Painful sensations in the joint area are a common reason to consult a doctor.What to do if the joints of your arms and legs hurt depends on the root 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;
- straight legs;
- injury.
Pain can also be caused by neurological diseases and vascular diseases.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a common disease that often causes disability.If earlier such a diagnosis was given mainly only to people over 30 years old, today quite a few young people face it.
The most typical symptoms of arthritis include severe pain in the joint area, which first appears only at night and then stabilizes.If arthritis affects the joints of the feet, walking becomes uncomfortable and the gait changes.The skin turns red, the muscles begin to deteriorate, and the body temperature may rise slightly.
After sleep, there is a feeling of stiffness and the peak of pain occurs.
There are two forms of this disease:
- Rheumatoid arthritis.Age-related changes can occur as a result of severe hypothermia, injuries, and also under the influence of hereditary factors.
- Infectious arthritis.It develops against the background of various types of infectious diseases.
When affected by arthritis, complete destruction of articular cartilage occurs, accompanied by severe pain.Pain in the toes may radiate to the kneecaps or groin.X-rays are the most reliable way to diagnose any form of arthritis.
The following methods for the treatment of this disease are distinguished:
- Antibiotics.It is prescribed when identifying infectious tissue lesions and helps to restore joints.
- Ointments and gelsto relieve swelling, relieve pain and reduce redness.
- Dietary supplements.Used to stimulate connective tissue, they 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 for several months if a clear positive effect is observed.
Drug treatment is effectively combined with physiotherapy, physiotherapy and massage.
Gout
Gout most commonly affects the joints of the fingers and toes, especially the big toes.In this case, uric acid salts are collected in the form of crystals.
The disease can be recognized by the following symptoms:
- The joints of the arms and legs hurt.Only a specialist can tell you what to do in this situation, but a clear sign of gout is sharp, paroxysmal pain in the fingers.They often show themselves at night and are dull during the day.
- Between exacerbations, there are sometimes very long breaks.They may give the false impression that there are no health problems.
- Deterioration of the general condition.
- An increase in temperature in the affected joint area.
- Swelling of various degrees of severity.
- The appearance of tophi - "nodules" of urates under the skin.
The following factors can affect the formation of gout:
- overweight;
- regular use of strong coffee and alcohol;
- kidney disease;
- genetic predisposition;
- poor nutrition;
- high blood pressure;
- diabetes mellitus
To diagnose the disease, blood and urine tests are examined, sometimes a sample of synovial fluid must be taken.
The main treatment is to follow a strict diet, which involves avoiding fatty fish and meats, offal, broths, preserves, sausages, salt and spices.The consumption of coffee, tea and cocoa is limited as much as possible, and alcoholic beverages are completely excluded.Complete recovery is not possible without following the diet prescribed by the doctor.
Drug therapy is selected individually depending on the characteristics of the disease and the patient's condition.The drugs used reduce the production of uric acid salts, accelerate its elimination process, have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.Compresses, lotions and bandages are also used.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a serious condition that causes inflammation and swelling.As it progresses, it causes severe mobility impairment and irreversible degradation of the joint.The first symptoms of the disease are expressed by numbness of the fingers and an unusual, strong feeling of fatigue.
In the early stages, it is difficult to recognize pain in small joints, so the most common complaint of patients is discomfort under the fingers.If you try to bend them, the pain gets worse.In most cases, osteoarthritis affects several joints at once.The problem can be determined using X-rays.
The following factors can affect the development of the disease:
- changes in hormonal levels cause fluid retention in the body;
- atherosclerosis of extremities;
- gout and other diseases associated with metabolic disorders;
- diabetes mellitus;
- effects of streptococci and staphylococci;
- caries.
Arthrosis of the toe joints can develop against the background of incorrect positioning of the foot, wearing bad shoes, excess weight, low mobility and other aggravating factors.
The joints of the arms and legs ache;Only a specialist can answer what to do with osteoarthritis.
