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

Painful sensations in the joint area are a common reason for visiting a doctor.What to do if the joints of your arms and legs 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 in the joints of the hands

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 given mainly 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 of the legs, walking becomes uncomfortable and the gait changes.The skin turns red, muscles begin to degrade, and 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:

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

When affected by 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 with radiography.

The following methods of treating this disease are distinguished:

  1. Antibiotics.Prescribed when identifying infectious tissue lesions and help restore joints.
  2. Ointments and gelsto relieve swelling, relieve pain and reduce redness.
  3. Dietary 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 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. 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 sharp, paroxysmal pain in the fingers.Most often they manifest themselves 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. Deterioration of general condition.
  4. Increased temperature in the area of the affected joint.
  5. Swelling of varying degrees of severity.
  6. The appearance of tophi - “nodules” under the skin, which consist of urates.

The following factors may influence the occurrence 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 examined, and sometimes it is necessary to take a sample of synovial fluid.

The main treatment measure is to follow a strict diet, which involves avoiding fatty fish and meats, 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, a 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 wraps are also used.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a serious condition that causes inflammation and swelling.As it progresses, it leads to serious 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, strong feeling of fatigue.

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 several joints at once.The problem can be diagnosed using x-rays.

The following factors can influence the development of the disease:

  • changes in hormonal levels, leading to fluid retention in the body;
  • atherosclerosis of the extremities;
  • gout and other diseases associated with metabolic disorders;
  • diabetes mellitus;
  • influence of streptococcus and staphylococcus;
  • caries.

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

The joints of the arms and legs hurt; only a specialist can answer what to do with 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 lotions can provide an anti-inflammatory effect and slightly relieve pain.

Manual therapy for joint pain caused by osteoarthritis

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

Psoriasis

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

Psoriatic arthritis can start suddenly or develop gradually, so it is important to tell your doctor promptly if symptoms appear.At the moment, it is unknown why psoriasis occurs, but doctors suggest that hereditary factors and negative environmental influences can influence its development.

People with psoriasis are susceptible to psoriatic arthritis

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, surgical intervention is resorted to.

Osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis is a purulent-inflammatory process in the bone marrow, periosteum and bone.Its development is most 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 a person with general weakness of the body, aches in the joints, and muscle soreness.

Then a rapid increase in body temperature occurs, the pain is clearly localized in the affected area, intensifying with every movement.Next, 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 using antibiotics, which are selected in accordance with 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:

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

Depending on the stage, treatment can be either conservative or involve surgical intervention.Drug therapy involves the prescription of NSAIDs, chondroprotectors, as well as agents that stimulate improved 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 bursae located near the joints.It most often occurs 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 it appears for no apparent reason.

The joints of the arms and legs hurt, what to do with bursitis:

  • rest 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 lead to pain in the joints of the legs.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 as follows:

  • difficult to balance in heels;
  • shoes wear down only on one side;
  • when walking and standing, your legs get tired quickly;
  • by the end of the day, the feet swell and become heavy;
  • legs cramp;
  • 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 early stages, physical education, therapeutic massage, and physiotherapy are performed.If the problem is severe, special shoes are prescribed that model the correct arch of the foot.

Injury

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 restrictions in movement.

Physiotherapy can help relieve pain in your leg joints after an injury.

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 proper rest;
  • use a cooling compress.

Diet for joint diseases

Poor nutrition can not only aggravate 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, it is recommended to follow a balanced diet.

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 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 either one of the pathological conditions or 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.

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

Joints are not always able to quickly adapt to this.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 resting so that the body can more easily adapt to changes.

After consultation with 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 discomfort in your joints.

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 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;
  • Perform self-massage of hands and knees with soft rubbing and patting movements.
Self-massage of the knees for 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, aggravating it and accelerating the development of the disease.

Home treatment methods

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

  • warming compresses based on paraffin, salt, clay or potatoes;
  • lotions and rubbing with alcohol infusions;
  • baths, lotions and compresses from plant decoctions;
  • compresses using honey.

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

  1. To get rid of pain, the most useful remedies are those based on honey, alcohol, turpentine, and beekeeping products.Even a single use of a compress significantly alleviates the condition if the pain is moderate.
    2. Therapeutic compress 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 film and wrapped in a scarf.The compress is kept until the potatoes have cooled completely.
  3. Alcohol-based products have good anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.To prepare the simplest of them, just soak gauze in vodka and apply it as a compress overnight.
  4. To relieve swelling, it is recommended to drink lingonberry and cranberry fruit drinks, decoctions of bay leaves and lingonberry 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;
  • compresses of honey and salt;
  • applying 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

With age, the risk of joint pain increases, so it is recommended to start prevention at a young age.

To prevent joint diseases it is recommended:

  • lift weights correctly, avoiding unnecessary stress 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, as a strong muscle corset significantly reduces the load on the joints;
  • maintain correct posture;
  • reduce the amount of sugar consumed;
  • if possible, get rid of bad habits (smoking and drinking alcohol);
  • take time to properly organize the workplace, where you won’t have to strain your back and neck, throw your head back, or lean forward;
  • take timely breaks during professional activities, if they involve a long static position, and do a warm-up.

The common myth that only older people can hurt joints leads to many people ignoring the first symptoms of serious diseases, turning to a specialist only as a last resort.In fact, many of the 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 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 we are talking about serious degenerative processes, which are often irreversible and lead to complications.