Joint pain - signs of the disease, causes, treatment

Joint pain is experienced by millions of people around the world.According to official data from the World Health Organization, more than 80% of the population suffers from joint diseases.Environmental deterioration, a sedentary lifestyle, the emergence of new types of infections, the development of genetic diseases - there are many reasons why problems begin.

Causes of pain

Joints are movable parts of the skeleton that connect all the bones of the musculoskeletal system.Without them, it is impossible to perform the most important functions of the body - flexion, straightening, rotation, support and movement.

The appearance of pain is a direct sign of a violation of normal functionality.It is important not to ignore alarming symptoms and start treatment on time.

There can be several reasons why joints hurt:

• Physical inactivity.Technological progress, with undeniable advantages, promotes sedentary, sedentary work.All basic operations are performed by machines;people just control the processes.This leads to atrophy of muscle tissue.The load increases and manifests itself in the form of arthralgia (from the Greek arthron - "joint", algos - "pain").
• Increased physical activity.Occupations associated with constant movement (for example, builders, loaders, salesmen) do not contribute to healthy joints in any way.Heavy loads are fraught with injuries and over the years will manifest themselves in limb and spine pain.
• Excess body weight.The required amount of oxygen stops flowing to the joints, muscle mass decreases, irreversible changes occur in the cartilage tissues and, as a result, painful pain occurs.
• Environmental conditions.Living in megacities or places with a large concentration of industrial enterprises - wherever harmful emissions into the atmosphere occur - has a harmful effect on health.The risk of serious illness and complications increases several times.
• Poor nutrition.Eating food with a low content of vitamins and microelements necessary for the body negatively affects the general condition of the body.This immediately affects the mobility of the connecting parts.Discomfort and pain occur.
• Old age.The older a person is, the more they suffer from pain.The inevitable wear and tear of the musculoskeletal system leads to diseases that cause complications in the joints.It is worth noting that arthralgia is becoming younger every year for the above reasons.

Types of diseases

Many people suffer from diseases, and only a small part go to the doctor.But pain in the joints, as a rule, indicates the presence of some disease.These can be neglected injuries, hidden inflammatory processes.Therefore, it is very important to contact a rheumatologist or orthopedist for diagnosis and timely treatment.

Classification of diseases is divided into inflammatory, metabolic-dystrophic and pathological.Below are the most common joint diseases of each group, according to WHO statistics.

Inflammatory diseases

Arthritis is the most common disease characterized by the destruction of cartilage tissue.Due to arthritis, friction occurs between the bones and an inflammatory process occurs.As the disease progresses, mobility is lost, edema and swelling appear.It affects all species, both small and large.It often has genetic causes that are inherited.

Bursitis of the joints - the disease affects the shoulder, knee and hip joints.Between the surfaces of the bones, in the cavity of the synovial bursa, excess fluid accumulates.An inflammatory process begins, which occurs with great swelling and excruciating pain.
 

Metabolic-dystrophic joint diseases

Gout.Associated with increased production of uric acid, on the background of impaired kidney function.Most often, it starts with the appearance of pain in the area of the big toes.The disease is typical for old age and people of certain professions (for example, dancers).Constant wearing of uncomfortable shoes also contributes to the development of the disease.Lovers of high heels should think about this.You shouldn't sacrifice your health for fashion trends.

Arthrosis.Bone deformation due to cartilage tissue disease.Dystrophic processes are accompanied by severe pain.

Necrosis of joints.Disturbance of blood flow in the bone.Lack of oxygen and nutrients leads to bone death.First the joint gets hurt.Excruciating pain and stiffness of movement can become signs of an extremely dangerous disease.

Pathologies caused by trauma

Mechanical damage to the joint.The complication of a failed fall is therefore most often observed in the knee joints.Less often - in the elbows.Symptoms appear immediately - sharp pain, inability to bend the leg, impaired motor function.

Dislocation.Loss of resistance between the head of the bone and the ligaments leads to dislocation.Displacement can be complete or partial.Joint pain is accompanied by increased temperature and swelling in the dislocation area.Failure to seek medical help in time can lead to the development of necrosis and disability.

