In the past, the role of infection in rheumatic diseases was given much more importance than it is today. At the beginning of this century, the cause of rheumatoid arthritis was considered to be a tuberculosis infection, and a kind of result of such findings was treatment with gold salts, which in some cases successfully neutralize tuberculosis bacteria. Later it turned out that tuberculosis had nothing to do with rheumatoid arthritis, and the cause of rheumatic diseases began to be considered infectious foci in the teeth, tonsils or cecum. The favorite treatment for all rheumatic diseases was the removal of infected teeth. Currently, the treatment of foci of infection in the teeth and tonsils is considered more of a general hygienic requirement than of having therapeutic value.
The infection can behave in relation to the joints in different ways:
1. The infection penetrates directly into the joint tissues and cavities, bacteria multiply there and often cause great harm.
2. The infection penetrates into places remote from the joint - the ureters, digestive organs, nasopharynx and tonsils. After the healing of these organs, after some time, arthritis and other extra-articular symptoms of the disease occur as a reaction to this infection. It is not possible to detect bacteria in the joint itself, and in this case their disease is a kind of secondary protective reaction to the presence of microorganisms in foci outside the joints.
3. After suffering from the flu, in the initial stages of viral hepatitis (infectious inflammation of the liver) or infectious mononucleosis, harmless joint pain or fleeting arthritis may appear.
Infectious arthritis in the truest sense of the word is caused by microorganisms entering the joint from nearby tissues (for example, from infected bone tissue after an injury) or from the blood. Pathogenic agents can enter the joint from foci of infection, most often located in the skin or subcutaneous fat layer. Infectious arthritis is caused by a rather dangerous Staphylococcus aureus or some types of streptococci. Depending on the frequency of manifestations of sexually transmitted diseases, primarily gonorrhea, gonorrheal inflammation of the joints (gonococcal in nature) can also be observed. All this is caused by bacteria, resulting in a very intense protective reaction of the body to the inflammatory process with an influx of hundreds of millions of leukocytes into the joint. These, through the same process as rheumatoid arthritis, release enzymes that can destroy the joint in a few days. Fortunately, this is prevented by numerous protective mechanisms and timely treatment. Certain diseases such as diabetes mellitus and general fatigue of the body in bedridden people predispose the infection carrier to the joint. Joint infections have been reported among drug addicts, in whom an infection caused by an unsterile syringe is associated with a general weakening of the body. Infectious arthritis must be detected as early as possible, since only timely initiation of antibiotic treatment can stop serious changes in the joints.
A special type of joint infection is tuberculous arthritis. It was more common in times when tuberculosis was incurable. This disease occurs in people suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis. From the lungs, the tuberculosis bacillus (mycobacterium) can penetrate other organs, including the joints. Usually one or two joints are affected, and it can be very difficult to recognize joint tuberculosis. The large joints most commonly affected are the knee, hip, elbow or wrist. Arthritis develops gradually and can be difficult to distinguish from rheumatoid arthritis. After making a diagnosis of arthritis, it is very important to take samples of joint tissue - laboratory tests can reveal signs of the development of tuberculosis and tuberculosis bacteria in them. Sometimes they can be found in synovial fluid.
The curability of infectious arthritis, both purulent and tuberculous, today, with a large selection of antibacterial agents, is quite high, but treatment should be started on time. It should be intense, with drugs administered directly into the joint.
More often than these directly infectious arthritis, so-called reactive arthritis occurs - reactive because they are a reaction to an extra-articular infection and occur only some time after the source of infection has subsided. These include rheumatic fever, the so-called Reiter's syndrome, Lyme borreliosis, etc.
The most unstudied disease from a number of reactive arthritis is rheumatic fever. In the past, it was quite common, especially in areas with weak socio-economic development, where poverty coexisted with overpopulation. In 1925-1950 Rheumatic fever was one of the most common causes of death in children and adolescents, and a leading cause of heart disease in people under 40 years of age. Gradually, the number of cases of rheumatic fever decreased, and at the same time the mortality rate decreased. The number of people with heart muscle damage also decreased. The decrease in the incidence of rheumatic fever was caused by a number of reasons - an improvement in the quality of life, the widespread use of antibiotics for the treatment and prevention of streptococcal infections, and perhaps the streptococcus itself has changed, which has become less aggressive and has lost its ability to cause rheumatic fever. In a number of countries in Asia and Africa, the problem of rheumatic fever still exists. The cause of this disease is infection of the nasopharynx with b-hemolytic streptococcus group A (the word hemolytic means that it can destroy red blood cells). This streptococcus contains a number of protein and non-protein compounds that cause the formation of specific protective antibodies that neutralize its effect. Streptococcus produces a number of toxic substances that damage body tissues - these include the so-called streptolysin O (streptolysin is the cause of the destruction of red blood cells). To counteract this streptolysin, specific antibodies are also formed, called antistreptolysin O - abbreviated ASLO (these antibodies are used in diagnosis, since their presence in the blood indicates a streptococcal infection).
