If the joints of your hands and feet hurt, the most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Typically, the first symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can vary greatly among patients, but there are a number of common signs. Assessing the early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis is extremely important for healthcare professionals. Detection and early diagnosis of the symptoms of early rheumatoid arthritis makes it possible to begin timely treatment, thereby preventing the long-term consequences of the disease. Additionally, since rheumatoid arthritis can affect other organs, early in the disease, certain treatments can help maintain health throughout the body.
Early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are very similar to those of other diseases:
- Joint pain
- Stiffness in the joints, especially worse in the morning
- Diseases affect both sides of the body - symmetrically.
Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease and is the most common type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis primarily affects cartilage - the tissue or so-called cushions that frame the ends of the bones in the joint. Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage begins to wear out and deteriorate. In very extreme cases, the cartilage can wear away completely, leaving the joints in a bone-on-bone position. In some cases, bone spurs (pointed projections of bone) form along the edges of the joint. Osteoarthritis can cause joint pain, loss of movement function, and disability. Disability occurs most often when the disease affects the spine and weight-bearing joints (knees and hips).
Osteoarthritis of the fingers is hereditary. More women than men do this, especially after menopause. The phalanges of the fingers become enlarged and may become painful or numb. This type of arthrosis can be helped with medications and proper nutrition.
The knees are important weight-bearing joints. For this reason, they are more likely to suffer from osteoarthritis than others. Affected knee joints may be stiff, swollen and painful, making even the slightest movement uncomfortable. If left untreated, osteoarthritis in the knees can be disabling. Medicines, weight loss, exercise and crutches can reduce pain. However, if the pain does not go away, endoprosthetics is the only option.
The hips are also important weight-bearing joints. Osteoarthritis in the hip can cause pain, stiffness and severe disability. People may feel pain in the hips, groin, inner thigh, buttock, or knees, which can limit movement and bending. This can make even minimal activities such as walking, dressing, etc. a real challenge.
Stiffness and pain in the neck or lower back can lead to osteoarthritis of the spine. Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs are also symptoms of this disease. Some people feel better when they sleep on a firm mattress or sit with a pillow under their back, while others benefit from exercises to strengthen their back and abdominal muscles. In severe cases, surgery is required to relieve pain and restore function.
Not everyone with osteoarthritis experiences pain. However, there are some typical signs by which the first symptoms of the disease can be recognized:
- Constant or recurrent pain in the joint.
- The pain is mainly at night.
- Pain in the morning when getting out of bed.
- Swelling in one or more joints.
Today there is not a single reliable method for diagnosing osteoarthritis and a combination of the following methods is used for this:
- An x-ray will show how much damage has been done to the cartilage, bones and whether there are bone spurs.
CT: A computed tomography (CT) scan uses x-rays to take pictures of your body. A CT scan sends very narrow beams of X-rays through your body, which are collected by a camera that rotates around you. This information is transferred to a computer, which produces cross-sectional photographs of the body.
There are various treatments available to help manage pain and improve joint function. These may include exercise, rest, weight control, medications, surgery and non-traditional approaches such as acupuncture.
Research shows exercise is one of the best treatments for osteoarthritis. Exercise can improve flexibility and blood flow, provide weight control, and reduce pain. However, running and jumping are not recommended for patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis.
Treatment includes regular rest. Using a cane, crutches or a walker can reduce pain. Patients will learn to recognize warning signs so they can rest their sore joints. Splints and braces can provide additional support for weak joints. They also keep the joint in the correct position during sleep and activity.
People use a variety of methods to relieve pain, including warm towels, thermal pads, warm baths, and water treatments.
Patients who are overweight or obese should try to lose weight. Losing weight can reduce the stress on weight-bearing joints and limit further damage.
Doctors use medications to reduce pain and improve function. This takes into account a number of factors when choosing a medicine for patients, including the nature of the pain and possible side effects.
When the above methods do not eliminate the pain, you have to resort to surgery. Surgery helps reduce pain and avoid disability from osteoarthritis.
In motor processes, the heaviest load falls on the joints . Therefore, over time, they wear out, and people begin to experience discomfort when moving. What to do if the joints of your arms and legs hurt, how to treat them? A doctor will help you solve this question, but you can find the answer yourself.
Before starting treatment, you need to understand the possible causes of pain.
