joint pain

Joint pain or arthralgia occurs in many diseases, and its mechanism is not fully understood so far.Joint elements (ligaments, cartilage, capsule, bones) have pain receptors and respond to inflammatory processes and mechanical irritation.During movement, joint receptors are irritated, signals from them enter the brain and the person feels pain.During inflammation, the receptors become more sensitive to any irritation as immune system cells secrete substances that transmit pain.

Typically, joint pain is not accompanied by swelling of the surrounding soft tissues, contour deformities, or redness.When palpating the joints, the pain is moderate.In some cases, there are no obvious signs of inflammation on the x-ray.There are also no complaints about a significant decrease in the mobility of large joints.

Arthralgia often accompanies rheumatic diseases.In this case, when the weather changes, the joints ache and ache.Severe discomfort in the knee and hip joints is more common.Due to stiffness and pain in the joints in the morning, the patient cannot immediately get up and walk quickly.

If the pain in the joints is paroxysmal, appears unexpectedly, becomes stronger within a day, lasts for several days and only one joint hurts, we can assume the presence of arthritis due to gout.Uric acid crystals accumulate in joint tissues and irritate the tissues, causing pain.

If arthralgia occurs in large joints (knees, hips), grows slowly, becomes stronger during physical work and is combined with stiffness in the morning, degenerative-dystrophic changes can be diagnosed - osteoarthritis.

Reasons

There are various causes of joint pain.One of the most common causes of arthralgia is acute infection.Pain in the joints may occur before the first symptoms of the disease or in the early stages.It often breaks joints in the body during an infectious process.At the same time, the amplitude of movements in them does not change.

Severe post-infectious arthralgia occurs during urogenital and intestinal infections.

Joints suffer from secondary syphilis, endocarditis, tuberculosis.If there are foci of chronic infection in the body, for example, in the kidneys, bile ducts, pelvic organs, parasitic diseases, the joints also hurt.

Common causes of joint pain include:

• Thyroid diseases.
• Poisoning with heavy metal salts.
• Physical injuries.
• Long-term use of certain medications.

I am worried about pain in the joints due to various diseases.They are divided into 2 large groups:

• Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints caused by infection, autoimmune processes, dysfunction of the endocrine glands and metabolism.
• Arthrosis is a disease associated with the destruction of articular cartilage and the underlying joint surfaces of bones.Over time, cartilage hardens, loses its elasticity and cracks.

The division of joint diseases into arthritis and arthrosis is conditional.If left untreated, arthritis eventually turns into arthrosis as inflammatory processes disrupt cartilage metabolism.They do not receive enough nutrition and they quickly become weak and gradually collapse.

In arthrosis, which is initially associated with physical overload of the joint, inflammation develops over time.It is caused by the accumulation of cartilage and bone tissue fragments in the joint cavity and the triggering of inflammatory reactions.

The risk group for the development of this pathology includes:

• Women during menopause.
• Older people with significant age-related changes in the body.
• Obese patients.
• Patients with a history of joint trauma.
• Athletes.
• People with certain professions.For example, the knee joint often suffers in people who stand for hours (teachers, surgeons, hairdressers, etc.).Pain in the joints of the hands is a common symptom among musicians, cashiers and loaders who make monotonous movements with their hands.

genres

There are different classifications of joint pain.They are distinguished according to the location of arthralgia:

• Mono Arthralgia (1 joint hurts).
• Oligo Arthralgia (affects 2-5 joints).
• Polyarthralgia (pain in more than 5 joints).

Depending on the location of the joints, arthralgia is divided into general and localized.

Nature of arthralgia:

1. Sharp and dull.
2. Temporary and permanent.
3. Weak, medium and intense.

The features and conditions of occurrence of arthralgia depend on the diagnosis.The most common symptoms of joint pain are:

• Beginning.Arthralgia first occurs while walking, then disappears as you move.It is associated with the friction of the articular surfaces of bones covered with destroyed cartilage tissue.After a few steps, this mass accumulates in the involutions of the joint capsule and arthralgia disappears.
• it hurts.They appear after physical work of the joints and disappear with rest.
• Night.They confirm serious damage to the joint and are caused by blockage, the pressure of blood on the bone tissue under the cartilage.After a night's sleep, a feeling of stiffness in the joints occurs, and the discomfort disappears as you move.
• Permanent.It occurs when there is inflammation in the joint capsule.
• Sudden (joint blockade).It is caused by a piece of bone or cartilage stuck between two joint surfaces.
• Transport.First one joint hurts, then the pain moves to the other.
• reflected.They are felt in the nearby joint, not in the affected joint.For example, if you have hip joint disease, your knee will hurt.

Diagnosis

You should not self-medicate if you have arthralgia.If you have joint pain, be sure to consult your doctor to determine the diagnosis.After the main examination, he will refer you for consultation to an orthopedist-traumatologist or rheumatologist.If the previously injured joint becomes diseased, a surgeon should be consulted.