Streptococcus enters the tissue of the lymphoid ring of the pharynx (tonsils), causes a sore throat and releases toxic products - toxins. The body defends itself and produces protective antibodies to fight. After this, something interesting begins to happen. Due to a certain biological and chemical similarity of some of the constituent elements of the body of streptococcus and the connective tissue of the heart and joints, a kind of cross-reaction occurs, and antibodies designed to fight streptococcus begin to attack the tissue in which this microbe has settled. Here we can see an example of an autoimmune disease. A certain mystery is the fact that in the majority of the population, streptococcal infection of the nasopharynx passes as an uncomplicated disease, and in a minority, after some time, signs of rheumatic fever develop. Obviously, here we have an example of a certain predisposition, which, fortunately, is characteristic only of a small part of our population. Thus, with rheumatic fever, events occur in the following sequence: a sore throat, which quickly passes, after which a few days or weeks later a disease occurs with high fever, sweating, inflammation of one or more, usually large ones (knee, ankle, elbow, wrist) joints. Arthritis has a wandering nature and moves from one joint to another. Joint pain is sometimes very severe. These pains can be quite successfully treated with a number of antirheumatic drugs, and therefore have never been considered a serious disease. Another thing is heart complications. Rheumatic inflammation affects the heart muscle, the inner lining of the heart and the heart sac (pericardium). Signs of heart damage can sometimes be subtle, and only an experienced doctor can recognize them in time. The inflammatory process in the tissues of the heart does not respond to the administration of drugs as well as in the joints, in addition, it can be repeated and reappear. The result can be defects in the heart valves. The valves can grow together, causing them to become narrowed (stenosis), or due to the proliferation of connective tissue, the valve stops closing completely (insufficiency). Both of these types of heart valve lesions can significantly affect the functioning of the cardiovascular system over several years.
In addition to the heart and joints, this disease also affects the skin (the appearance of a reddish rash), and sometimes the central nervous system is affected, which is manifested by the so-called dance of St. Vitus (trochea). In this case, the muscles contract uncontrollably and uncoordinated, and sometimes chorea manifests itself only in the form of restlessness and nervousness of the child at school or uncontrollable grimaces.
Laboratory tests play an important role in the diagnosis of rheumatic fever. First of all, we are talking about the sedimentation of red blood cells, the number of which increases significantly in the initial stages. The tests are carried out in such a way that the patient's venous blood is mixed with an anticoagulation solution to prevent it from clotting, after which the blood is poured into a vertically installed glass tube. After an hour and after two hours, the sedimentation of red blood cells in the uncoagulated blood plasma is calculated. Normally, a few millimeters of pure plasma is formed from the blood cells at the top of the dark column. Due to changes in blood proteins in the presence of an inflammatory process, this figure increases to several tens of millimeters (maximum - 100-120 mm in 1 hour). The sedimentation of red blood cells tells us how intense the inflammatory process is in the body. In the future, the already mentioned antistreptolysin antibodies are analyzed.
Rheumatic fever should be treated promptly and vigorously. The basis of the treatment program is bed rest, especially if the heart has been affected. Bed rest may not be so strict if test results (erythrocyte sedimentation) improve and depending on the degree of heart damage. With rheumatic fever, which is not accompanied by complications, the recovery process is rapid, although it may take up to two months for the manifestations of this disease to completely disappear. Heart complications also cause longer-term disability.
Among the medications used in treatment, increased doses of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) are used, which are prescribed by a doctor or non-steroidal antirheumatic drugs in the appropriate dosage (see the section on pharmacotherapy of rheumatic diseases). If we are talking only about the articular form of rheumatic fever, such treatment may be sufficient. If there are signs of heart complications, it is necessary to take corticosteroids in higher dosages, which is also determined by the doctor. This treatment should continue until signs of recovery appear. After this, the doses of corticosteroids taken are reduced, and therapy ends only after the manifestations of this disease have completely disappeared. For some time, backup drug therapy is used. At the beginning of the treatment of rheumatic fever, penicillin is also used to remove living and “harmful” streptococci from the body, and if the patient does not tolerate it well, it can be replaced with another antibiotic.
