Painful sensations in the joints are a common reason to consult a doctor.What to do if the joints in your arms and legs hurt depends on the root 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);
- drop;
- osteoarthritis;
- psoriasis (psoriatic arthritis);
- osteomyelitis;
- osteophytes;
- bursitis;
- flat feet;
- injury.
Pain can also be caused by neurological diseases and vascular disorders.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a common disease that often causes disability.If previously such a diagnosis was made mainly only to people over 30 years old, today quite young people also face it.
The most typical symptoms of arthritis include severe pain in the joint area, which initially appears only at night and then becomes constant.If arthritis affects the joints of the legs, walking becomes uncomfortable and gait changes.The skin turns red, muscles begin to break down, and body temperature may increase slightly.
After sleep, a feeling of stiffness appears and a peak of pain appears.
There are two forms of this disease:
- Rheumatoid arthritis.This can occur as a result of age-related changes, severe hypothermia, injuries, as well as under the influence of hereditary factors.
- Infectious arthritis.It develops against the background of various types of infectious diseases.
In case of arthritis, complete destruction of the 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 of treating this disease are distinguished:
- Antibiotics.Prescribed when identifying infectious tissue damage and helps restore joints.
- Ointments and gelsto relieve swelling, relieve pain and reduce redness.
- Food supplements.Used to stimulate connective tissue, they are useful in the early stages of the disease, as they can avoid the need for more serious treatment.
- Corticosteroids.They are injected into the most affected joints and can be used for several months if a pronounced 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 thumbs.In this case, 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 appear at night and become annoying during the day.
- There are intervals between exacerbations, sometimes very long.They can give the false impression that there are no health problems.
- Deterioration of general condition.
- Increased temperature in the affected joint area.
- Swelling of varying degrees of severity.
- The appearance of tophi – “nodules” under the skin, consisting of urates.
The following factors can influence the occurrence of gout:
- overweight;
- 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 performed and it is sometimes necessary to take a sample of synovial fluid.
The main treatment measure is following a strict diet, which involves avoiding fatty fish and meat, offal, broths, canned foods, sausages, salt and spices.Consumption of coffee, tea and cocoa is limited as much as possible and alcoholic beverages are completely excluded.Without following the diet prescribed by the doctor, complete recovery is not possible.
Drug treatment is chosen individually, depending on the characteristics of the disease and the patient's condition.The drugs used reduce the production of uric acid salts, accelerate the process of its elimination 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 it progresses, it causes serious mobility difficulties and irreversible damage to the joint.The first signs of the disease are numbness in the fingers and an unusual and strong feeling of fatigue.
In the early stages, it is difficult to recognize pain in small joints, therefore the most common complaint of patients is discomfort at the base of the fingers.If you try to bend them, the pain becomes even stronger.In most cases, osteoarthritis affects several joints at once.The problem can be diagnosed using x-rays.
The following factors can influence the development of the disease:
- changes in hormonal levels, leading to fluid retention in the body;
- atherosclerosis of the extremities;
- gout and other diseases associated with metabolic disorders;
- diabetes mellitus;
- influence of streptococcus and staphylococcus;
- decay.
Osteoarthritis of the toe joints can develop against the background of incorrect foot placement, wearing incorrect shoes, excess weight, poor mobility and other aggravating factors.
The joints of the arms and legs hurt;only a specialist can answer the question of what to do in case of osteoarthritis.
But today it is almost impossible to cure this disease by conservative methods.Performing 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.
Both modern and classical manual therapy methods will be useful in this situation.Visible results can be achieved in just a few sessions, but long-term remission is possible only at those stages of the disease when destructive processes have not yet affected the bone.
Psoriasis
Joint psoriasis, or psoriatic arthritis, sometimes affects people with psoriasis, a complex skin disease.This leads to chronic pain and stiffness in the affected joints.
Psoriatic arthritis can appear suddenly or develop gradually, so it is important to tell your doctor promptly if symptoms appear.At the moment, it is not known why psoriasis appears, but doctors suggest that hereditary factors and negative environmental influences can influence its development.
There is no specific treatment for this disease, therefore, in most cases, treatment is aimed at reducing the inflammatory process, preventing pain and loss of joint function.In rare cases, surgical intervention is used.
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 situations, it is a complication of other diseases.
The disease affects a person with general weakness of the body, pain in the joints and muscle pain.
Then a rapid increase in body temperature occurs, the pain is clearly localized in the affected area, intensifying with each movement.Then the purulent process begins to spread very quickly to the surrounding tissues and sepsis may occur.It is necessary to take urgent measures at the slightest suspicion of the presence of this pathology, otherwise the patient cannot be saved.
Treatment is carried out using antibiotics selected based on the bacteria detected.Surgical therapy is widely used.
Osteophytes
Osteophytes are growths that develop when the supply of nutrients to the articular cartilage is disrupted.