But today it is almost impossible to treat this disease with conservative methods.Intra-articular injections are possible, but very difficult and risky.Gels, ointments, compresses and lotions can have an anti-inflammatory effect and provide some relief from pain.
Modern and classic manual therapy methods will help in this situation.Visible results can be achieved only in a few sessions, but achieving long-term remission is possible only at those stages of the disease, when the destructive processes have not yet affected the bone.
Psoriasis
Joint psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis sometimes affects people with psoriasis, a complex skin condition.It leads to pain and stiffness in the affected joints, which becomes chronic.
Psoriatic arthritis can start suddenly or develop gradually, so it's important to tell your doctor immediately if symptoms appear.Currently, it is not known why psoriasis occurs, but doctors suggest that genetic factors and negative environmental influences may influence its development.
There is no specific treatment for this disease, therefore, in most cases, therapy is aimed at reducing the inflammatory process, preventing pain and loss of joint functions.In rare cases, surgical intervention is resorted to.
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis is a purulent-inflammatory process in bone marrow, periosteum and bone.Its development is most often caused by microorganisms such as E. coli, salmonella, streptococcus and staphylococcus.More rarely, it turns out to be a complication of other diseases.
The disease affects a person with general weakness of the body, pain in the joints, muscle pain.
Then there is a rapid increase in body temperature, the pain is clearly localized in the affected area, intensifies with each movement.Then the purulent process begins to spread very quickly to the surrounding tissues, and sepsis can occur.With the slightest suspicion of the presence of this pathology, it is necessary to take urgent measures, otherwise it is impossible to save the patient.
Treatment is carried out using antibiotics selected according to the detected bacteria.Surgical treatment is widely used.
Osteophytes
Osteophytes are growths that develop when the supply of nutrients to articular cartilage is disrupted.
Their presence can be detected by the following signs:
- creaking in the joints;
- discomfort in the joints when the weather changes;
- difficulty straightening your legs or arms after a night's sleep;
- painful sensations.
Depending on the stage, treatment may include conservative or surgical intervention.Drug therapy involves the appointment of NSAIDs, chondroprotectors, as well as agents that stimulate good tissue nutrition.
Intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid is often used.Physiotherapy procedures and massage sessions have a positive effect.
Bursitis
Bursitis is an inflammatory process of the mucous membrane located near the joints.It occurs most often in the shoulder joints, but also in the knee, hip, and elbow joints.The causative agent of the disease can be infections, injuries, mechanical damage, but it often appears for no reason.
The joints of the arms and legs hurt, what to do with bursitis:
- rest mode is provided;
- antibiotics or corticosteroids are prescribed;
- compresses are performed;
- painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are used.
In some cases, surgery is necessary.
Straight legs
Flat feet can cause pain in the joints of the feet.It may not manifest itself for a long time, so it is especially important to pay attention to its signs.
They are as follows:
- difficult to balance on heels;
- shoes wear out only on one side;
- your legs get tired quickly while walking and standing;
- by the end of the day, the legs are swollen and heavy;
- leg cramps;
- back pain appears;
- old shoes are too small.
The disease can be diagnosed using X-rays.Treatment is directly determined by 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 performed.If the problem is serious, special shoes are prescribed that model the correct arch of the foot.
Trauma
Joint injuries include ligament injuries, dislocations, contusions and intra-articular fractures.A number of studies are used to clarify the diagnosis, including CT, X-ray, MRI and ultrasound.The main symptoms are pain, swelling and limitations in movement.
The joints of arms and legs hurt, what to do in case of injury:
- contact a specialist to determine the nature of the injury;
- provide the injured joint with proper rest;
- use a cooling compress.
Diet for joint diseases
Poor nutrition can not only aggravate the condition of the joints, but can also be the main cause of many serious diseases.Therefore, it is recommended to follow a balanced diet in the process of treating any problem related to cartilage and connective tissue.