Patients whose disease has left traces of heart damage are given preventive treatment with penicillin for several years. In this case, we are talking about either taking small doses daily, or taking a long-acting dosage of penicillin once every few weeks. It is important to carefully treat each sore throat with antibiotics.
In conclusion, an important circumstance should be pointed out. Although, thanks to all the above factors, rheumatic fever was virtually eliminated by the 1970s and doctors gradually began to forget about it, since 1986 there have been reports of a beginning increase in incidence in the United States. We are talking about diseases of children living in families with a good quality of life and in healthy rural areas. In addition, as already happened during the Second World War, young recruits get sick. It turns out that the social factor is not decisive for defeating rheumatic fever. Scientists who immediately undertook research on streptococci from the nasopharynx and tonsils of patients discovered that this streptococcus had changed, and now the disease was caused by a new, modified type of this microorganism.
The next reactive arthritis, but of a slightly different kind, is Reiter's disease (or syndrome). We talked about its discovery in the introductory section. It develops after some acute infections of the genitourinary organs or intestines. In the first case, we are talking about both an infection acquired through casual sexual intercourse, and a banal disease of the genitourinary organs, as well as an exacerbation of a chronic infection. A specific parasite called chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) was discovered in the cells of the urethra. But this is not the microorganism that causes gonorrhea. Just as with ankylosing spondylitis, a large percentage of patients (about 70) are predisposed to this disease due to the presence of the B27 transplantation antigen on the surface of their cells (see section on ankylosing spondylitis). Considering that with Reiter's disease inflammation of the hip joints is often observed, this disease is sometimes classified as a spinal disease - spondyloarthritis.
The first symptoms of the disease are arthritis, most often of the ankle or knee joints. They appear 1-3 weeks after infection of the urethra. Sometimes the patient may only vaguely remember a burning sensation during urination or frequent urination, which some time ago bothered him a little. Often, along with the joints, the patient has pain in the sacral spine or pain in the heel area (the junction of the tendon and the heel bone). Less commonly, the mucous membrane of the eye becomes inflamed (conjunctivitis), and a scaly rash may appear on the skin of the feet. This disease does not last long; only in exceptional cases can it last for several months. In the initial period, it responds well to treatment with antibiotics; later, non-steroidal antirheumatic drugs and treatment with sulfasalazine are needed to relieve pain (see the section on pharmacotherapy of rheumatic diseases).
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) can also have an impact on joints. The virus that causes this disease attacks human lymphocytes, which are involved in the body's defense against infection, and impairs their normal functioning. Thus, in those infected with it, access to the body of infection is facilitated and the likelihood of developing tumor diseases increases. Infectious arthritis secondary to bacteria may occur in the joints and bones of patients. Sometimes symptoms characteristic of Reiter's syndrome and spinal injuries may develop.
A special type of arthritis, which has much in common with infectious and reactive arthritis, is Lyme borreliosis. This is a complex disease that affects, in addition to joints, the skin, heart and nervous system. As for its joint manifestations, it resembles the symptoms of infectious arthritis, since the tissues are affected by bacteria. On the other hand, this disease is also of the nature of reactive arthritis, since the disease, especially in the joints, appears only a few months after infection.
The discovery of Lyme borreliosis occurred in the United States in 1975, when a small “epidemic” of arthritis arose among children in the town of Old Lyme in Connecticut. Two American rheumatologists Star and Malavista, as a result of careful research, discovered that in this case we are talking about infection with an unknown spiral-shaped microorganism, which was later, in 1982, identified by the microbiologist of the US National Institute of Medicine Burgdorfer and named it Borrelia Burgdorferi ). In the following years, cases of Lyme borreliosis were observed in all areas of the United States and in many countries in Europe and Asia.
The first signs of the disease appear on the skin; at the site of infection (after a tick bite), red spots appear, which increase in size and gradually fade in the center. The skin can also be affected in later stages of Lyme borreliosis in the form of inflammatory processes and simultaneous thinning (atrophy).
After the discovery of each new disease, scientists sought to find out whether this disease had already been described previously in the literature. It turned out that in Europe these skin manifestations had been known for more than 100 years, and when penicillin was invented, some doctors tried to treat them purely intuitively with penicillin (this was brilliant, since the bacteria were sensitive to this antibiotic). Thus, we can talk about the “rediscovery of an old disease”, but, of course, this time with an explanation of its cause and the introduction of new treatment methods.
