular cartilage, accompanied by severe pain.Pain in the toes can radiate to the kneecaps or groin area.The most reliable way to diagnose any form of arthritis is with an x-ray.
The following methods of treating this disease are distinguished:
- Antibiotics.Prescribed to detect infectious tissue lesions and helps restore joints.
- Ointments and gelsto relieve swelling, relieve pain and reduce redness.
- Dietary supplements.They are used to stimulate connective tissue and are useful in the early stages of the disease as they can prevent the need for more serious treatment.
- Corticosteroids.They are injected into the most affected joints and can be used over many months with a clearly positive effect.
Drug treatment is effectively combined with physiotherapy, physiotherapy and massage.
gout
Gout most commonly affects the finger and toe joints, particularly the thumbs.Uric acid salts accumulate in crystalline form.
The disease can be recognized by the following signs:
- The joints of the arms and legs hurt.Only a specialist can tell you what to do in this case, but a clear sign of gout is sharp, paroxysmal pain in the fingers.Most often they occur at night and become boring during the day.
- There are sometimes very long intervals between exacerbations.They can give the false impression that there are no health problems.
- Deterioration of general condition.
- Increased temperature in the area of the affected joint.
- Swelling of varying severity.
- The appearance of tophi – “nodules” under the skin consisting of urates.
The following factors can influence the occurrence of gout:
- obesity;
- regular consumption of strong coffee and alcohol;
- kidney disease;
- genetic predisposition;
- poor diet;
- high blood pressure;
- Diabetes mellitus
To diagnose the disease, blood and urine tests are carried out, and sometimes a sample of synovial fluid is also required.
The most important treatment measure is a strict diet that includes avoiding fatty fish and meat, offal, broths, canned foods, sausages, salt and spices.The consumption of coffee, tea and cocoa is largely restricted, and alcoholic drinks are completely excluded.Without following the diet prescribed by the doctor, complete recovery is not possible.
Drug therapy is selected individually depending on the clinical picture and condition of the patient.The drugs used reduce the production of uric acid salts, accelerate their excretion and have an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.Compresses, lotions and wraps are also used.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a serious condition that causes inflammation and swelling.As the disease progresses, serious impairments in mobility and irreversible joint damage occur.The first signs of illness are numbness in the fingers and an unusually strong feeling of tiredness.
In the initial stages, it is difficult to detect pain in small joints, which is why the most common complaint from patients is discomfort at the base of the fingers.If you try to bend them, the pain will be even worse.In most cases, osteoarthritis affects several joints at the same time.The problem can be diagnosed using x-rays.
The following factors can influence the development of the disease:
- Changes in hormone levels that lead to fluid retention in the body;
- arteriosclerosis of the extremities;
- gout and other diseases accompanied by metabolic disorders;
- diabetes mellitus;
- influence of streptococci and staphylococci;
- Caries.
Osteoarthritis of the toe joints can develop against the background of incorrect foot position, wearing poor footwear, excess weight, poor mobility and other aggravating factors.
The joints of the arms and legs hurt;Only a specialist can answer what to do if you have osteoarthritis.
However, today it is almost impossible to cure this disease using conservative methods.Carrying out intra-articular injections is possible, but quite difficult and risky.Gels, ointments, compresses and lotions can have an anti-inflammatory effect and slightly relieve pain.
Methods of modern and classic manual therapy help in this situation.Visible results can be achieved after just a few sessions, but long-term remission is only possible in those stages of the disease in which destructive processes have not yet affected the bone.
psoriasis
Joint psoriasis, or psoriatic arthritis, sometimes affects people with psoriasis, a complex skin disease.Chronic pain and stiffness of the affected joints occur.
Psoriatic arthritis can occur suddenly or develop gradually.Therefore, it is important to inform your doctor immediately if symptoms occur.It is currently unknown why psoriasis occurs, but doctors believe that hereditary factors and negative environmental influences may influence its development.
There is no specific treatment for this disease, so in most cases therapy is aimed at reducing the inflammatory process and preventing pain and loss of joint function.In rare cases, surgical intervention is resorted to.
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis is a purulent-inflammatory process in the bone marrow, periosteum and bones.Its development is most often caused by microorganisms such as E. coli, salmonella, streptococci and staphylococci.In rarer cases it is a complication of other diseases.
The disease affects a person with general body weakness, joint pain and muscle soreness.
Then there is a rapid increase in body temperature, the pain is clearly localized in the affected area and increases with every movement.Next, the purulent process begins to spread very quickly to the surrounding tissues and sepsis may occur.At the slightest suspicion of the presence of this pathology, urgent measures must be taken, otherwise the patient cannot be saved.
Treatment is carried out with antibiotics, which are selected according to the bacteria detected.Surgical therapy is widespread.
Osteophytes
Osteophytes are growths that arise when the nutrient supply to the articular cartilage is disrupted.
Their presence can be recognized by the following signs:
- Crunch in the joints;
- Joint problems when the weather changes;
- difficulty stretching your legs or arms after a night's sleep;
- painful sensations.
Depending on the stage, treatment can be either conservative or surgical.Drug therapy includes the prescription of NSAIDs, chondroprotectors, as well as agents that stimulate improved tissue nutrition.
Intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid is often used.Physiotherapeutic procedures and massage sessions have a positive effect.
Bursitis
Bursitis is an inflammatory process of the bursa near the joints.It most commonly occurs in the shoulder joints, but can also occur in the knee, hip, and elbow joints.The causative agent of the disease can be infections, injuries and mechanical damage, but often it occurs for no apparent reason.
The joints of the arms and legs hurt, what to do with bursitis:
- Sleep mode is available;
- Antibiotics or corticosteroids are prescribed;
- compresses are carried out;
- Painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications are used.
