Causes of severe joint pain.What to do if your joints hurt.
Joint pain
Joint pain (or as it is called - arthralgia) is an important symptom in the diagnosis of many diseases.She is the first to say that serious changes began at the junction of the bones.Joint pain is not always accompanied by swelling, curvature, severe pain on palpation or redness.The patient also does not complain of significant restrictions in the mobility of large joints.It also happens that even an X-ray examination does not allow you to see signs of inflammation.But this does not make joint pain an innocent symptom: it can signal serious organic injuries and even pathologies that are not related to the state of the joint itself.
As statistics show, acute pain in the joints of the arms and legs begins to bother every second person over the age of 40-50.In people who have crossed the 70-year mark, diseases of the musculoskeletal system are even more common - in 90% of cases.
Causes of joint pain
Age-related changes
Possible causes of pain include age-related changes in joints: cartilaginous tissue becomes thinner and loses elasticity, which causes pain and stiffness in movements.There is also less and less production of synovial fluid, which fills the “capsule” around the bone junction and lubricates the joint.
As a result, the joint surfaces may begin to touch and the joint may begin to wear out.Without adequate cartilage protection and support, osteoarthritis and other illnesses that accompany acute pain can occur.The process of age-related joint changes is aggravated by poor nutrition, weak muscle tone, previous injuries, a sedentary lifestyle or, conversely, excessive physical activity.It is worth mentioning that joint discomfort due to age tends to intensify in autumn and spring.
Physical activity
Increased physical activity can be considered an independent reason in which even young people can experience sharp or aching pain in the joints.Intense training at the limit of capabilities and heavy physical work, in one way or another, have a negative effect on the musculoskeletal system.Even in the absence of injury, excessive stress can cause problems with blood flow in the synovium surrounding the joint.Because of this, the cartilaginous tissue stops receiving “nutrition” and becomes thinner without the possibility of normal regeneration.
Professional athletes and people of certain professions often face this problem - builders, miners, mechanics, etc.
Illnesses
Various diseases can also “affect” the joints.Thus, joint pain often confirms the presence of rheumatic processes in which the connective tissues of the body are affected.In this case, the pain syndrome is pronounced in the morning and tends to subside at night.A person feels the most severe discomfort in the small joints of the hands and feet.In the morning, the patient often suffers because he cannot immediately get up and walk quickly - his body becomes stiff.
Some patients experience joint pain after suffering an inflammatory disease of the musculoskeletal system.In this case, just wait until the discomfort disappears on its own.
If the pain is paroxysmal, arises unexpectedly, intensifies during the day and persists for several days, while only one joint of the big toe hurts, gouty arthritis can be suspected, in which uric acid crystals accumulate in the joint structures.
If the pain increases very slowly, the inflammatory process has affected the pelvic region, the knees, the symptoms intensify during physical work and weaken at night, then the presumptive diagnosis is “deforming osteoarthritis”.
Infectious diseases are also among the causes of joint pain;for example, after intestinal illnesses, a person may experience discomfort in which all joints in the body hurt.Mobility remains in them, but the unpleasant symptom lasts for several days.
If there are foci of chronic infections in the human body, this can also cause joint pain.
The list of less common causes of joint pain is long and includes:
- climate dependence;
- heavy metal poisoning;
- prolonged use of certain medications;
- post-allergic reactions;
- psychosomatic disorders.
Classification of joint pain
There are several classifications of joint pain.According to the location criterion, the following are distinguished:
- monoarthralgia - in this case, only one joint is affected;
- oligoarthralgia - different joints hurt at the same time, but no more than four;
- polyarthralgia - discomfort is felt in more than 4 joints in the body.
According to the nature of the injury, the pathology can be non-inflammatory and inflammatory in nature.Post-inflammatory arthralgia and pseudoarthralgia are divided into separate groups.
Joint pain occurs under different circumstances.The person feels initial pain at the beginning of the movement - when trying to change the position of the limbs, get up or walk at a different speed.Night pains occur during the night's rest period, when the person is at rest.This discomfort often causes sleep disturbances and greatly impairs quality of life.Referred pain may be noted in areas where there is no painful deviation from the normal state.There are also mechanical pains that occur during or after performing certain exercises or activities.
Furthermore, joint pain varies in nature.They are:
- opaque and sharp;
- permanent and transitory;
- weak, moderate and intense.
This classification is largely subjective and depends on the individual characteristics of the human body.
