Joints of arms and legs hurt.What to do, which doctor?Causes, symptoms, treatment

Painful sensations in the joint area are a common reason for visiting the doctor.What to do if your joints hurt depends on the root cause of the problem.

Various causes of joint pain

The most common causes of joint pain are related to 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 made mostly 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 the gait changes.The skin becomes red, the muscles begin to degrade, and the body temperature may rise slightly.

After sleeping, there is a feeling of stiffness and the pain peaks.

There are two forms of this disease:

1. Rheumatoid arthritis.It can occur as a result of changes in age, severe hypothermia, injuries, but also under the influence of hereditary factors.
2. Infectious arthritis.It develops against the background of various types of infectious diseases.

When it is affected by arthritis, the joint cartilage is completely destroyed, accompanied by severe pain.Pain in the toes may radiate to the kneecaps or groin.The most reliable way to diagnose any form of arthritis is radiography.

The following methods of treatment for this disease are different:

1. Antibiotics.It is prescribed when identifying infectious tissue lesions and helps restore joints.
2. Ointments and gelsto reduce swelling, relieve pain and reduce redness.
3. Food supplements.They are used to stimulate the connective tissue, they are useful in the early stages of the disease, because they can prevent the need for more serious treatment.
4. Corticosteroids.They are injected into the most vulnerable joints and can be used for several 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:

1. Joints of 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.They are most often manifested at night, and become dull during the day.
2. There are intervals between exacerbations, sometimes very long.They can give the false impression that there are no health problems.
3. Worsening of the general condition.
4. Increased temperature in the area of the affected joint.
5. Swelling of varying severity.
6. The appearance of tophi - "nodules" under the skin, consisting of urate.

The following factors can affect the appearance of gout:

• overweight;
• regular consumption of strong coffee and alcohol;
• kidney disease;
• genetic predisposition;
• poor nutrition;
• high blood pressure;
• diabetes mellitus

To diagnose the disease, blood and urine tests are performed, and sometimes it is necessary to take a sample of synovial fluid.

The main treatment measure is adherence to a strict diet, which includes avoiding fatty fish and meat, offal, broth, canned food, sausages, salt and spices.The consumption of coffee, tea and cocoa is maximally limited, and alcoholic beverages are completely excluded.Without following the diet prescribed by the doctor, full 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 process of its elimination, and have an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.Compresses, lotions and poultices 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 the numbness of the fingers and an unusually strong feeling of fatigue.

In the early stages, it is difficult to recognize pain in small joints, so the most common complaint of patients is discomfort at the base of the fingers.If you try to bend them, the pain becomes even worse.In most cases, osteoarthritis affects several joints at once.The problem can be diagnosed using X-rays.

The development of the disease can be influenced by the following factors:

• changes in hormone levels, which leads to fluid retention in the body;
• atherosclerosis of extremities;
• gout and other diseases associated with metabolic disorders;
• diabetes mellitus;
• influence of streptococci and staphylococci;
• caries.

Arthrosis of the finger joints can develop against the background of incorrect foot placement, wearing bad shoes, excess weight, low mobility and other aggravating factors.

Pain in the joints of the hands and feet;only a specialist can answer what to do with 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, poultices and lotions can provide anti-inflammatory effects and mild pain relief.

Methods of modern and classic manual therapy will help in this situation.Visible results can be achieved in just a few sessions, but achieving long-term remission is possible only in those stages of the disease when the destructive processes have not yet affected the bone.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis of the joints, or psoriatic arthritis, sometimes affects people who have psoriasis, a complex skin disease.This leads to pain and stiffness in the affected joints, which is chronic.

Psoriatic arthritis can start suddenly or develop gradually, so it's important to tell your doctor right away 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 the therapy is aimed at reducing the inflammatory process, preventing pain and loss of joint function.In rare cases, surgical intervention is resorted to.

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, streptococcus and staphylococcus.In rarer situations, it turns out to be a complication of other diseases.

The disease affects a person with general body weakness, joint and muscle pain.

Then there is a rapid increase in body temperature, the pain is clearly localized in the affected area, increasing with every movement.Then the purulent process begins to spread very quickly to the surrounding tissues and sepsis can 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 with antibiotics, which are chosen according to the detected bacteria.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:

• creaking in the joints;
• discomfort in the joints when the weather changes;
• difficulty straightening legs or arms after a night's sleep;
• painful sensations.

