Pain in the joints of the legs

Joint pain in the legs occurs with joint diseases. The most common are gout, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthrosis. There are also other diseases, but they are much rarer. In osteoarthrosis and rheumatoid arthritis, doctors establish a diagnosis based on X-ray images, changes in tests and fairly characteristic symptoms of these ailments. For example, rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by symmetrical joint damage (in other words, the same joints on both limbs), often ankle joints and foot joints, with signs of inflammation (swelling, redness, limited mobility in the joints).

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Diseases that cause pain in the joints of the legs

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Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis can affect both young children and adults. Often, this disease affects the joints of the hands. With osteoarthritis, pain is mainly felt in the knee and hip joints, while signs of inflammation are usually absent. Moreover, this disease almost always accompanies people of mature and old age, although hereditary or familial types of osteoarthritis can occur, when young people, teenagers and even children get sick. For osteoarthritis, joint pain that occurs after physical activity, closer to the end of the day, is more typical, whereas with rheumatoid arthritis, the pain syndrome, as a rule, decreases slightly after physical activity.

The joints that are bothersome in rheumatoid arthritis are the phalanges of the fingers, as well as the temporal, ankle, and wrist joints.

The nature of pain. The pain syndrome is usually of medium intensity, the joints can become red and swell, while symmetry is observed on both sides and at least 2 groups (for example, temporal and ankle). In the morning, some stiffness may bother for several hours, there is a need to "walk around". Pain in the joints of the legs can manifest itself both periodically and constantly.

What to do. See a doctor immediately. Although rheumatoid arthritis cannot be cured completely, changes in the joints can be stopped in a timely manner with the help of anti-inflammatory drugs or surgical intervention (synovectomy).

It should be noted that with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee joints, creaking and clicking sounds are observed, which you can feel when moving. In any case, you need to consult a specialist, since rheumatoid arthritis is an insidious disease: it can not only lead to complete immobilization of the joint, but also affect the internal organs. Therefore, you need to start treatment as early as possible.

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Osteoarthritis

With osteoarthritis, the ankle, knee and hip joints are most affected.

The nature of the pain. The pain is usually dull, usually bothers during the day, may increase during movement, physical activity, after prolonged standing. It decreases significantly in the morning and after rest. Sometimes there may be crunching and clicking in the joints. Pain in the joints of the legs can bother for a long time (from several weeks to several months) and for a short period - up to 1 day.

What to do. Medicines are required in rare cases. In most cases, massage sessions, physiotherapy, swimming, mud therapy are sufficient.

Gout

Gout, which has also received the unofficial name "meat-eaters' disease", appears due to deposits in the joints of crystals of a substance that is formed during the exchange of purines - substances, the capacity of which is especially large in meat and products made from it. If this exchange is disrupted, gout begins to develop. Most often, mature men get sick. The pain is acute, sometimes it is simply unbearable, it usually begins suddenly. Often the joint that is located at the base of the big toe is affected. The joint swells, acquires a purple-red hue. This disease can be cured, first of all, by following a diet that limits meat consumption. There are also medications that normalize purine metabolism.

Gout mainly affects the joints of the feet (metatarsals) and wrists, as well as the joints of the phalanges of the fingers (in particular the big toe), knees, ankles, and elbows.

The nature of the pain. Very strong burning, pressing, pulsating or tearing pain. The maximum intensity of pain is observed at night, it usually decreases by the morning. An attack can be provoked by drinking alcohol, eating a lot of meat and fatty foods, visiting a bathhouse. Attacks can recur on average 2-6 times a year and last for 3-4 days.

What to do. To relieve an attack of gout, analgesics are needed (they can be prescribed by a doctor). In the future, it is necessary to adhere to a strict diet, limiting the consumption of such products as meat, fish, fatty foods and alcohol, and, on the recommendation of a doctor, undergo treatment courses with medications that reduce the level of uric acid in the blood.

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Rheumatism

This disease occurs as a result of an acute upper respiratory tract infection. The typical form of rheumatism manifests itself with fever and joint pain. As a rule, large joints are affected: wrist, elbow, ankle, knee.

Joint pain in the legs is fleeting, moving from one joint to another. The affected joint may be surrounded by slight redness and swelling, but no irreversible changes occur. With prolonged disease, so-called rheumatic nodules may appear around the joint. They look like dense, lentil-sized formations. They usually appear in areas that are subject to pressure: elbows, wrists, forearms, knees. A child suffering from rheumatism may develop rashes on the skin: pale reddish, curved or ring-like spots, narrow stripes. As the disease progresses, if left untreated, severe heart disease may develop.

If you experience pain in the joints of your legs, it is advisable to immediately consult a rheumatologist who will make a correct diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.