Joint pain is a specific unpleasant sensation that indicates a pathological process in the joint itself or the tissues around it.According to statistics, about 55% of people over 45 go to the doctor with such complaints.After 70 years, this symptom occurs in 90% of patients.Why do unpleasant feelings arise?What to do if your joints hurt too much?Which specialist should I contact for help?
Why can joints hurt?
Painful sensations in the joints are the result of irritation of the nerve endings extending from the joint capsule.Due to a sufficiently developed network of blood vessels and a good innervation network, the joint can respond to pain reactions to various irritating factors (including toxins, salt crystals).
The main causes of joint pain:
- mechanical damage (as a result of injury or operation);
- Soft tissue diseases (adhesive capsulitis, myalgia, tendinopathy);
- osteoarthritis;
- arthritis (traumatic, gout, psoriatic);
- autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis);
- Benign and malignant tumors;
- Damage to nerve trunks.
Many people associate joint pain with changing weather conditions.However, in 2016, scientists gathered at a university in Australia published a paper that completely refuted this claim.Three hundred volunteers took part in the study: each of them recorded pain for 3-4 months.It turned out that neither the occurrence of pain nor its intensity is associated with changes in atmospheric pressure or temperature changes.
Which doctor should I contact for help?
When your joints hurt badly, you should seek professional help as soon as possible.If the cause of discomfort is associated with an injury (bruise, change or fracture of various degrees), you should visit an orthopedic traumatologist.In other cases, you should seek help from a rheumatologist.To accurately determine the cause of pain and prescribe treatment, diagnostic procedures will be required:
- X-ray of the joint;
- ultrasound examination;
- MRI or CT (only if indicated);
- joint puncture (if there is fluid accumulation in the joint);
- arthroscopy.
How to reduce joint pain?
You can use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve joint discomfort.They reduce the severity of pain and relieve swelling.Anti-inflammatory ointments, creams and gels applied to the affected joint have the same effect.
Degenerative joint diseases (osteoarthrosis), chondroprotectors are indicated, which slow down the process of destruction of cartilage tissue.It is also available in the form of capsules, ointments and gels, tablets and fine injections.
Regular therapeutic exercises also have a good effect.Properly selected exercises can help you get rid of pain and stiffness, as well as restore mobility to your joints.Physiotherapy procedures can be used as additional treatment methods: massage, magnetic therapy, electrophoresis with various drugs.