The appearance of joint pain (arthralgia) can be observed against the background of general well-being.Painful sensations usually appear after excessive physical exertion and can be observed in pregnant women.Recently, complaints about 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.
Symptoms of joint pain.
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 massive 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 under 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 can 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 no relief occurs over time.
- Meniscus injuries.The most common are tears and compression of the meniscus.During sudden flexion or extension, a sharp click and sharp pain appear.Painful, stabbing sensations often cause immobility of the leg.
- A torn knee ligament 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 affect not only the joint, but also the tendons, the membranes of the joint capsule and soft tissues.
- Osteoporosis is a disease that causes increased bone fragility.The disease is accompanied by night cramps and pain in the spine.
- Osteomyelitis is a purulent-necrotic pathology of bacterial origin.Patients complain of general malaise, high fever, redness and swelling of the joint.
Causes of pain in the elbow joint.
Complaints of pain in the elbow joint do not depend on the sex or age of the patient.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 and 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 pinched.The pain is diffuse and radiates throughout the arm.
- Osteoarthritis.The pain is a result of the 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 over it becomes red and the local temperature increases.Bursitis almost always develops against the background of arthritis.On palpation, a dense formation with liquid content is determined.
A certain pattern of elbow joint pain may indicate more serious causes.For example, persistent or aching pain may indicate the development of tuberculosis or bone cancer.Sharp, stabbing pain can be the result of injuries to tendons, cartilage and ligaments.Stabbing, stabbing pain is a sign of pinched nerve fibers.
Pain in the elbow joint that has a burning character may indicate an angina attack or myocardial infarction.
hip pain
The appearance of pain in the hip joint is always frightening and forces you to immediately consult a doctor.The hip joint is made up of the largest bones in the skeleton and is the most powerful joint.The osteochondral structure experiences the greatest load, supporting the weight of the body and evenly distributing 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 they can only alleviate the patient's condition and slow down the development of 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 with the following diseases:
- Injuries.If the joint elements are damaged, it is difficult to move the hip to one side.The patient cannot lie on the injured side.Very 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 smoothes, and mobility is affected.Rheumatoid arthritis inevitably leads to disability.
- Coxarthrosis.Deforming processes on the articular surface cause pain during physical activity and when 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 compactions and nodules is accompanied by severe pain and limited mobility.There are known cases of degeneration of chondromatosis into malignant formations.
Severe pain in one or both hip joints may indicate the development of diabetic arthropathy, hydrarthrosis, and pseudogout.These diseases significantly affect the patient's quality of life and, in severe cases, can cause disability.
What to do if your arm and leg joints hurt
Pain in the joints of the arms and legs can be the first symptom of a serious illness.Sensation of pain, burning and limitation of motor functions of arms and legs are complaints expressed by patients with the following diseases:
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- osteoarthritis;
- rheumatism;
- injuries;
- drop
Acute pain in the joints of the arms and legs requires quick relief to alleviate the patient's condition.As first aid, it is recommended to perform the following actions:
- Provide rest to the extremities.
- Take one of the pain relievers or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Contact a specialist to establish the correct diagnosis and determine the correct treatment tactics.
The use of home remedies or any medication without medical consultation is prohibited.
Diagnosis
Establishing a correct diagnosis requires high professionalism and the use of instrumental and laboratory diagnostic methods.X-ray examination allows us to determine cartilage destruction, ligament ruptures and deforming processes.In some cases it is advisable to perform an 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 soft periarticular tissues.
Laboratory blood tests show levels of specific inflammatory markers.Analysis of the effusion of the joint capsule allows us to establish the infectious nature of the disease.
At the Center for Restorative Medicine, orthopedists and traumatologists conduct a comprehensive examination to detect complaints of pain in the 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, it is necessary to address the root cause of the disease.Medicinal and conservative methods are used to treat joints.The following medications are prescribed:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory substances.
- Immunomodulatory medications to stop pathological processes, for example, in rheumatoid arthritis.
- Corticosteroid medications.
- Vitamin complexes.
A good effect is achieved by injecting drugs directly into the affected joint.Intra-articular injections should only be performed by a qualified physician.This is a technique that is used no more than 3-4 times during the year.
Conservative methods allow you to restore joint mobility, elasticity of ligaments, cartilage tissue, and relieve symptoms of inflammation.For therapeutic purposes, the patient is prescribed:
- physiotherapy sessions;
- physiotherapy (physiotherapy);
- massage;
- hydrotherapy;
- Warm or cold treatment.
Important!All therapeutic methods without treating the underlying disease will give only temporary results and will briefly alleviate the patient's condition.
For the treatment of joints, the Center for Regenerative Medicine uses an exclusively 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 pain associated with spinal pathologies.
Don't forget that joint pain can indicate a serious problem.