If you notice changes in the functioning of your joints, the appearance of pain due to stressful situations or excessive physical activity, then in this case you can cope with the problem yourself. You need a state of physical and psychological peace. After rest, the pain should disappear.
What to do if the pain is prolonged? In this case, you should consult a doctor. If you have previous injuries, genetic predisposition, inflammation, swelling, problems with excess weight, joint diseases that were previously treated with medication, you cannot do without the help of a doctor.
Treatment involves relieving external symptoms , eliminating the inflammatory process, restoring good blood flow, and resuming full secretion of joint fluid. It is necessary to restore the full functioning of the body, so an integrated approach to treatment is required.
Various forms of medications are used in treatment: gels, tablets, injections.
To influence the cause and symptoms of the disease, drugs of different groups are prescribed:
Anti-inflammatory . Help relieve pain and slow down the inflammatory process. These include:
Has a strong anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. Usually prescribed at a dose of 100 mg (1 tablet) 2 times a day. Take after meals with plenty of liquid. The maximum permissible daily dosage is 400 mg. Contraindications: pregnancy and lactation, the presence of renal and liver failure, gastrointestinal ulcers, heart failure. Packaging 20 pcs – 189 rubles; pack of 30 pcs – 209 rub.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Available in dosages of 7.5 and 15 mg. Take 1 time per day in a dosage as prescribed by the doctor. Contraindications for use: hypersensitivity to components, ulcerative bleeding, age under 16 years. Prices in Russian pharmacies: depending on the dosage, 83 – 134 rubles.
Analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent. The analgesic effect occurs within 20 minutes, so it can be used in case of acute attacks. Do not use in case of open ulcers, acute renal and heart failure; during pregnancy. The price varies from 129 – 159 rubles/pack (10 – 20 pcs).
Cytostatics . Drugs that promote remission and slow down joint destruction. It is used in very small doses compared to the treatment of cancer tumors.
Taken once a week (on the same day throughout the course). The course lasts from 6 weeks to six months to a year. Contraindications: sensitivity to the components of the drug. Price: 2.5 mg – 213 rub/50 pcs; 10 mg – 518 rub/50 pcs.
Antirheumatic base drug. Performs anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory functions. Used for acute forms of joint diseases. Contraindications: heart and liver failure. Prices in pharmacies: 3500 – 4000 rubles.
Strong corticosteroid. It is used when less powerful drugs do not give the desired effect. Contraindications: presence of infections in the body, allergic sensitivity to the drug.
Antibiotics . What to do if joint dysfunction is caused by a bacterial infection. In this case, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used for treatment. You must carefully follow the doctor's instructions, otherwise it may lead to negative consequences.
An antibiotic used in the early stages of the disease. Relieves pain, reduces inflammation and swelling. Contraindications: peptic ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract, heart failure. Price: dosage 100 mg – 905 rubles/20 pcs; 50 mg – 551 rub/20 pcs.
A drug that blocks the action of destructive enzymes in tissues, slowing down degenerative processes. Contraindicated for people with kidney disease, genitourinary system, heart failure, and liver failure. Prices in pharmacies depending on quantity: 19-32 rubles/pack.
Tablets containing fluoroquinolone, which blocks protein synthesis in bacterial cells, which helps relieve inflammation and reduce pain. Caution in use for people suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and kidneys. Available in dosages of 100 mg, 200 mg, 400 mg. Price 35 – 188 rubles.
Chondroprotectors . Drugs that promote the restoration of cartilage tissue.
Take 2 tablets per day. Made in the USA. Contains: chondroitin sulfate – 500 mg; glucosamine – 500 mg.
Country of origin: Romania. Chondroitin sulfate – 265 mg. Glucosamine – 375 mg. Take up to 4 tablets per day.
Production - India. Composition: Chondroitin sulfate – 200 mg; glucosamine – 250 mg. Take 4 capsules daily.
For pain in the joints of the limbs, intramuscular injections are also used. They are prescribed to relieve pain, spasms, and swelling.
Muscle relaxants : drugs that eliminate muscle spasms and improve blood circulation. This group includes Sirdalud, Mydocalm. Available in the form of an injection solution. Treatment is carried out strictly under the supervision of a doctor.
