Painful sensations in the joint area are a common reason for visiting a doctor.What to do if your arm and leg joints 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);
- gout;
- 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 leads to disability.If previously such a diagnosis was mainly given only to people over the age of 30, today even young people are faced with the same diagnosis.
The most typical symptoms of arthritis are severe pain in the joint area, which initially appear only at night, then become constant.If arthritis affects the joints of the legs, walking becomes uncomfortable and the gait changes.The skin turns red, the muscles begin to break down, and the body temperature may rise slightly.
After sleep, a feeling of stiffness appears and the peak of pain occurs.
There are two forms of this disease:
- Rheumatoid arthritis.It can occur due to age-related changes, severe hypothermia, injury, and also under the influence of hereditary factors.
- Infectious arthritis.It develops against the background of various types of infectious diseases.
When suffering from arthritis, complete destruction of the articular cartilage occurs, accompanied by severe pain.Pain in the toes may radiate to the kneecaps or groin area.The most reliable way to diagnose any form of arthritis is x-ray.
The following methods of treatment of this disease are distinguished:
- Antibiotics.Prescribed to identify infectious tissue lesions and help restore joints.
- Ointments and gelsto relieve swelling, relieve pain and reduce redness.
- Food supplements.Used to stimulate connective tissue, they are useful in the initial stages of the disease, as they can prevent the need for more serious treatments.
- Corticosteroids.They are injected into the most affected joints and can be used for many months if a pronounced positive effect is observed.
Drug treatment is effectively combined with physical therapy, physiotherapy and massage.
Gout
Gout most often 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 a sharp, paroxysmal pain in the fingers.Most often they appear at night and become dull during the day.
- There are intervals between flare-ups, sometimes very long.They can give the false impression that there are no health problems.
- Worsening of general conditions.
- 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 onset of gout:
- overweight;
- regular consumption of strong coffee and alcohol;
- nephropathy;
- genetic predisposition;
- poor nutrition;
- hypertension;
- diabetes mellitus
To diagnose the disease, blood and urine tests are examined, and sometimes it is necessary to take a sample of synovial fluid.
The main treatment measure is to follow a strict diet, which includes avoiding fatty fish and meat, offal, broths, canned food, sausages, salt and spices.The 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 therapy is selected 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 elimination process and have an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.Compresses, lotions and compresses are also used.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a serious condition that causes inflammation and swelling.As it progresses, it leads to severe impairment of mobility and irreversible degradation of the joint.The first signs of the disease are expressed in numbness of the fingers and an unusual and strong feeling of tiredness.
In the early stages it is difficult to recognize pain in small joints, so the most common complaint from 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 multiple joints at the same time.The problem can be diagnosed using X-rays.
The following factors can influence the development of the disease:
- changes in hormone levels, leading to fluid retention in the body;
- atherosclerosis of the extremities;
- gout and other diseases associated with metabolic disorders;
- diabetes mellitus;
- streptococcal and staphylococcal flu;
- caries.
Osteoarthritis of the joints of the toes can develop against the background of incorrect positioning of the foot, wearing of poor quality shoes, excess weight, poor mobility and other aggravating factors.
The joints of the arms and legs hurt;only a specialist can answer what to do in case of osteoarthritis.
But today it is almost impossible to cure this disease with conservative methods.Performing intra-articular injections is possible, but rather difficult and risky.Gels, ointments, compresses and lotions can provide an anti-inflammatory effect and slightly relieve pain.
The methods of modern and classical manual therapy will help in this situation.Visible results can be obtained in a few sessions, but long-term remission is possible only in those stages of the disease in which the destructive processes have not yet affected the bone.
Psoriasis
Joint psoriasis, or psoriatic arthritis, sometimes affects people who suffer from psoriasis, a complex skin disease.It leads to pain and stiffness in the affected joints, which are chronic.
Psoriatic arthritis can start suddenly or develop gradually, so it's important to tell your doctor promptly if symptoms appear.It is currently unknown why psoriasis occurs, but doctors suggest that hereditary factors and negative environmental influences can influence its development.
There is no specific treatment for this disease, so in most cases therapy is aimed at reducing the inflammatory process, preventing pain and loss of joint function.In rare cases, surgery is used.
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis is a purulent inflammatory process in the bone marrow, periosteum and bone.Its development is often caused by microorganisms such as E. coli, salmonella, streptococcus and staphylococcus.In rarer situations, it turns out to be a complication of other diseases.
The disease affects a person with general weakness of the body, joint pain and muscle soreness.
Then a rapid increase in body temperature occurs, the pain is clearly localized in the affected area, intensifying with each movement.Subsequently, 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 joint cartilage is interrupted.