Diagnosis of joint pain
To understand why the joints of the legs and arms hurt, you need to consult a doctor.The doctor prescribes a series of diagnostic procedures to the patient.To begin with, laboratory tests are carried out:
- General blood test.It allows detecting deviations taking into account the nature of the joint injury and the degree of its severity.
- Biochemical blood test.For joint inflammation, the levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, total protein, seromucoid, diphenylamine reaction, as well as some other indicators that confirm the rheumatic diagnosis, are observed.
Additionally, the following examinations may be prescribed:
- Radiography.It is mandatory for joint pain, since without photographs the doctor cannot make a differential diagnosis and assess the degree of damage to the skeletal system;
- Computed tomography.Used to study the location of injured or inflamed bone areas;
- Ultrasound examination is an accessible diagnostic method that describes the joint and surrounding tissues in detail;
- Densitometry.An additional type of diagnosis that shows how much bone density is preserved.Used to diagnose osteoporosis;
- Arthroscopy.During the procedure, the specialist visually examines the structure of the joint, its structure, takes a tissue sample from the desired area;Scanning for radionuclides (radioisotopes).Effective in the initial stages of joint diseases;
- Arthrography.The doctor injects special contrast agents into the joint (contrast cannot be used).Changing the initial image gives you the opportunity to assess the presence of affected parts in hard-to-reach parts of the joint.
If the doctor considers it necessary, a biopsy is performed - a diagnostic sample of cells from the affected area.
Joint pain treatment
Arthralgia treatment will only be effective if doctors find the cause of the symptom and determine what disease it signals.To relieve inflammation, the patient may be prescribed:
- chondoprotectors – slow down the progression of osteoarthritis, block further destruction of articular cartilage, reduce inflammation;An example of a known drug from this group is a drug containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, the components activate regenerative processes in the cartilage, as a result of which the pain gradually disappears and the patient's condition improves;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – eliminate pain, prevent the spread of inflammatory reactions, normalize body temperature;
- muscle relaxants - designed to minimize stiffness in skeletal muscles;
- antibacterial drugs - used for arthritis of an infectious nature;
- vitamin-mineral complexes - vitamins D, A, E, C, group B are necessary for the normal functioning of joints and their rapid recovery.Calcium, magnesium and selenium are also important;
- Hormonal medicines - steroids - are used for severe and severe inflammation, in case of ineffective treatment with non-steroidal medicines.
In parallel with taking pills, intramuscular and intravenous administration of medications, the patient can be prescribed warming, analgesic and anti-inflammatory ointments and creams.
If the pain is unbearable, a nerve block may be performed.During the procedure, potent medications are used to help you forget about the pain symptoms for a while.
Additional methods of treating joint pain include:
- physiotherapy;
- massage;
- manual therapy;
- mechanotherapy;
- joint traction with special equipment;
- diet.
Physiotherapeutic procedures are indicated for the patient:
- shock wave therapy;
- laser therapy;
- phonophoresis;
- myostimulation;
- magnetic therapy and others.
A medicine containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for joint pain
A line of medications containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate was created specifically to address joint health problems.
Medicines containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate belong to the group of chondroprotectors, that is, medicines that prevent the destruction of cartilaginous tissue in the joints, which may be associated with age-related changes and increased physical activity, as well as a number of other reasons.Chondroprotectors help restore joints, relieve inflammation and pain, and prevent the development of the disease.The line of medications, which includes glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, not only relieves symptoms, but acts directly on the cause of joint pain and stiffness.
Surgical treatment of pain syndrome
In complex cases, it is impossible to eliminate pain in one or more joints at the same time using non-invasive methods.Then the patient is recommended to undergo surgery.It 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 – with a special needle, the doctor removes the fluid accumulated in the joint;
- periarticular osteotomy - 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;
- endoprosthesis is a very serious operation, which is only used if it is no longer possible to restore the joint, and a prosthesis is then installed.
The doctor decides which method of treating joint pain is suitable for a particular patient individually, taking into account age, medical history, symptoms and some other factors.
Prevention
To avoid joint damage, you need to pay maximum attention to proper nutrition.Your daily diet should contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals.You should avoid junk food, limit meat consumption to 2-3 times a week and switch to fish dishes – this has a positive effect on the functioning of the musculoskeletal system.
Also important:
- do not overcool;
- lead a moderately active lifestyle;
- give up bad habits;
- sleep at least 8 hours a day;
- take regular walks in the fresh air;
- avoid staying in the same position for a long time.
If discomfort occurs in the joint, you will need to have it checked out.If you suspect an inflammatory process, you should not self-medicate.