A special nutritional system is prescribed according to a specific disease, but there are also general recommendations:
- limit the consumption of fast carbohydrates;
- reduce the amount of salt in the diet;
- give up spicy food, smoked meats and canned goods;
- prefer cooking and baking avoiding fried foods.
Joint pain during pregnancy
What to do when the joints of the arms and legs hurt during pregnancy, only a specialist can answer.The fact is that we can talk about either one of the pathological conditions or 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 load on the legs.
Joints do not always adapt to this quickly.The third trimester of pregnancy is characterized by swelling that mostly affects the legs and hands.This in turn causes pain and stiffness.In the first trimester, it is recommended to spend more time resting so that the body can adapt to changes more easily.
After consulting a doctor and if there are no contraindications, special gymnastics or yoga for pregnant women will be very useful.A proper diet and drinking enough fluids will help you cope with the discomfort in your joints.
To alleviate the situation, it is recommended to follow the following recommendations:
- Eat foods rich in vitamin D and calcium;
- wear comfortable, high-quality shoes without heels;
- control weight gain and prevent sudden changes;
- spending more time outdoors;
- take special complexes for pregnant women (after consulting a specialist);
- to refuse monotonous physical work;
- do yoga, gymnastics or swimming (if there are no contraindications);
- maintain a stable psycho-emotional state;
- Self-massage hands and knees with gentle rubbing and patching movements.
During pregnancy, it is very important to pay immediate attention to any pain, including in the joint area.Carrying a child can negatively affect the course of any pathological process, aggravate it and accelerate the development of the disease.
Home remedies
The use of folk remedies is one of the best ways to speed up the process of treating joint diseases, eliminate symptoms and alleviate the patient's condition.
Among all home remedies, the most popular are the following:
- warming compresses based on paraffin, salt, clay or potatoes;
- rubbing with lotions and alcohol infusions;
- baths, lotions and compresses from herbal decoctions;
- compresses using honey.
Depending on your goals, you can apply the following procedures:
- The most useful remedies for pain relief are those based on honey, alcohol, turpentine and beekeeping products.Even a one-time use of a compress significantly alleviates the condition if the pain is moderate.
- Potato compresses are widely used to warm the joints.A warm paste is applied to the joint area, covered with a film and wrapped with a scarf.Compressed potatoes are stored until completely cooled.
- Alcohol-based products have good anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.To prepare the simplest of them, it is enough to soak gauze in vodka and apply it overnight as a compress.
- To relieve swelling, it is recommended to drink lingonberry and cranberry fruit drinks, decoctions of bay leaves and lingonberry leaves, as well as pharmaceutical diuretics.
The following recipes are the safest (including during pregnancy):
- foot and hand baths with birch leaves or pine needles;
- honey and salt compresses;
- applying internal oil in the form of ointment to the joints of the legs;
- lotions made from pine buds with sugar.
Prevention of joint diseases
The risk of pain increases with age, so it is recommended to start prevention at a young age.
It is recommended to prevent joint diseases:
- lift weights correctly, avoid unnecessary stress on the joints;
- prevent unhealthy weight gain;
- eat a balanced diet as much as possible, providing the body with a sufficient amount of calcium, magnesium, collagen, fatty acids;
- do not neglect physical activity, because 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 the time to properly arrange the workplace, where you will not have to strain your back and neck, throw your head back or lean forward;
- during professional activities, when associated with a long static position, take a timely break and warm up.
The common myth that only the elderly can damage the joints causes many people to ignore the first signs of serious diseases, only to consult a specialist as a last resort.In fact, many diseases can affect very young people.
Even arthritis, long considered an age-related problem, is increasingly affecting men and women under the age of thirty.
What to do when the joints of the legs and arms hurt, only a doctor can tell you in each case, he will quickly make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.When painful sensations appear, it is not recommended to immediately resort to self-treatment and traditional methods, because we are often talking about serious degenerative processes that are irreversible and cause complications.