Their presence can be detected by the following signals:
- creaking in the joints;
- joint discomfort 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.Pharmacological therapy involves the prescription of NSAIDs, chondroprotectors and 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 bags 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 infections, injuries, mechanical damage, but often appears for no apparent reason.
The joints of the arms and legs hurt, what to do with bursitis:
- sleep mode is provided;
- antibiotics or corticosteroids are prescribed;
- compresses are performed;
- painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are used.
In some cases, surgery is necessary.
Flat feet
Flat feet can cause pain in the leg joints.It may not manifest itself in any way for a long time, so it is especially important to pay attention to its signs.
They are the following:
- difficult to maintain balance on the heels;
- shoes wear out only on one side;
- when walking and standing, the 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.In the initial stages, physical education, therapeutic massage and physiotherapy are carried out.If the problem is severe, special shoes that shape the correct arch of the foot are prescribed.
Trauma
Joint injuries include ligament damage, dislocations, contusions, and intra-articular fractures.To clarify the diagnosis, numerous studies are used, including CT, x-ray, MRI and ultrasound.The main symptoms are pain, swelling and limitations in 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 the damaged joint with adequate rest;
- use a cooling compress.
Diet for joint diseases
Poor nutrition can not only aggravate joint conditions, but also becomes the root cause of many serious diseases.Therefore, in the treatment of any problems related to cartilage and connective tissue, it is recommended to follow a balanced diet.
A specific nutritional system is prescribed based 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 food;
- give preference to baking and stewing, 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 both one of the pathological conditions and 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, inevitably increasing the load on the legs.
Joints are not always able to adapt to this quickly.The third trimester of pregnancy is characterized by swelling, which most often affects the feet and hands.In turn, this causes pain and a feeling of stiffness.In the first trimester it is recommended to spend more time at rest so that the body can adapt to the 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 proper diet and drinking enough fluids will help you cope with joint discomfort.
To alleviate the condition, 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;
- spend more time outdoors;
- take special complexes for pregnant women (after consulting a specialist);
- give up monotonous physical work;
- do yoga, gymnastics or swimming (in the absence of contraindications);
- maintain a stable psycho-emotional state;
- Perform self-massage of your hands and knees with soft rubbing and patting movements.
During pregnancy it is very important to promptly pay attention to any pain, even in the joint area.Carrying a child can negatively affect the course of any pathological process, aggravating it and accelerating the development of the disease.
Home treatment methods
The use of folk remedies is one of the best ways to speed up the process of treating joint diseases, relieve symptoms and alleviate the patient's condition.
Among all home treatment methods, the most popular are the following:
- warming compresses based on paraffin, salt, clay or potatoes;
- lotions and rubs with alcoholic infusions;
- baths, lotions and compresses of plant decoctions;
- compresses with honey.
Depending on your goals, you can resort to the following procedures:
- To eliminate pain, the most useful remedies are those based on honey, alcohol, turpentine and beekeeping products.Even a single use of a compress significantly relieves the condition if the pain is moderate.
- Potato compresses are widely used to warm joints.Hot mashed potatoes are applied to the joint area, covered with cling 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, just soak a gauze in vodka and apply it as a compress overnight.
- To relieve swelling, it is recommended to drink cranberry and cranberry fruit drinks, decoctions of bay leaves and cranberry leaves, as well as pharmaceutical diuretics.
The following recipes are the safest (even during pregnancy):
- foot and hand baths with birch leaves or pine needles;
- honey and salt compresses;
- apply internal fat in the form of an ointment to the joints of the legs;
- lotions made from pine buds with sugar.
Prevention of joint diseases
The risk of joint pain increases with age, so it is advisable to start prevention at a young age.
To prevent joint diseases we recommend:
- lift weights correctly, avoiding unnecessary stress on the joints;
- avoid unhealthy weight gain;
- follow a diet that is as balanced as possible, providing the body with a sufficient quantity of calcium, magnesium, collagen, fatty acids;
- do not neglect physical activity, as a strong muscle corset significantly reduces the load on the joints;
- maintain correct posture;
- reduce the amount of sugar consumed;
- if possible, eliminate bad habits (smoking and drinking alcohol);
- take 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 appropriate breaks during professional activities, if they involve a long static position, and warm up.
The common myth that only the elderly can damage joints leads many people to ignore the first symptoms of serious diseases and turn to a specialist only as a last resort.In fact, many diseases can affect very young people.
Even arthritis, for many years considered an age-related problem, is increasingly affecting men and women under thirty.
What to do when the joints of the legs and arms hurt, in any situation only a doctor can tell you, who will quickly establish 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, which are often irreversible and lead to complications.