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My joints in my arms and legs hurt.What to do, which doctor to go to?Causes, symptoms, treatment.

Painful sensations in the joint area are a common reason for visiting the 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);
  • drop;
  • 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 before this diagnosis was mainly given only to people over 30 years of age, today it is also faced by quite young people.

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 leg joints, walking becomes uncomfortable and gait changes.The skin turns red, the muscles begin to break down, and the body temperature may increase slightly.

After sleeping, 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 types of infectious diseases.

When affected by arthritis, complete destruction of the articular cartilage occurs, accompanied by severe pain.Pain in your toes may radiate to your kneecaps or groin area.The most reliable way to diagnose any form of arthritis is by x-ray.

The following methods are distinguished to treat this disease:

  1. Antibiotics.It is prescribed to identify 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 physiotherapy, physiotherapy and massage.

drop

Gout most commonly 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. My joints in my 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 appear 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 affected joint area.
  5. Swelling of varying degrees of severity.
  6. The appearance of tophi, "nodules" under the skin, consisting of urates.

The following factors can influence the appearance 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 a sample of synovial fluid needs to be taken.

The main treatment measure is to follow a strict diet, which involves avoiding fatty meats and fish, offal, broths, preserves, sausages, salt and spices.The consumption of coffee, tea and cocoa is limited to the maximum and alcoholic beverages are completely excluded.Without following the diet prescribed by the doctor, a 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 process of their elimination and have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.Compresses, lotions and wraps are also used.

osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a serious condition that causes inflammation and swelling.As it progresses, it causes severe impairment of mobility and irreversible degradation of the joint.The first signs of the disease are expressed in numbness of the fingers and a strong, unusual 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 stronger.In most cases, osteoarthritis affects several 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 hormonal levels, which cause fluid retention in the body;
  • atherosclerosis of the extremities;
  • gout and other diseases associated with metabolic disorders;
  • diabetes mellitus;
  • influence of streptococci and staphylococci;
  • caries.

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

The joints of his arms and legs hurt;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 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.

In this situation, modern and classical manual therapy methods will help.Visible results can be achieved in just a few sessions, but achieving long-term remission is possible only 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 causes 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 right away if symptoms appear.It is currently unknown why psoriasis occurs, but doctors suggest that hereditary factors and negative environmental influences may 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 usually 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 pain.

Then there is a rapid increase in body temperature, the pain is clearly localized in the affected area and intensifies with each movement.In addition, 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 will not be able to be saved.

Treatment is carried out with antibiotics, which are selected according to the bacteria detected.Surgical therapy is widely used.

Osteophytes

Osteophytes are growths that develop when the nutrient supply to the articular cartilage is interrupted.

Its presence can be detected by the following signs:

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

Depending on the stage, treatment may be conservative or involve surgical intervention.Drug 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 commonly in the shoulder joints, but also 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.

My joints in my arms and legs hurt, what to do with bursitis:

  • rest mode is provided;
  • antibiotics or corticosteroids are prescribed;
  • compresses are made;
  • Analgesics and anti-inflammatories are used.

In some cases, surgery is necessary.

flat feet

Flat feet can cause 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 the following:

  • difficult to balance on heels;
  • shoes wear out only on one side;
  • when walking and standing, the legs tire quickly;
  • at the end of the day, the feet become swollen and heavy;
  • leg cramps;
  • back pain appears;
  • Old shoes become too small.

The disease can be diagnosed using X-ray. 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 massages and physiotherapy are carried out.If the problem is severe, 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 series of studies are used, including computed tomography, x-ray, MRI and ultrasound.The main symptoms are pain, swelling and movement restrictions.

Physical therapy can help relieve leg joint pain after an injury.

My joints in my 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 diet 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 problem 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 foods;
  • 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 one of the pathological conditions or a variant of the norm.When having a child, a woman's hormonal background changes, 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, most often affecting 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 adapt more easily to the changes.

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 high-quality, comfortable 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;
  • do yoga, gymnastics or swimming (in the absence of contraindications);
  • maintain a stable psycho-emotional state;
  • Perform a self-massage of your hands and knees with gentle rubbing and patting movements.
Knee self-massage for joint pain during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, it is very important to pay immediate attention to any pain, even in the joint area.Having 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.

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

  • hot compresses based on paraffin, salt, clay or potatoes;
  • alcohol-infused lotions and rubs;
  • baths, lotions and compresses from plant decoctions;
  • compresses with honey.

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

  1. To relieve pain, the most useful remedies are those based on honey, alcohol, turpentine and bee products.Even a single use of a compress significantly relieves 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 completely cooled.
  3. Alcohol-based products have good anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.To prepare the simplest of them, just soak a piece of gauze in vodka and apply it as a compress overnight.
  4. To relieve bloating, it is recommended to drink lingonberry and cranberry fruit drinks, decoctions of bay leaves and lingonberry, 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 based on pine buds with sugar.

Prevention of joint diseases.

With age, the risk of suffering from joint pain increases, so it is recommended to start prevention at an early 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 and fatty acids;
  • do not neglect physical activity, since 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 the time to properly organize the workplace, where you will not have to strain your back and neck, tilt your head back or lean forward;
  • take timely breaks during professional activities, if they involve a prolonged static position, and warm up.

The common myth that only older people can suffer joint injuries leads many people to ignore the first symptoms of serious illnesses and seek specialist advice only as a last resort.In fact, many diseases can affect very young people.

Even arthritis, considered for many years an age-related problem, increasingly affects 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 appropriate 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 entail complications.