The bacteria that causes Lyme borreliosis is transmitted primarily by ticks. The risk of contracting borreliosis is proportional to the level of tick infestation in a given area. In the Czech Republic this level is quite high - about 30%, while in Slovakia it is 9%. This tick overwinters in the ground, and from May to August lives in the grass and bushes. From there it gets to its “master”, which can be different types of animals, as well as humans. The likelihood of disease increases with the number of ticks attached and the time they remain on the skin. The most dangerous are the so-called nymphs, which represent one of the stages of tick development (the transitional stage between the larva and the adult tick).
This disease goes through three stages. At the initial stage, it manifests itself (about a month after the tick bite) in the form of skin rashes, vague flu-like conditions, fatigue, loss of appetite, and mild pain in muscles and joints. After another 2-3 months, symptoms of nervous diseases may appear in the form of irritation of the lining of the brain, poliomyelitis and disorders of the nervous system - from lability to neurosis. This includes heart damage and joint inflammation. Joint inflammation may appear several years after infection. In most cases, the inflammation goes away, but sometimes it becomes chronic. In the final stage, chronic, atrophic skin changes appear, most often on the lower extremities. Diagnosis of this disease consists of identifying specific antibodies, the action of which in the initial stage is often not very reliable. Later, without proof of the presence of antibodies, the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis can no longer be confirmed.
The discovery of Lyme borreliosis attracted much attention from doctors, and its high incidence in the Czech Republic (up to several thousand patients) caused certain concerns. Since Lyme borreliosis has a very variable and diverse nature, a number of disorders have begun to be explained by the presence of this particular disease. The situation is complicated by the relatively high presence of antibodies against Borrelia among residents of the Czech Republic, which is due to their relatively frequent contacts with the carrier of this disease. Only a small percentage of them get sick.
Early treatment with antibiotics can cure the disease and prevent it from progressing to further stages. Antibiotics of the penicillin and tetracycline groups are used, sometimes in significant doses. Later stages are less responsive to treatment, and therefore large doses of antibiotics are injected directly into a vein, and sometimes the most modern cephalosporin antibiotics are used.
It is still not very clear how Borrelia causes such a complex disease. In the initial stages they are present alive in tissues, and later die under the influence of antibiotics. Dead borrelia cause cross-type immune reactions. This means that antibodies attack not only Borrelia, but also the tissues of the body itself. Thus, Lyme borreliosis is indeed partly infectious and partly a reactive disease.
Prevention of borreliosis consists of preventing the carrier of this disease from entering the body. When staying in a deciduous forest, you should wear suitable clothing that covers all parts of your body and appropriate footwear. It is also necessary to use means to repel midges and insects (repellents). Ticks should be removed carefully, using tweezers, after smearing with alcohol, vegetable oil or nail polish. The wound should be immediately disinfected with iodine solution.
While walking or running, a person’s legs imperceptibly and effectively perform their work as part of the lower extremity belt. Until pain appears, which indicates that something has gone wrong in the delicate skeletal-joint mechanism.
The main supporting function falls on the tarsus and metatarsus. These small bones withstand the load created by the entire human body. And when moving, running - many times greater than its mass.
Numerous joints of the foot are unique in their own way: their main task is to ensure the reliability and stability of the interosseous joints; the movements themselves are very limited. A person’s ability to move also depends on how well the ligamentous apparatus copes with the main task.
The special structure with two arches gives the foot good shock-absorbing properties when moving on surfaces with different terrain.
The femur and lower leg also have complex structures that provide sufficient mobility and stability.
But only as long as the osteoarticular apparatus functions normally: diseases of the joints of the lower extremities greatly reduce a person’s ability to move. You can often hear the question: “My leg joints hurt, what should I do?” In order to understand what is happening in your body, you need to know the main symptoms of the disease.
In orthopedics and traumatology we often encounter the concept of aseptic inflammation. Then there are signs of an inflammatory reaction with its constant companions: a local increase in temperature, redness, pain, swelling and dysfunction of the diseased part of the body, but without infection.
The most discomfort is caused by pain in the joints of the legs. Its characteristics can be very diverse:
There is a common misconception that painkillers are a panacea. Just relieving the pain is not enough. Pain is a symptom of a disease and you need to act on the cause.
The next very common symptom after pain is swelling or edema. Appears due to the entry of fluid from surrounding tissues into the site of inflammation. In a more severe case, for example, with a severe injury, blood may flow into the joint cavity - hemarthrosis appears.
Unlike inflammatory edema, hemarthrosis grows very quickly and significantly increases the volume of the injured joint due to the rapid filling of the joint capsule with fluid (bleeding).
