The appearance of joint pain - arthralgia - can be observed against the background of general well-being.Painful sensations often appear after excessive physical exertion and can be observed in pregnant women.Recently, complaints of joint pain in children, caused by the rapid development of the osteoarticular system, have become more frequent.
In other cases, joint pain is a symptom of some pathology, a sign of an inflammatory or destructive process or an autoimmune disease.For complete joint treatment, it is important to determine the root cause of the pain.
Joint pain symptoms
Painful sensations in the joints can be of several types:
- temporary or permanent;
- at rest or in motion;
- with an increase in body temperature;
- in large or small joints;
- only in the upper or lower extremities.
Each type of pain has its own characteristics of origin, clinical nuances, diagnostic and therapeutic approach.
Knee pain
The knee is one of the largest and most complex joints in the human skeleton.The knee joint is subject to almost constant stress.Painful sensations can be observed both at rest and during flexion and extension movements.
The cause of pain in the knee joint may be:
- Minor joint injuries with bleeding into soft tissues.An injury to the knee joint causes swelling, pain and limited movement.In severe cases, the local temperature rises, but relief does not occur over time.
- Meniscal injuries.The most common are meniscus tears and compression.During a sharp flexion or extension, a loud clicking and sharp pain appears.Piercing painful sensations often cause immobility of the leg.
- Knee ligament rupture is a serious injury that can be combined with a fracture.The joint is in an unnatural position.
- Inflammatory diseases - arthritis, synovitis, bursitis.The process can involve not only the joint, but also tendons, joint capsule membranes and soft tissues.
- Osteoporosis is a disease that causes increased bone fragility.The disease is accompanied by nocturnal cramps and back pain.
- Osteomyelitis is a purulent necrotic pathology of bacterial origin.Patients complain of general malaise, high fever, redness and swelling of the joints.
Causes of elbow joint pain
Complaints of pain in the elbow joint do not depend on the patient's gender or age.The normal functioning of the joint is ensured by the interconnected work of bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, blood and lymphatic vessels.If your elbow joint hurts, you should think about the following reasons:
- Internal or external epicondylitis is a disease that develops with significant regular physical activity.
- Intervertebral hernia in the thoracic spine.During the course of the disease, the roots of the spinal nerves innervating the girdle of the upper extremities are compressed.The pain is diffuse and radiates throughout the arm.
- Osteoarthritis.The pain is the result of destruction of the cartilage in the elbow joint.The patient complains of a crunching sound when bending or extending the arm.
- Arthritis is an inflammatory disease characterized by constant pain.The joint increases in size, the skin turns red and the local temperature increases.Bursitis almost always develops in the context of arthritis.On palpation, a dense formation with liquid content is determined.
A certain pattern of pain in the elbow joint may indicate more serious causes.For example, dull or severe pain may indicate the development of bone tuberculosis or cancer.Sharp, piercing pain can be a consequence of injuries to tendons, cartilage and ligaments.Sharp, throbbing pain is a sign of compressed nerve fibers.
Pain in the elbow joint, of a burning nature, may indicate an attack of angina or myocardial infarction.
Hip pain
The appearance of pain in the hip joint is always scary and prompts you to immediately consult a doctor.The hip joint is formed by the largest bones in the skeleton and is the most powerful joint.The osteochondral structure bears the greatest load, supports the weight of the body and evenly distributes pressure.
Women experience hip pain much more frequently than men.This is due to the peculiarities of the physiological structure, pregnancy and childbirth, and the predisposition of the female body to rheumatism.
In some cases, the pain and the cause of the disease can be cured once and for all, in others it can only alleviate the patient's condition and slow down the development of the pathology.It all depends on the causes of the pain and the severity of the patient's condition.
Most often, pain in the hip joint occurs in the following diseases:
- Injuries.If the articular elements are damaged, it becomes difficult to move the hip to the side.The patient cannot lie on the injured side.Often, an extensive hematoma forms over the joint.
- Arthritis of the hip joint is characterized by severe pain that worsens at night.The thigh swells, the inguinal fold softens and mobility is impaired.Rheumatoid arthritis inevitably leads to disability.
- Coxarthrosis.Deforming processes on the articular surface cause pain during physical activity and walking.The pain is constant and intensifies with changes in body position.
- Chondromatosis.The disease occurs when there is a deficiency in the development of articular cartilage.The formation of impactions and nodules is accompanied by intense pain and difficulty moving.There are known cases of chondromatosis degeneration into malignant formations.
Severe pain in one or both hip joints may signal the development of diabetic arthropathy, hydrarthrosis, and pseudogout.These diseases significantly affect the patient's quality of life and, in severe cases, can lead to disability.
What to do if the joints in your arms and legs hurt
Pain in the joints of the arms and legs can be the first symptom of a serious illness.Sensations of pain, burning, limitation of motor functions of the arms and legs are complaints expressed by patients with the following diseases:
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- arthrosis;
- rheumatism;
- injuries;
- drop
Acute pain in the joints of the arms and legs requires immediate relief to alleviate the patient's condition.As first aid, it is recommended to carry out the following actions:
- Provides rest to members.
- Take one of the pain relievers or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Contact a specialist to establish the correct diagnosis and determine the correct treatment tactics.
It is prohibited to use folk remedies or any medications without medical consultation.
Diagnosis
Establishing a correct diagnosis requires high professionalism and the use of laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods.Radiographic examination makes it possible to determine the destruction of cartilage, ligament ruptures and deforming processes.In some cases, it is advisable to undergo MRI.Magnetic resonance imaging allows you to visualize changes in the structure of the synovial membrane, swelling of the bone marrow and pathological processes in the periarticular soft tissues.
Laboratory blood tests show levels of specific inflammatory markers.Analysis of joint capsule effusion makes it possible to establish the infectious nature of the disease.
At the Center for Restorative Medicine, orthopedists and traumatologists carry out a comprehensive examination for complaints of pain in large and small joints of the upper and lower extremities and in the hip joints.A modern laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment allows you to examine biological fluids for elements of inflammation and infection.
Joint treatment methods
First, the root cause of the disease must be addressed.Medicinal and conservative methods are used to treat joints.The following medications are prescribed:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory substances.
- Immunomodulatory medicines to contain pathological processes, for example in rheumatoid arthritis.
- Corticosteroid medications.
- Vitamin complexes.
A good effect is achieved by injecting medications directly into the affected joint.Intra-articular injections should only be performed by a qualified physician.This is a technique used a maximum of 3-4 times during the year.
Conservative methods allow you to restore joint mobility, elasticity of ligaments, cartilaginous tissue and relieve symptoms of inflammation.For therapeutic purposes, the patient is prescribed:
- physiotherapy sessions;
- physiotherapy (physiotherapy);
- massage;
- hydrotherapy;
- hot or cold treatment.
Important!All therapeutic methods without treating the underlying disease will give only temporary results and briefly alleviate the patient's condition.
To treat joints, the Center for Regenerative Medicine uses a uniquely comprehensive approach.The main task of specialists is to determine the root cause of the pain syndrome and eliminate it.
The physiotherapy department has all the necessary equipment to treat joint pain of any location.Experienced rehabilitation doctors select individual exercise therapy complexes that allow you to preserve all joint functions.A qualified vertebrologist eliminates the pain associated with spinal pathologies.
Don't forget that joint pain can signal a serious problem.