Depending on the stage, treatment can be conservative or include surgical intervention.Drug therapy includes prescribing NSAIDs, chondroprotectors, as well as agents that stimulate improved tissue nutrition.

An intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid is often used.Physiotherapy procedures and massage sessions have a positive effect.

Bursitis

Bursitis is an inflammatory process of the mucous bursae located near the joints.It most often occurs in the shoulder joints, but it also occurs in the knee, hip and elbow joints.The cause of the disease can be infections, injuries, mechanical damage, but it often occurs for no apparent reason.

Arm and leg joints hurt, what to do with bursitis:

• a rest regime 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 lead to pain in the joints of the legs.It may not manifest in any way 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 are worn on one side only;
• when walking and standing, the legs get tired quickly;
• by 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 accompanying diseases.In the early stages, physical culture, therapeutic massage and physiotherapy are carried out.If the problem is serious, special shoes are prescribed that model the correct arch of the foot.

Trauma

Joint injuries include ligament damage, 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 restricted movement.

Arm and leg joints 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 worsen the condition of the joints, but also become the main cause of many serious diseases.Therefore, in the process of treating any problems related to cartilage and connective tissue, a balanced diet is recommended.

A specific nutritional system is prescribed in accordance with 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 food, smoked meat and canned food;
• give priority to baking and stewing, avoiding fried food.

Joint pain during pregnancy

What to do when the joints of the arms and legs hurt during pregnancy, can only be answered by an expert.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 has a negative effect on the joints.In addition, body weight increases, inevitably increasing the load on the legs.

Joints cannot always adapt quickly to this.The third trimester of pregnancy is characterized by swelling that 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 take more time to rest so that the body can more easily adapt to the changes.

After consulting a doctor and in the absence of contraindications, special gymnastics or yoga for pregnant women will be very useful.Eating right and getting enough fluids will help you deal with joint discomfort.

To ease the situation, 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 consultation with a specialist);
• give up monotonous physical work;
• do yoga, gymnastics or swimming (in the absence of contraindications);
• maintain a stable psycho-emotional state;
• Self-massage your hands and knees with light rubbing and patting movements.

During pregnancy, it is very important to immediately pay attention to all pains, including in the joint area.Carrying a child can negatively affect the course of any pathological process, worsening it and accelerating the development of the disease.

Methods of home treatment

The use of folk remedies is one of the good ways to speed up the process of treating joint diseases, relieve symptoms and alleviate the patient's condition.

Of all home treatment methods, the following are the most popular:

• heating compresses based on paraffin, salt, clay or potatoes;
• lotions and rubbing alcohol infusions;
• baths, lotions and poultices from herbal decoctions;
• wraps with honey.

Depending on your goals, you can resort to the following procedures:

1. To get rid of pain, the most useful are medicines based on honey, alcohol, turpentine and bee products.Even a one-time use of the wrap significantly eases the condition if the pain is moderate.

2. Potato compresses are widely used to warm joints.Warm mashed potatoes are applied to the joint area, covered with film and wrapped in a scarf.The compress is kept until the potato cools down completely.
3. Alcohol-based products have good anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.To prepare the simplest of them, just soak gauze in vodka and put it as a compress overnight.
4. 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 (including during pregnancy):

• foot and hand baths with birch leaves or pine needles;
• honey and salt wraps;
• applying internal ointment in the form of ointment to the joints of the legs;
• pine bud lotions with sugar.

Prevention of joint diseases

The risk of joint pain increases with age, so it is recommended to start prevention at a younger age.

For the prevention of joint diseases, it is recommended:

• lift weights correctly, avoiding unnecessary load on the joints;
• avoid unhealthy weight gain;
• eat as balanced a diet as possible, providing the body with a sufficient amount of calcium, magnesium, collagen, fatty acids;
• do not neglect physical activity, because a strong muscle corset significantly reduces the load on the joints;
• maintain proper 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 it is a long-term static position, and warm up.

The common myth that only elderly people can injure their joints leads to many people ignoring the first symptoms of serious diseases, turning to a specialist only as a last resort.In fact, many diseases can affect very young people.

Even arthritis, which for many years was considered an age-related problem, is increasingly affecting men and women under the age of thirty.

What to do when the joints of the legs and hands hurt, in any 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, as this is a serious degenerative process that is often irreversible and leads to complications.