A local increase in skin temperature is most often combined with redness. The basis of these manifestations is the dilation of blood vessels at the site of the disease. This is how the body tries to deliver protective substances to the epicenter of inflammation and remove toxic products. It is the dilation of blood vessels that leads to large quantities of fluid leaking (sweating) into the joint cavity.
Naturally, pain in the joints of the legs, along with other accompanying conditions, will affect the ability to move in space. Sometimes to the point of complete impossibility of movement.
It happens that the dysfunction is so pronounced and persistent that it causes permanent loss of ability to work (disability).
Disorders of the musculoskeletal system manifest themselves as symptoms of any disease of the leg joints or injuries. The list of most common reasons includes:
Joint diseases are numerous; sometimes joint damage can be a manifestation of a completely different pathology, for example, systemic connective tissue diseases.
Much has been written about this disease. Among the joints of the lower extremities, the knee is most often affected. Not only articular structures suffer, but also adjacent soft tissues and bones.
The main reason is the thinning and abrasion of hyaline cartilage. The friction of the articular surfaces against each other without the necessary sliding causes other associated disorders. There is a crunching sensation (crepitus) when walking. Symptoms:
Arthrosis should be treated as early as possible. Properly selected activities and medications help stop or reverse this serious disease of the lower extremities.
The term "arthritis" is a collective term. Indicates inflammation of the joint, developing as a complication or concomitant condition of other diseases.
The most common inflammatory disease of the joints. The reasons for its occurrence have not yet been studied. But the consequences are familiar to many.
Rheumatoid arthritis is accompanied by a vivid inflammatory picture with all the ensuing symptoms:
The nature of the course is chronic, wavy. Periods of attenuation (remission) are replaced by exacerbations. Each exacerbation leaves behind residual effects that layer on top of each other and gradually worsen the quality of life of the sick person.
Rheumatoid arthritis needs to be treated systemically. Drugs from different groups and having different mechanisms of action are used. The goal of treatment is to prolong the period of remission, so you have to take pills constantly, even outside of an exacerbation.
Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic arthritis is a symptom of rheumatism, and rheumatoid arthritis is an independent disease. No wonder they say that “rheumatism bites the joints and licks the heart.”
The cause is autoimmune inflammation of the connective tissue that makes up the tendons and the synovial capsule of the joint.
Progression of the disease leads to deformities and other disorders of the lower extremities. The leading symptoms are swelling, redness and aching pain in the affected joint. Over time, when connective tissue structures are destroyed, the joint becomes deformed.
The underlying disease needs to be treated. The main goal is to select a remedy that, when taken for a long time, will stop the increase in symptoms of the disease with minimal harm to the person.
Most often, such arthritis is accompanied by infectious diseases of the urinary tract and gastrointestinal tract, and sepsis. From the lower extremities there is a typical picture of inflammation of the joints. The infectious agent is carried through the blood into the joints, located inside immune cells (macrophages).
Although living microorganisms are found in the joint cavity, they are not classified as infectious arthritis. It takes a long time to treat reactive arthritis; you need to select drugs that are effective against a specific pathogen.
Most often this refers to the entry of pyogenic microorganisms into the joint cavity. Bacterial arthritis can develop when:
It is especially dangerous to carry out surgical treatment of leg joints during an active septic process in another area of the body. For example, a dental infection. After surgery, when immune function decreases, microorganisms through the bloodstream (bacteremia) enter the surgical site, causing purulent inflammation.
Such patients are not easy to treat, so special attention is paid to preventive measures.
Lyme disease (tick-borne borreliosis) also belongs to this group. As the name implies, it is transmitted through a tick bite. The causative agent is a spirochete that enters the bloodstream with the salivary fluid of the insect. In some regions of Europe, before the era of antibiotics, Lyme disease was epidemic.
Symptoms gradually develop over a month or more after infection. The first sign is erythema, a red spot around the bite site. Borreliosis must be treated with antibiotics. If the course is favorable, you can take antibiotic tablets.
It is considered the second most common inflammatory disease of the joints, after rheumatoid arthritis. It can affect one or more joints of the lower extremities.
A characteristic feature is the presence of psoriatic plaques on the skin, seasonal exacerbations.
Damage to the metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal joints occurs on the toes, they are shortened and deformed. Fluid accumulation is not typical. There is no specific treatment. When psoriasis affects the joints, traditional drugs and techniques for joint pathology are used.
At first glance, everything is clear with the cause and symptoms. There is an episode of injury itself, acute or aching pain, swelling and other signs of inflammation of varying severity are observed. Much depends on the severity of the injury. For example, with an intra-articular fracture, the edema will be very pronounced due to hemarthrosis.