In some cases an operation is necessary.
Flat feet
Flat feet can cause pain in the leg joints.It may not be noticeable in any way for a long period of time, so it is particularly important to pay attention to its signs.
They are as follows:
- difficult to maintain balance in heels;
- Shoes only wear on one side;
- your legs tire quickly when walking and standing;
- at the end of the day feet swell and become heavy;
- cramps in the legs;
- back pain occurs;
- old shoes become too small.
The disease can be diagnosed using x-rays.Treatment depends directly on the stage of the disease, the patient's lifestyle and the presence of concomitant diseases.At the initial stage, physical education, therapeutic massage and physiotherapy are carried out.If the symptoms are severe, special shoes are prescribed that model the correct arch of the foot.
trauma
Joint injuries include ligament damage, dislocations, contusions, and intra-articular fractures.To clarify the diagnosis, a number of studies are used, including CT, radiography, MRI and ultrasound.The main symptoms are pain, swelling and restricted movement.
The joints of the arms and legs hurt, what to do if injured:
- Consult a specialist to determine the nature of the injury.
- give the damaged joint adequate rest;
- Use a cooling compress.
Diet for joint diseases
Poor nutrition can not only worsen the condition of the joints, but also become the main cause of many serious diseases.Therefore, a balanced diet is recommended when treating cartilage and connective tissue problems.
Depending on the disease, a specific nutritional system is prescribed, but there are also general recommendations:
- limit consumption of fast carbohydrates;
- Reduce the amount of salt in the diet;
- avoid spicy foods, smoked meats and canned foods;
- Favor baking and braising and avoid fried foods.
Joint pain during pregnancy
What to do if the joints of the arms and legs hurt during pregnancy can only be answered by a specialist.The fact is that we can talk about either one of the pathological conditions, or about a variant of the norm.When carrying a child, a woman's hormonal background changes, which often has a negative effect on the joints.In addition, body weight increases, which inevitably increases the strain on the legs.
Joints are not always able to adapt quickly.The third trimester of pregnancy is characterized by swelling, most commonly affecting the feet and hands.This in turn causes pain and a feeling of stiffness.In the first trimester, it is recommended to get more rest so that the body can adapt to changes more easily.
After consulting a doctor and provided there are no contraindications, special gymnastics or yoga for pregnant women is very useful.A proper diet and adequate fluid intake will help you deal with joint problems.
To alleviate the condition, it is recommended to follow the following tips:
- eat foods rich in vitamin D and calcium;
- Wear comfortable, high-quality shoes without heels;
- Control weight gain and prevent sudden changes;
- spend more time outdoors;
- take special complexes for pregnant women (after consulting a specialist);
- avoid monotonous physical work;
- Do yoga, gymnastics or swimming (if there are no contraindications);
- maintain a stable psycho-emotional state;
- Perform self-massage of the hands and knees using gentle rubbing and patting movements.
During pregnancy, it is very important to pay attention to any pain, including in the joint area, in good time.Carrying a child can negatively affect the course of a pathological process, aggravating it and accelerating the development of the disease.
Home treatment methods
The use of folk remedies is one of the good ways to speed up the treatment of joint diseases, relieve symptoms and alleviate the patient's condition.
Of all the home treatment methods, the following are the most popular:
- warming compresses based on paraffin, salt, clay or potatoes;
- Lotions and rubs containing alcohol infusions;
- Baths, lotions and compresses made from plant decoctions;
- Compresses with honey.
Depending on your goals, you can use the following approaches:
- To get rid of pain, remedies based on honey, alcohol, turpentine and beekeeping products are most useful.If the pain is moderate, just applying a compress once will significantly alleviate the condition.
- Potato compresses are often used to warm joints.Warm mashed potatoes are applied to the joint area, covered with foil and wrapped in a scarf.The compress is kept until the potatoes have completely cooled down.
- Alcohol-based products have good anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.To prepare the simplest of these, simply soak gauze in vodka and apply it as a compress overnight.
- To relieve swelling, it is recommended to drink lingonberry and lingonberry fruit drinks, decoctions of bay leaves and lingonberry leaves, and pharmaceutical diuretics.
The following recipes are the safest (including during pregnancy):
- foot and hand baths with birch leaves or pine needles;
- compresses of honey and salt;
- Applying internal fat in the form of an ointment to the leg joints;
- Lotions made from pine buds with sugar.
Prevention of joint diseases
The risk of joint pain increases with age, so it is advisable to start prevention at a young age.
To prevent joint diseases it is recommended:
- Lift weights correctly and avoid unnecessary strain on your joints;
- Avoid unhealthy weight gain.
- Eat a balanced diet that is as balanced as possible and provide your body with enough calcium, magnesium, collagen and fatty acids.
- do not neglect physical activity, as a strong muscle corset significantly reduces the load on the joints;
- Maintain proper posture;
- Reduce the amount of sugar consumed;
- if possible, get rid of bad habits (smoking and drinking alcohol);
- Take time to properly organize the workplace so that you do not have to strain your back and neck, throw your head back or bend forward.
- During professional activities, take timely breaks if it involves a long static position and do a warm-up exercise.
The common myth that only older people can suffer joint damage leads many people to ignore the first symptoms of serious illnesses and only turn to a specialist as a last resort.In fact, many of the diseases can affect very young people.
Arthritis, long considered an age-related problem, is also increasingly affecting men and women under 30.
In any situation, only a doctor can tell you what to do if the joints of the legs and arms hurt, who will quickly make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.When painful sensations appear, it is not recommended to immediately resort to self-medication and traditional methods, as these are serious degenerative processes that are often irreversible and lead to complications.