Joint pain

Joint pain is the most painful manifestation of musculoskeletal diseases. According to the most modest statistics, about 30% of the entire population of the planet suffers from this pathology.

Joint diseases become especially relevant with increasing life expectancy: according to epidemiological studies, joint pathology is detected in 50% of cases in citizens over 40 years old, and in 90% of the entire population after 70 years. In this regard, the World Health Organization declared the first decade of the 21st century the decade of combating musculoskeletal diseases. If measures are not taken in a timely manner, joint pain becomes a daily torture for a person, when even basic movements are difficult, and an active lifestyle is out of the question.

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Diseases that cause joint pain

In order to correctly understand the signals that the body sends and avoid serious consequences, it is necessary, first of all, to understand in detail the causes of joint pain - only then can you follow the prescribed correct course of treatment and thereby avoid many complications.

A joint is a movable part of a limb where two bones meet. The latter are held in place by ligaments (strong tissue bands) and moved by muscles and tendons (the latter attach the muscle to the bone). Pain in any of these parts is characterized as joint pain.

Arthritis is an inflammatory process in one or more joints or in the tendons and ligaments that make them up (connective tissue). The presence of inflammation is indicated by signs: swelling of the joint, limited movement, fever, pain, and redness. More than 100 pathological conditions, such as infections and changes in blood composition, contribute to the development of arthritis.

If only one joint is affected, it is monoarthritis, 2-3 joints are oligoarthritis, more than three are polyarthritis. Joint pain with bacterial damage is not associated with physical activity: it occurs even if a person is at physical rest and significantly increases with movement. At the same time, swelling and redness of the skin around the joint appear, stiffness - especially in the morning, changes in the outline and shape of the joint are observed, caused by inflammation in the joint tissues, damage to the bone-cartilaginous surface of the joint and accumulation of fluid in its cavity. General symptoms also appear, for example, general weakness, fatigue, fever, headache, irritability.

Arthritis is a catch-all term used to describe joint inflammation – but it is not a diagnosis. As of today, scientists have identified about 100 different types of arthritis. A correctly determined diagnosis is the key to correct treatment, so the issue of diagnosis is of the utmost importance.

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Causes of joint pain

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Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease, the most common type of arthritis. With age, the formerly elastic cartilage, which should protect the joints from various types of injuries and damage, becomes hard, more vulnerable, and loses elasticity. Cartilage wears away, tendons and ligaments stretch, which provokes the occurrence of joint pain. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint, most often these are the joints of the fingers, hips, knees, and spine. Symptoms of osteoarthritis are joint pain, bone bumps on the joints of the fingers. Painkillers and dietary supplements (chondroitin, aminoglucose) can relieve pain. It may be necessary to make certain adjustments to a person's lifestyle, for example, to lose weight, which will help reduce the load on the joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis

This type of arthritis differs significantly from degenerative joint disease. The inflammatory process in the joints occurs in both parts of the body - this is the same symmetry that provides significant assistance in diagnosing this type of disease. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis also include joint pain, immobility, and weakness in the joints. A number of scientists believe that bacteria and viruses can affect the immune system, forcing it to attack the joints and other organs. Rheumatoid arthritis is a rather dangerous disease that can cause death. The key to successful treatment of this disease is early diagnosis and intensive care. These two components can reduce the threat of disability and prolong life.

Temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica

Temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica are inflammatory diseases that often occur together. Polymyalgia rheumatica affects large joints, such as the shoulder and hip joints. Temporal arteritis is an inflammatory process in the blood vessels of the head, in particular, in the vessels of the eyes. Both diseases are provoked by an attack of the immune system aimed at healthy tissue. Joint pain and stiffness in the hip and shoulder joints, high fever, weight loss, weakness are symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica. Often, the only symptom is extreme weakness that does not allow a person to get up from a chair or raise his hand to the face. The most common symptom of temporal arteritis is an acute headache. Untimely treatment of temporal arteritis threatens irreversible blindness, stroke, which turns into ischemic attacks. The cause of these diseases has not yet been identified, but experts have found that they are often observed in people born in Scandinavia and Northern European countries. The most important thing is to make the correct diagnosis, since the subsequent course of treatment is unambiguous (steroid, prednisone). Most people do not even know about this type of arthritis, which once again indicates the need to consult a doctor.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease that is accompanied by joint pain and sensitivity in many points on the body, as well as insomnia and weakness. The cause of this disease has not yet been determined, but it has absolutely nothing to do with injuries to muscles, joints and nerves. According to one theory, the disease is associated with excessive sensitivity of nerve cells in both the brain and spinal cord. According to another theory, fibromyalgia can be provoked by an imbalance of chemicals in the body that are responsible for the perception of pain and mood. The imbalance is probably the cause of insomnia, weakness, decreased activity, sensitivity and joint pain. Fibromyalgia is not completely cured. The main goal of treatment is to overcome symptoms such as pain, weakness, depression, decreased activity and others that prevent patients from leading their usual lifestyle. To improve the quality of sleep, the doctor prescribes small doses of an antidepressant to be taken immediately before bedtime. Other types of sleeping pills do not have a significant effect on fibromyalgia. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (naproxen, ibuprofen) relieve joint pain, but their use over a long period of time is allowed only under the supervision of a specialist.

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Depression

A bad mood is not the only symptom of depression. Signs can also be expressed physically, for example, unexplained joint pain. The most common symptoms of depression are frequent headaches, stomach pain, and back pain. Such physical symptoms can be triggered by depression and last much longer than emotional symptoms. Some doctors believe that such symptoms indicate fibromyalgia. The fact is that depression and fibromyalgia are clearly connected. Depression increases a person’s threshold of sensitivity to pain. It is very important for a person to seek qualified help in a timely manner. First of all, you need to contact your family doctor, who will analyze your symptoms and tell you which specialist you should contact.

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