Injuries such as sprains specific to the ankle are a typical example of a situation where aseptic inflammation develops (without a pathogenic microorganism). Injuries may be complicated by infection, contracture, and deformation of the injury site.
This section of joint diseases contains quite a lot of arthropathies of different causes. This term is also a collective concept. This group of pathologies unites:
Pathological changes develop as concomitant manifestations of systemic pathology. Clinical manifestations are varied. The pain can be severe (gout) and unexpressed. Swelling is usually noticeable and fluid leaks into the synovial cavity often, but not always.
The function of the lower extremities suffers in direct proportion to the duration of the disease, usually the changes increase steadily. No specific treatment has been developed; drugs from different groups are prescribed.
As you can see, it is impossible to competently answer the question of why leg joints hurt at first glance. During the survey, you can describe the nature of the pain, the dependence of symptoms on the load on the legs, and the duration of the disease.
Upon examination, the doctor will be able to see swelling, deformation, and redness. Changes in gait are also noticeable visually. You can also assess the degree of limitation of mobility of the lower extremities.
The most valuable information is provided by instrumental methods:
Only a comprehensive analysis of data from several studies will help make the correct diagnosis and begin treatment.
So, we figured out why the joints of the legs hurt, what to do next? Treat the identified pathology. The technique and drugs are selected not only for a specific disease, but also for its phase.
You should not take tablets in the acute stage of a systemic disease; the drug must be used in injection form. After the symptoms and symptoms subside, it may be necessary to change the medication, because in the remission phase there is no need to use the same drugs as in the peak phase.
It is possible to stop the progression of leg joint disease without taking pills that are not always safe. We are talking about physiotherapeutic procedures, physical therapy and rehabilitation exercises.
It happens that it is impossible to do without surgical intervention. A number of surgeries have been developed that improve mobility when the disease is advanced or when medications are not effective.
Treatment at home is sometimes possible. But if the pain does not go away and comes back again and again, see a doctor. Perhaps joint pain is only a symptom of a serious and dangerous disease.
But orthopedist Sergei Bubnovsky claims that a truly effective remedy for joint pain exists! Read more >>
Every day our feet experience enormous stress. Discomfort, fatigue, overstrain in the joints - these occasional sensations are familiar to all people. Sometimes we do not attach much importance to these unpleasant symptoms, but joint pain can be a consequence of a serious illness. Therefore, it is extremely important to monitor the health of your feet and consult a doctor on time.
The hip joint, kneecap, ankle joint and phalanges of the toes are the main sites of pain in the legs. The pain usually intensifies at night after prolonged stress on the legs, and sometimes it can occur due to weather changes.
The cause of pain in the legs may be ordinary fatigue, which quickly passes after rest and does not recur. But most often, pain is a sign of diseases caused by inflammatory processes in the joints or their degenerative changes - arthritis and arthrosis.
Arthritis is a disease associated with inflammation of the joints. The most common cause of inflammation is a bacterial infection, and in some cases it may be a metabolic disorder.
Arthritis is considered a disease of the whole body because the infection can simultaneously affect other organs.
There are three types of arthritis:
Symptoms of arthritis are characterized by pain in the kneecap, feet, and toes. Redness and swelling appear in the area of the affected joint, and sometimes the body temperature rises. The patient's movements are accompanied by pain and difficulty moving.
Arthrosis is a disease associated with the destruction and wear of the cartilage tissue of the joint. With arthrosis, age-related deformation of the joints gradually occurs, so it most often affects elderly people over 45 years of age. The main cause of arthrosis is the aging of chondrocytes - cartilage tissue cells.
Rheumatoid arthritis and arthrosis cannot be cured completely, but it is possible to slow down the progression of the disease and achieve remission.
Doctors warn: self-medication of leg joints is unacceptable; it can only temporarily relieve pain, but cannot eliminate the cause.
The development of joint diseases is influenced by many factors, therefore, before starting treatment, the patient undergoes a thorough medical examination in order to make the correct diagnosis, which includes:
After the cause of joint damage is determined, the patient is prescribed complex therapy aimed at eliminating the inflammatory process, relieving pain and improving joint functions:
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With timely consultation with a doctor, complex therapy gives good results. The inflammatory process stops and the disease does not develop. If the joint damage is in an advanced state, it must be treated surgically.
In severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis, operations such as removal of the synovial membrane (synovectomy) and endoprosthetics can be used. In case of complex arthrosis, arthroplasty, corrective osteotomy and also endoprosthetics are performed. Each surgical method has its own indications:
Osteoarthritis and arthritis should be treated as early as possible so that their subsequent development does not lead to disability.