Their presence can be detected by the following signs:
- cracking 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 be conservative or involve surgery.Drug therapy involves the prescription of NSAIDs, chondroprotectors, as well as agents that stimulate better 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 mucous bursae located near the joints.It occurs most often in the shoulder joints, but also occurs in the knee, hip and elbow joints.The causative agent of the disease can be infection, injury, mechanical damage, but often it appears for no apparent 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;
- pain relievers and anti-inflammatories are used.
In some cases, surgery is necessary.
Flat feet
Flat feet can lead to pain in the joints of the legs.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 in heels;
- shoes only wear out on one side;
- when walking and standing, your legs get tired quickly;
- at the end of the day, the feet swell and become heavy;
- leg cramps;
- back pain appears;
- old shoes become 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 first, physical education, therapeutic massage and physiotherapy are carried out.If the problem is serious, special shoes are prescribed to properly shape the arch of the foot.
Trauma
Joint injuries include ligament injuries, dislocations, bruises 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 restriction of movement.
The joints of the arms and legs hurt, what to do in case of injury:
- contact a specialist to determine the nature of the injury;
- provide adequate rest to the damaged joint;
- use a cooling compress.
Diet for joint diseases
Improper diet can not only worsen the condition of the joints, but also become the main cause of many serious diseases.Therefore, when treating any problem related to cartilage and connective tissue, it is recommended to follow a balanced diet.
A specific nutritional system is prescribed depending on 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 foods, smoked meats and canned foods;
- favor pastries and stews, 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 negatively affects the joints.In addition, body weight increases, which inevitably increases the load on the legs.
The joints are not always able to adapt quickly to this.The third trimester of pregnancy is characterized by swelling which most often affects the feet and hands.This in turn causes pain and a feeling of stiffness.During 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 in the absence of contraindications, special gymnastics or yoga for pregnant women will be very useful.A good diet and sufficient fluid intake will help you cope with discomfort in your joints.
To alleviate the disease, it is recommended to follow these tips:
- 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 consultation with a specialist);
- give up monotonous physical labor;
- do yoga, gymnastics or swimming (in the absence of contraindications);
- maintain a stable psycho-emotional state;
- Perform self-massage on your hands and knees with gentle rubbing and tapping movements.
During pregnancy, it is very important to pay attention to any pain, including in the joints.Carrying a child can negatively affect the course of any pathological process, aggravate it and accelerate the development of the disease.
Home treatment methods
The use of folk remedies is one of the good ways to speed up the process of treating joint diseases, relieve symptoms and improve the patient's condition.
Among all home treatment methods, the most popular are:
- heating compresses made from paraffin, salt, clay or potatoes;
- lotions and rubs with alcohol infusions;
- baths, lotions and compresses based on plant decoctions;
- compresses with honey.
Depending on your objectives, you can use the following procedures:
- To relieve pain, the most useful remedies are those based on honey, alcohol, turpentine and bee products.Even a single use of a compress significantly relieves the condition if the pain is moderate.
- Potato compresses are widely used to warm the joints.Warm mashed potatoes are applied to the joint area, covered with a film and wrapped in a scarf.The compress is kept until the potatoes have completely cooled.
- Alcohol-based products have good anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.To prepare the simplest of them, simply soak gauze in vodka and apply it as a compress overnight.
- To relieve swelling, it is recommended to drink fruit drinks from lingonberries and cranberries, 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;
- apply internal fat in the form of ointment to the joints of the legs;
- lotions made from pine buds with sugar.
Prevention of joint diseases
With age, the risk of joint pain increases, so it is recommended to start prevention from an early age.
To prevent joint diseases, it is recommended:
- lift weights correctly, avoiding unnecessary stress on the joints;
- avoid unhealthy weight gain;
- have the most balanced diet possible, providing the body with a sufficient quantity of calcium, magnesium, collagen and fatty acids;
- do not neglect physical activity, because a strong muscular corset significantly reduces the load on the joints;
- maintain correct posture;
- reduce the amount of sugar consumed;
- if possible, get rid of bad habits (smoking and drinking alcohol);
- take the time to properly organize the workplace, where you will not have to strain your back and neck, throw your head back or lean forward;
- take timely breaks during professional activities, if they involve a long static position, and do a warm-up.
The widespread myth that only older people can injure joints leads many people to ignore the first symptoms of serious illnesses and turn to a specialist only as a last resort.In fact, many diseases can affect people at very young ages.
Even arthritis, considered for many years an age-related problem, is affecting more and more men and women under the age of thirty.
What to do when the joints of the legs and arms hurt, in each situation, only a doctor can tell you, who will quickly make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.When painful sensations appear, it is not recommended to immediately resort to self-medication and traditional methods, since these are serious degenerative processes, often irreversible and leading to complications.