Vasodilators . Eliminate stagnation of blood flow in the tissues of the affected joint, relieve vascular spasm, and accelerate joint recovery. Drugs such as Trental, Teonicol, belonging to this group, are intended for intravenous administration.
Antibiotics (Monocycline, Doxycycline, Ceftriaxone) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Diclofen, Ketorol) are also available in the form of injections.
In addition to internal influence, treatment also uses external influence on the affected area. To do this, use appropriate ointments and compresses. Ointments are an effective remedy for pain in the joints of the hands, since it is then possible to fix the sore spot during activity.
Ointments . Apisatron, Ungapiven (made from bee venom), viprosal (based from snake venom), when absorbed through the surface of the skin, improve blood circulation, make ligaments more elastic, which prevents joint destruction. Voltaren-gel, Fastum, Indomethacin ointment are made on the basis of anti-inflammatory substances.
Compresses . If the joints of the arms and legs are very painful, compresses are used; their effect may have a wider range of treatment than ointments (depending on the individual reaction to the substances). For compresses use Dimexide, Bishofite, Medical bile. These substances warm the sore spot, anesthetize it, relieve inflammation, and promote the resorption of arthrosis nodes.
If the pain in the articular bone is not constant and acute, and is not a chronic disease, you can try to get rid of it yourself. Cabbage leaves will help relieve severe pain in the joints of the legs. It must be applied cold to the sore spot and held until it cools down. The procedure must be repeated several times until the pain disappears completely or partially. If your knees ache, this remedy will also be a lifesaver.
What to do if ointments and tablets do not help? You can make a compress of honey with cabbage leaves, or crushed plantain leaves.
There is an opinion that it is necessary to immobilize the sore joint. But depending on the quality and nature of the pain, moderate exercise may act as a treatment.
Exercise therapy is necessary when disorders associated with joint pain occur. Exercises strengthen the muscles that hold the joint and are responsible for the proper functioning of its motor function. Thanks to exercise, strengthened muscles slow down the process of destruction and dysfunction of the articular bone.
What to do if physical therapy causes aching pain? In this case, you should take a break and reduce the load. During an exacerbation, it is not recommended to engage in physical therapy, as it can harm the joint and cause severe pain.
For arthritis, massage of painful and near-painful areas is effective. It promotes deep muscle relaxation, normalization of blood circulation in the muscles and skin, and restoration of normal motor amplitude. Pain in the joints intensifies due to the accumulation of toxins in the joints and blood, which then crystallize and limit motor function. Massage helps accelerate the elimination of toxins, resulting in a reduction in pain.
Massages must be included in the course of treatment. The number of sessions depends on the complexity, duration and severity of the disease. If a chronic form is observed, preventive massage courses should be carried out during periods of remission. Be prepared to experience significant pain during this massage. A medical massage should be deep and relax the muscles well. It is better to entrust this procedure to a specialist, and not to self-medicate, which can lead to negative, irreversible consequences.
If the joints of the arms and legs hurt, complex treatment is prescribed, which includes physiotherapy. This is a series of procedures prescribed by a doctor to completely eliminate pain in the affected area. These procedures make it possible in various ways to penetrate deeply into the tissues and muscles around the joint, warm them up, and relieve pain. Physiotherapy includes the following procedures:
Some of them have side effects and contraindications for use, so the doctor should prescribe the procedure after an appropriate examination. Physiotherapy is an external influence on the affected joints. Usually, intramuscular injections, medications, and exercise therapy are used together with it.
Artiritis - the general name for joint disease - can be of different types, so the diet for each is selected individually. It is also necessary to take into account the individual intolerance of certain products by the organs of the digestive system. Therefore, the doctor must prescribe a diet strictly in accordance with the personal characteristics of each patient.
Meanwhile, there are general rules for eating food for pain in the joints of the arms and legs. You should avoid eating heavy meat products, limit the consumption of coffee, chocolate, flour products and sweets (as they contribute to weight gain, which negatively affects the joints), and reduce the consumption of potatoes, cereals, and corn. Drinking alcohol for joint pain is contraindicated.
The diet should include foods rich in vitamins A, C, E, zinc, iron, selenium, and copper. These minerals help restore cartilage tissue and reduce pain. It is recommended to consume flax seeds and wheat germ (contain a high amount of vegetable protein).