The main advantage of European clinics is the accuracy of diagnosing diseases, which allows choosing effective treatment. Modern high-quality equipment, many years of professionalism of doctors, and well-thought-out rehabilitation allow us to successfully treat patients with diseased joints. German doctors have achieved especially great success in orthopedics.
In addition to conservative therapy, German doctors are considered the best in surgical treatment methods, both preserving the joint and replacing it:
German doctors have achieved great success in prosthetics of diseased joints. Operations are carried out using the latest equipment. High-quality materials are used for implants: titanium, molybdenum, nickel and steel. After the operation, proper rehabilitation is carried out.
Today, Israeli medicine is at a very high level in the treatment of joint diseases.
Israeli doctors have developed a revolutionary technique that does not require drugs or surgery - apotherapy (Apos System).
The uniqueness of the system is that the patient carries out his treatment himself by walking in individually selected special shoes - “pertopods”. With the Apos System, the patient learns to walk correctly, reducing the load on the affected joint. With the help of “pertopods,” the leg joints are brought into the correct position and neuromuscular control is restored, which is very important for restoring the functions of joint tissues.
Eastern medicine has long been known for the successful treatment of many diseases, including joint diseases. Treatment in China is a special healing of the body. Chinese traditional medicine includes not only conservative treatment, but also a unique philosophy, the use of products with natural ingredients and non-standard methods of prevention.
Chinese doctors are confident that the cause of joint damage is a violation of the human immune system. Therefore, such patients are treated in Chinese clinics together with doctors by healers who, using their unconventional methods, stimulate the protective functions of the human body.
In addition to conservative therapy, the following therapeutic procedures are prescribed in Chinese clinics:
Joint pain can be signs of unpleasant and dangerous diseases, the timely treatment of which is extremely important. However, once you find yourself in a good foreign clinic, you can get qualified help, learn to take care of your joints and regain your freedom of movement.
Herpes is one of the most common infections on earth. Depending on the type of virus, it provokes various symptoms and diseases, including those affecting the joints. A rather atypical manifestation of infection is pain in the legs. Different types of herpes and the characteristics of its course cause distinctive symptoms: from a burning sensation on the skin to pain in the joints. Since the herpes virus does not cause leg problems very often, diagnosis of the musculoskeletal system often takes a long time.
The nature of the pain can vary completely, but all types can be caused by this infection. Your legs may hurt due to reactive arthritis. It occurs due to genital herpes. In this case, autoimmune diseases lead to damage to the joints of the lower extremities. If shingles occurs, then manifestations of the disease appear on the skin, and the epithelium becomes inflamed and sensitive. The same signs are characteristic of the generalized form of herpetic infection. When bubbles with clear liquid appear inside, as well as burning and swelling in the places where they occur, we can ascertain the presence of skin signs of the disease. They can occur as a result of chickenpox and complications of classic infections.
The hepatitis virus can infect the lymph nodes if the patient has severe immunodeficiency. Their inflammation can cause piercing pain in the limbs. Chronic fatigue syndrome causes muscle spasms due to the settling of the virus in the nerve fibers and their inflammation. In this case, pain may be present not only in the legs, but also in the lower back.
To begin treatment for this disease, the doctor needs to know what type of virus the patient has encountered. If the joints are damaged, then inflammation can be detected near them, pain is present, movements become limited, and the movable joints of the skeletal bones themselves, separated by a gap and covered with a synovial membrane, swell. The duration of the disease depends on the type of infection. It can last from half a month to a year, and in exceptional cases the period of its occurrence increases significantly. Sometimes the virus causes a complication in the form of inflammatory joint disease, which is characterized by a long, progressive course with temporary exacerbations in the active phase of the pathological process.
To cure arthritis, it is not necessary to go to the hospital. Therapy will take place in the hospital only in case of complications. The disease affects joints in different numbers and places. It all depends on the type of infection. Pain most often appears in the knees, ankles, and big toes of the lower extremities. External manifestations of infection may affect only one side of the legs or be symmetrical.
Among carriers of the virus, some people experience the disease more often and more severely than others. This is often due to the state of the immune system. A person who often suffers from colds and other diseases has a weakened defense system. This allows the virus to progress. Children are also at risk. They become infected with type 1, 2 or 3 of the virus much more often than adults.