Symptoms of joint pain

One or more diseased joints determine the general state of the organism.Symptoms are very broad and depend on the underlying cause.But there is still a standard set of signs that should prompt emergency medical attention:

• Severe pain in one or more joints.
• The pain occurs at any time of the day and lasts a short time.
• Discomfort and stiffness of movement occur only during periods of rest - on vacation or on weekends.
• The pain in the joints is so severe that the person is forced to stop working.
• Appearance of lameness.
• Unreasonable weight loss.
• Increased sweating.
• Body aches.
• Permanently elevated temperature.
• Skin rash.
• Morning stiffness, without pronounced pain.
• Change on the fly.
• Muscle pain (myalgia).
• Mild pain in ligaments and tendons.

Even if, in the person's opinion, the symptoms are not significant and do not cause great discomfort, you should consult a doctor.

A preventive examination will help detect the disease at an early stage and guarantee a complete cure.

Disposal methods

1. Local preparations - ointments, gels, creams, patches containing anesthetics and anti-inflammatory active substances.
2. Steroid injections have a strong anti-inflammatory effect throughout the body.
3. Hyaluronic acid injections - thick liquid is one of the components of cartilage, it helps in dealing with inflammatory processes.
4. Physical therapy is a set of exercises that help maintain muscle tone and build muscle mass around painful joints.
5. Wearing only comfortable shoes - high-quality, soft shoes that bend easily will reduce the strain on sore feet.Rejection of high heels, narrow shoes and artificial materials.
6. Heat and cold - alternating heating pads with hot or cold water relieves cramps, reduces swelling and pain.The change must be rapid to prevent overheating or hypothermia.
7. Anesthesia of problem areas - injection of anesthetic directly into the painful area.Quickly relieves terrible pain.
8. Nerve destruction.It is used in cases where there are no positive results after other methods.The procedure is similar to removing a dental nerve.It relieves joint pain, but the disease remains.
9. Traditional medicine - herbs, honey, eggshells, bay leaves and alcohol.There are many recipes for preparing medicinal tinctures and mixtures.They should not be used without consulting a doctor.
10. Acupuncture is traditional medicine, only Chinese.Acupuncture sometimes really gives impressive results.But performing such procedures requires great experience and professionalism.Choosing a specialist can take a very long time.

Prevention and treatment

Diseases are treated using the following therapeutic options:

• Medicines.Only inflammatory processes and pain syndromes are removed.Without additional techniques, the causes of the disease cannot be eliminated.
• Physiotherapy.Warming, analgesic procedures with the use of medical equipment of different effects.Ultrasound, electrical stimulation.
• Therapeutic exercise.The doctor prescribes a set of simple special exercises to stimulate physical activity.
• Manual therapy.A combination of different techniques of active and passive manual pressure on the knees, shoulders, hands, feet, legs, toes, knees or elbows.This technique refers to official methods of treatment.It is useful both for prevention and for improving the condition of patients.
• Surgical intervention.It is prescribed only in hopeless, advanced cases.It has many contraindications and can cause other diseases.

Only after establishing a diagnosis and determining the cause, the doctor prescribes a treatment regimen using one or another technique.

Diseases are chronic in most cases.Degenerative processes only slow down with proper treatment.

Therefore, diseases are much easier to prevent than to treat:

• Care must be taken to promptly treat any infection.
• The diet should contain sufficient amounts of vitamins, minerals and trace elements.Vitamins A, B5 and B6, C, E, as well as copper, selenium and glucosamine are particularly useful for joints.
• Along with proper nutrition, maintaining an active lifestyle, feasible sports activity and daily walks will help prevent joint diseases.
• Gradual hardening of the organism.

With simple steps, you can prevent long-term treatment, severe pain and disruption of your usual lifestyle.

How to forget about joint and back pain

If your joints prevent you from living and moving a lot, and the most expensive drugs do not help, then consult a specialist doctor.Treatment according to the advice of acquaintances and friends, in the best case, will not give any results.In the worst case - worsening of the disease, transition to a chronic form, complete or partial loss of mobility.Before using a "proven" prescription, remember that the symptoms may be identical, but the diagnoses may be different.

The following recommendations will help you forget about the pain forever:

• The joint treatment regime is prescribed only by a doctor;self-medication can have the most dire consequences.
• Treatment should include several methods - medication, physiotherapy, homeopathic, physical therapy.
• Self-diagnosis is unacceptable.
• Do not steam or rub painful joints.Despite the temporary relief, this can accelerate the process of cartilage tissue destruction.
• Do not do recommended physical therapy exercises through "pain."Feeling comfortable is the key to a quick recovery.
• Even after sustained improvement begins, do not stop physical therapy.