When you go to the doctor, it is important to talk about the following points:

• When pain occurs.
• That the pain lessens and lessens.
• How often do painful attacks occur?
• Arthralgia appeared for the first time or had existed before.
• Is there hyperemia, swelling or deformation of the joint?
• Have you experienced any stress, acute respiratory illness or heavy physical activity in recent days?

This information will help the specialist make a conclusion about the condition of the patient's joints and make a diagnosis.

After determining the nature of the joint pain, the doctor will perform an examination and make a referral for:

• General blood and urine analysis.
• Biochemical blood test.
• Immunodiagnostics.
• X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound of the joints.
• Biopsy of damaged tissue if necessary.

X-ray of the joints.This method allows you to examine the joint in two projections and radiopaque arthrography is possible.

Using MRI and CT, you can evaluate the condition of osteochondral structures and soft tissues in detail.

Ultrasound of joints.It helps to determine the effusion in the joint space, erosion on the joint surfaces of the bones, changes in the synovial membrane and evaluate the width of the joint spaces.

Invasive examination methods.If indicated, joint puncture and synovial biopsy are performed.In difficult cases, arthroscopy is performed (examination of the joint cavity from the inside).

Laboratory tests help identify signs of inflammation and rheumatic pathology.Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, uric acid, antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor and ACCP levels are determined in peripheral blood.Joint fluid is subjected to microbiological and cytological analysis.

Treatment

Treatment for joint pain should be comprehensive.Tactics include reducing the mechanical load on the joint, eliminating inflammation, and preventing progression of the underlying disease.This is the only way to slow cartilage degeneration, preserve joint mobility, and improve the quality of life of a patient with arthralgia.

To reduce joint pain, the following is prescribed:

• Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Physiotherapy (shock wave therapy, ozone therapy, myostimulation, phonophoresis).
• Therapeutic exercise.
• Massage.
• Acupuncture.
• Orthopedic or surgical correction.

Conservative treatment is carried out with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, they relieve pain and have an anti-inflammatory effect.Chondroprotectors slow the development of osteoarthritis.These medications reduce inflammation and prevent further degeneration of cartilage in the joints.They contain cartilage components - chondroitin, glucosamine.Chondroprotectors support restoration processes in cartilage tissue.

Muscle relaxants are prescribed to eliminate spasms of skeletal muscles.

If arthritis is related to infection, antibiotics are indicated.

Vitamin and mineral element complexes are also prescribed for the good functioning of the joints and their healing processes.Vitamins A, C, E, group B and mineral elements calcium and selenium are especially important.

In case of severe inflammation and when there is no effect of treatment, glucocorticosteroids are prescribed according to the scheme.

Drug therapy is supplemented with ointments that warm, relieve pain and have an anti-inflammatory effect.

If arthralgia is very severe, the nerve endings are blocked.To do this, they use powerful drugs that will make you forget about joint pain for a long time.

To reduce arthralgia, joints are protected from excessive load.Standing for long periods of time and lifting and carrying heavy objects puts pressure on the joints well beyond the permissible load and contributes to cartilage damage.

To prevent arthralgia, follow these rules:

• Normalize your body weight.
• Wear comfortable shoes with low heels;If you have flat feet, use orthopedic insoles.
• Avoid psycho-emotional and physical overload.
• Change your body position more often while working, take five minutes to move and reduce muscle tension.
• To maintain physical activity, choose moderate exercise.Alternating mobility with rest periods.
• Do exercises regularly to reduce stress on your joints.For example, you can bend and straighten your legs for 20-30 minutes while sitting or lying down, and do the "bicycle" exercise.After this, rest for 7-10 minutes to improve blood circulation.These exercises help strengthen the cartilage in the leg joints.

In severe cases, surgical treatment is required.The doctor will remove necrotic tissue from the joint space through small incisions.If fluid has accumulated in the joint, puncture is performed.

Periarticular osteotomy is performed to reduce the load and increase the mobility of the diseased joint.The bones that make up the joint are cut so that they can grow together at a certain angle.

In severe cases, joint replacement is performed.

Prevention

To avoid joint diseases, follow these recommendations:

1. If you are obese, normalize your body weight.
2. Drink at least 1.5-1.7 liters of water a day.
3. Avoid hypothermia.
4. Maintain an active lifestyle.
5. Avoid excessive use of alcohol and tobacco.
6. Night sleep should last at least 8 hours.
7. Walk outdoors as often as possible.
8. Try to change your body position more often.

Summary

According to statistics, upper and lower extremity arthralgia occurs in half of people over the age of 40.Joint diseases are seen in 90% of patients over the age of 70.If the joint suddenly hurts, immediately consult a doctor to find out the reasons and prescribe treatment.Take care of your joints and fill them with beneficial activities.Even if cartilage is damaged and movement causes discomfort, physical exercise alone can keep your joints mobile.