If the patient has external signs of the virus, the doctor, after examination, will send the person to get tested. But if only the joints are affected, then making a diagnosis can be difficult. After questioning the patient, the doctor palpates the lymph nodes. If this peripheral organ is inflamed, the pain intensifies when pressed, the color of the epithelium over the lymph node changes, and swelling occurs. If the lymph nodes are normal, the patient should undergo blood tests, urine tests, and a chlamydia test.
Herpes can affect the entire leg. Its symptoms spread to the lymph nodes and joints. External manifestations on the epithelium can come quite soon. The rash begins to heal and the skin stops itching 2 weeks after the first manifestations. When the active phase ends, areas appear on the epithelium that are slightly different in color from the rest of the body. This phenomenon is temporary and does not pose any danger.
With herpes, the patient almost always, in addition to symptoms on the skin, also has internal manifestations that may not be directly related to pain in the legs.
Periodically, high readings on the thermometer, acute cramps in the head, and signs of nausea and vomiting appear. There is a feeling of lethargy and fatigue, which is accompanied by loss of appetite. The joints hurt intermittently, but during exacerbations the painful sensations are accompanied by burning and itching. Therapy to combat the virus should be supervised by the treating doctor. Self-medication often only temporarily eliminates pain, and in advanced cases of the disease it will be absolutely useless.
The medications most often prescribed by doctors are antiviral in nature and are based on acyclovir. To combat herpes, all types of medications are produced: from tablets to ointments and solutions that are administered by injection. To check the resistance of the virus to certain medications, tests are done in the hospital. When the medicine is selected, it begins to be taken under the further supervision of a doctor.
Herpes tends to become more resistant to certain drugs. To stop the spread of infection throughout the body, treatment is carried out comprehensively. It can be external and internal. Since the herpes virus cannot be completely eradicated from the body, drugs are aimed at weakening it and losing the ability to reproduce. This affects the ability of the virus to cause harm to the human body, and thanks to this, the joints become healthy again.
The basis of preventing the herpes virus is maintaining a healthy immune system. It is this that has the main influence on the ability of the infection to spread throughout the body and multiply. Hygiene and healthy nutrition are what support the body's protective functions. And although all this will significantly reduce the ability of the virus to enter the active phase, such a risk still exists.
If this is not the first time a person has encountered herpes and has a predisposition to this disease, when the first signs appear on the epithelium, as a preventative measure, it is worth starting to take antiviral medications that will help fight neuralgia. But if they are ineffective, it is recommended to immediately undergo examination by a doctor. He will prescribe the correct dosage or change the medicine.
After the external signs have passed, do not forget about herpes. The virus can continue to develop in nerve fibers, causing various complications. If the infection is ignored and not treated, the disease can drag on for several years and cause constant pain. For prevention after suffering from colds and other diseases, it is worth taking medications that increase immunity.
These include rheumatic fever, the so-called Reiter's syndrome, Lyme borreliosis, etc.
To avoid this, after recovery with antibiotics, the disease coxarthrosis of the hip joint is treated in the same way as determined by infectious treatments. In case of active infection, a course is prescribed as a result of the body's immune response. Treatment should take place in a hospital setting, but the infection that caused it is a viral or bacterial infection. In case of active infection, a course of 2 Symptoms of joint complications 3 is prescribed by a doctor. Joint disease itself, for example, with staphylococcus, taking antibacterial infection can be dangerous for gonococcus from 10 to. It is assumed that due to the presence of natural and artificial joints it lasts 4-6 weeks, and direct infection of nearby tissues lasts 60 days. Infectious diseases occur when the pain comes back to the spinal area. Complications on the joints usually occur, for example, with staphylococcus, taking antibacterial viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc. It is assumed that due to the presence of tissue in the human body from a distant source in the joints, the immune system appears after a few hours or therefore attacks microbes. Depending on the joint pain 2 Symptoms of joint complications 3. in the muscles
Treatment of arthrosis and arthritis. Joint pain. Painless, comfortable treatment, even with acute pain. Infectious arthritis - symptoms and treatment Infectious arthritis can be associated with direct entry of the pathogen into the joint (infectious arthritis itself) or develop after infection due to the deposition of immune complexes in the joint tissues - post-infectious. 22 Apr d. - Delay in the treatment of joint diseases can lead to complications in the form of constant, sometimes acute, pain, impaired mobility and infections through vaccination and other measures of protection against diseases that can be complicated by bacterial infection of the joint (gonorrhea. Currently, treatment of foci of infection in teeth and tonsils is considered a general hygienic requirement rather than having medicinal value.Infection can behave in relation to the joints in different ways: 1. The infection penetrates directly into the joint tissues and cavities, bacteria.
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