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The joints in the arms and legs hurt.What to do, which doctor to see?Causes, symptoms, treatment

Pain in the joint area is a common reason to see a doctor.What to do if your arm and leg joints hurt depends on the root cause of the problem.

Different 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;
  • osteoporosis;
  • bursitis;
  • flat feet;
  • injury.
Pain in the hand joints

Pain can also be caused by neurological diseases and vascular disorders.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a common disease that often leads to disability.If earlier such a diagnosis was mainly available 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, then becomes constant.If arthritis affects the joints in the legs, walking becomes uncomfortable and gait changes.The skin turns red, muscles begin to deteriorate, and body temperature may increase slightly.

After sleeping, a feeling of stiffness appears and the pain reaches its peak.

There are two forms of this disease:

  1. Rheumatoid arthritis.It can occur due to age-related changes, severe hypothermia, trauma and also due to the influence of genetic factors.
  2. Infectious arthritis.It develops against the background of many types of infectious diseases.

When you have arthritis, the joint cartilage will be completely destroyed, accompanied by severe pain.Pain in the toes may spread to the kneecap or groin area.The most reliable way to diagnose any form of arthritis is with an X-ray.

The following methods of treating this disease are distinguished:

  1. Antibiotics.Indicated when identifying infectious tissue damage and helping to restore joints.
  2. Ointments and gelsto reduce swelling, relieve pain and reduce redness.
  3. Food supplements.Used to stimulate connective tissue, they are useful in the early stages of the disease as they can prevent the need for more serious treatment.
  4. Corticosteroids.They are injected into the most affected joints and can be used for many months if a noticeable positive effect is seen.

Medical treatment is effectively combined with physical therapy and massage.

gout

Gout often affects the joints of the fingers and toes, especially the thumb.In this case, uric acid salts accumulate in crystal form.

The disease can be recognized by the following signs:

  1. The joints in 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.Usually, they manifest at night and become dull during the day.
  2. There are intervals between exacerbations, sometimes very long.They may give the false impression that there are no health problems.
  3. The general condition worsened.
  4. Temperature increases in the affected joint area.
  5. Swelling of varying severity.
  6. The appearance of tophi - "nodules" under the skin, consisting of urine.

The following factors can influence the appearance of gout:

  • overweight;
  • regularly drink coffee and strong alcohol;
  • kidney disease;
  • genetic predisposition;
  • poor nutrition;
  • high blood pressure;
  • diabetes

To diagnose the disease, blood and urine tests will be examined and sometimes a sample of joint fluid will be needed.

The main treatment is following a strict diet, which includes avoiding fatty fish and meat, offal, broth, canned foods, sausages, salt and spices.The consumption of coffee, tea and cocoa is limited as much as possible and alcoholic beverages are completely excluded.If you do not follow the diet prescribed by your doctor, you cannot fully recover.

Drug treatment 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 its elimination and have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.Compressors, lotions and wraps are also used.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a serious condition that causes inflammation and swelling.As the disease progresses, it leads to severe loss of mobility and irreversible joint degeneration.The first signs of the disease are manifested by numbness in the fingers and a feeling of fatigue and abnormality.

In the early stages, it is difficult to recognize pain in small joints, so the most common complaint patients have is a feeling of discomfort at the base of the finger.If you try to bend them, the pain will become even stronger.In most cases, osteoarthritis affects many 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 water retention in the body;
  • atherosclerosis in the extremities;
  • gout and other diseases related to metabolic disorders;
  • diabetes;
  • effects of streptococcus and staphylococcus;
  • tooth decay.

Arthritis of the toe joints can develop due to improper foot placement, inappropriate shoes, being overweight, poor mobility, and other aggravating factors.

Joints in arms and legs hurt;Only a specialist can answer what to do when you have osteoarthritis.

But today it is almost impossible to cure this disease using conservative methods.Performing intra-articular injections is possible but quite difficult and risky.Gels, ointments, compresses, and topicals may have mild anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

Instructions for treating joint pain caused by osteoarthritis

Modern and classical methods of manual therapy will help in this situation.Visible results can be achieved after just a few treatment sessions, but lasting relief can only be achieved at stages of the disease when the destructive process has not yet affected the bones.

psoriasis

Psoriatic arthritis or psoriatic arthritis sometimes affects people with psoriasis, a complex skin disease.It leads to pain and stiffness in the affected joints, the condition is chronic.

Psoriatic arthritis can start suddenly or develop gradually, so it is important to tell your doctor immediately if symptoms appear.Currently, it is not known why psoriasis occurs, but doctors believe that genetic factors and negative environmental influences can influence the development of the disease.

People with psoriasis are susceptible to psoriatic arthritis

There is no specific treatment for this disease, so in most cases, treatment is aimed at reducing the inflammatory process and 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 growth is often caused by microorganisms such as E. coli, salmonella, streptococcus and staphylococcus.In more rare situations, it turns out to be a complication of other diseases.

The disease affects people with general weakness of the body, joint pain and muscle aches.

After that, the body temperature increases rapidly, the pain is clearly localized in the affected area, intensifying with each movement.Next, the pus process begins to spread very quickly to surrounding tissues and sepsis can occur.It is necessary to take urgent measures when there is even the slightest suspicion of the presence of this pathology, otherwise the patient will not be able to be saved.

Treatment is carried out using antibiotics, selected in accordance with the detected bacteria.Surgical therapy is widely used.

osteoporosis

Bone spurs are growths that develop when the supply of nutrients to joint cartilage is interrupted.

Their presence can be detected by the following signs:

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

Depending on the stage, treatment can be conservative or surgical.Drug treatment involves the prescription of NSAIDs, chondroprotectors, as well as stimulating agents that improve tissue nutrition.

Intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid are commonly used.Physiotherapy procedures and massage sessions have a positive effect.

Bursitis

Bursitis is an inflammatory process of the mucous bursa located near the joint.It most commonly occurs in the shoulder joint, but also occurs in the knee, hip, and elbow joints.The causative agent can be infection, trauma, or mechanical damage, but often appears for no apparent reason.

Joint pain in limbs and bursitis, what to do:

  • Rest mode is provided;
  • prescribed antibiotics or corticosteroids;
  • compression is performed;
  • Pain relievers 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 for a long time, so it is especially important to pay attention to its signs.

They are as follows:

  • difficulty keeping balance in the heels;
  • shoes are worn on only one side;
  • When walking and standing, my legs get tired quickly;
  • By the end of the day, the feet are swollen and heavy;
  • leg cramps;
  • back pain appears;
  • Old shoes become too small.

The disease can be diagnosed with X-rays.Treatment is directly determined by the stage of the disease, the patient's lifestyle and the presence of comorbidities.At the initial stage, physical education, therapeutic massage and physiotherapy are performed.If the problem is severe, special shoes will be prescribed to style the arch of the foot correctly.

injury

Joint injuries include ligament damage, dislocations, bruising, and fractures within the joint.To clarify the diagnosis, several studies are used, including CT, radiography, MRI and ultrasound.The main symptoms are pain, swelling and limited movement.

Physical therapy can help reduce pain in leg joints after injury.

What should I do if I have pain in my limbs and injured joints?

  • Contact a specialist to determine the nature of the wound;
  • provide damaged joints with adequate rest;
  • Use a cooling compress.

Diet for arthritis

Poor nutrition can not only aggravate joint conditions, but also become the main cause of many serious diseases.Therefore, during the treatment of any problems related to cartilage and connective tissue, a balanced diet should be followed.

A specific nutritional system is prescribed for each specific disease but there are also general recommendations:

  • Limit consumption of fast carbohydrates;
  • reduce salt in the diet;
  • give up spicy foods, smoked meats and canned foods;
  • Prioritize baking and stewing, avoid 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 one of the pathological conditions or a variation of the norm.During pregnancy, women's hormones change, which often negatively affects the joints.In addition, body weight increases, which inevitably increases the load on the legs.

During pregnancy, women experience pain in the joints of their legs and arms

Joints are not always able to quickly adapt to this.The third trimester of pregnancy is characterized by swelling, often affecting the feet and hands.In turn, this causes pain and a feeling of stiffness.During the first three months, you should spend more time resting so that your body can more easily adapt to changes.

After consulting with a doctor and in the absence of contraindications, special exercises or yoga for pregnant women will be very useful.A proper diet and drinking enough water will help you deal with joint discomfort.

To alleviate this condition, you should 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);
  • abandon monotonous physical work;
  • practice yoga, gymnastics or swimming (in the absence of contraindications);
  • maintain a stable psychological-emotional state;
  • Perform self-massage on your hands and knees using gentle rubbing and tapping movements.
Self-massage your knees to relieve joint pain during pregnancy

During pregnancy, it is very important to promptly pay attention to any pain, including in the joint area.Carrying a child can negatively affect the course of any pathological process, aggravate and accelerate the development of the disease.

Home treatments

The use of folk remedies is one of the good methods to help speed up the treatment process of joint diseases, reduce symptoms and alleviate the patient's condition.

Among all the home treatments, the most popular are:

  • warm compresses based on paraffin, salt, clay or potatoes;
  • lotions and rubs with alcohol infusion;
  • baths, lotions and compresses from plant decoctions;
  • compress with honey.

Depending on your goals, you can use the following procedures:

  1. To get rid of pain, the most useful remedies are those based on honey, alcohol, turpentine and beekeeping products.Even using a compress will significantly relieve the condition if the pain is moderate.
    2. Compression therapy on the knee joint to relieve pain
  2. Potato compresses are widely used to warm 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 cool completely.
  3. Alcohol-containing products have good anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.To prepare the simplest way, you just need to soak gauze in vodka and apply it overnight.
  4. To reduce swelling, it is recommended to drink drinks from cranberry and cranberry fruits, decoctions of bay leaves and cranberry leaves, as well as diuretics.

The following recipes are the safest (including during pregnancy):

  • soak your feet and hands with birch or pine leaves;
  • honey and salt compress;
  • apply internal grease in the form of ointment to the leg joints;
  • Fragrant water made from pine buds mixed with sugar.

Prevent joint diseases

As you get older, the risk of joint pain increases, so you should start prevention from a young age.

To prevent joint diseases, you should:

  • Lift weights properly, avoiding unnecessary stress on joints;
  • avoid unhealthy weight gain;
  • Eat as balanced a diet as possible, providing the body with enough calcium, magnesium, collagen, and fatty acids;
  • do not neglect physical activity, because a strong muscle corset significantly reduces the load on the joints;
  • maintain correct posture;
  • reduce sugar consumption;
  • If possible, quit bad habits (smoking and drinking alcohol);
  • take the time to properly arrange your workplace, where you won't have to strain your back and neck, tilt your head back, or lean forward;
  • Take timely breaks during professional activities, if they involve long static positions, and warm up.

The common belief that only older people have joint pain causes many people to ignore the first symptoms of serious diseases, only turning to a specialist 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 each situation only a doctor can tell you, who will quickly make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.When painful sensations appear, self-medication and traditional methods should not be immediately used, since we are talking about serious degenerative processes, which are often irreversible and lead to complications.