Pain in the feet prevents you from moving normally, so you should know in advance which specialist to make an appointment with. This symptom may indicate a huge number of disorders. Before going to the hospital, it is worth understanding what disease the pain may be associated with. The location and nature of the pain, as well as additional signs (inflammation, swelling, bone deformation) matter.
The specialist will need to know when the first symptoms appeared, whether they are associated with injury or arose for no apparent reason. If you take into account all the nuances, you will be able to accurately determine which doctor to contact when your feet hurt.
A therapist is the first specialist you can see. If the patient doubts which doctor will be useful, you can consult a therapist, and he will write a referral to the right office.
Foot pain often does not appear independently, but in combination with other symptoms. You will need to tell your doctor about them. The diseases that the therapist treats may manifest one or more of the following symptoms:
If your feet hurt, this may indicate both local disorders and systemic pathologies. It is especially worth paying attention to this symptom if it is combined with severe swelling. Edema can be a sign of both peripheral circulation disorders and serious diseases of internal organs: heart, kidneys, lungs.
Swelling of the legs can be a sign of various pathologies of internal organs, especially in combination with other symptoms
The surgeon not only operates, but also diagnoses many diseases. His competence includes varicose veins, thrombosis and other pathologies.
Patients who come to the surgeon often complain of the following manifestations:
The surgeon treats not only those diseases that manifest themselves with obvious symptoms, but also pain without a cause. Often it can be caused by subcutaneous formations, varicose veins, old hematomas and the consequences of injuries.
The surgeon may refer the patient to an angiosurgeon. This is a separate specialization that studies vascular pathologies. In some cases, they are treated by a generalist, but if possible, it is worth contacting a specialist.
Varicose veins can appear at any age
People come to the angiosurgeon with complaints about the following vascular problems:
Patients often experience foot pain when its blood supply is disrupted. The main diseases that are diagnosed in relation to the vessels of the lower extremities are varicose veins, thrombophlebitis (formation of blood clots of various origins in the lumen of blood vessels) and others. In some cases, a surgical solution to the problem may be required.
The first reason people come to a traumatologist is injuries. The feet are often subject to fractures; bruises, blows, and dislocations of the joints may also occur. All these pathologies are characterized by sharp, intense pain at the site of injury, swelling, and impaired functioning of the foot. Often the victim cannot put weight on the injured limb and needs help to get to the doctor's office.
In addition to injuries, a traumatologist also deals with bone deformations. People come to him with flat feet, varus or valgus foot placement, and the consequences of deforming arthrosis.
The orthopedist has various types of treatment in his arsenal:
You should consult an orthopedist if the pain is accompanied by curvature of the foot, drooping arches, deformation and inflammation of the big toe bone. If you suspect flat feet, you can first perform a test at home. To do this, you need to leave an imprint of the sole of your foot on paper and examine it. If the leg is completely in contact with the ground or the area of its elevation is insignificant, you need to go to an orthopedist and begin treatment.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that destroys joints. It manifests itself with characteristic symptoms:
Treatment of rheumatism will be radically different from the treatment regimen for other types of arthritis. To diagnose it, it will be necessary to donate blood to a laboratory for tests that will indicate the autoimmune origin of the disease. Patients are usually referred to this doctor after a blood test, and the initial examination occurs with a therapist
Sharp pain in the foot when falling, hitting or playing sports may be a sign of a bone fracture
Pain may be associated with manifestations of fungal or bacterial skin diseases. The dermatologist will take a skin sample for analysis and examine it under a microscope. Complaints that should be addressed to a dermatologist:
Calluses and warts should not be removed on your own. Papillomas are of viral origin, and if they are removed incorrectly or incompletely, they appear in large numbers in neighboring areas.
If the wart has appeared recently and is growing rapidly, a dermatologist will examine it for malignancy. Such formations are rarely dangerous in themselves, but in some cases they can transform into large malignant tumors.
After a detailed study of the symptoms, you can confidently say which doctor to contact for foot pain. Before the consultation, it is worth remembering what events preceded the appearance of the first pain. There may have been minor shocks or intense training, changes in diet or climate change. If pain appears for no apparent reason, you should go to a therapist. He will collect all the necessary data and send you to an appointment with a specialist.
It is very important to know which doctor treats joints. This is true for many, because joint pain is a common occurrence. For some people it appears periodically, for others it bothers them constantly. According to statistics, about thirty percent of people suffer from such pain of various types. Elderly people are especially often affected. But recently there has been a tendency towards “rejuvenation” of joint diseases. Young people under forty are increasingly complaining of joint pain, especially those who play sports.
In medicine, joint pain is called “arthralgia.” Arthralgia can be either symptomatic or an independent disease. Which doctors you see depends on the underlying cause of the pain.
Arthralgia is an important symptom of many diseases caused by irreversible biochemical and autoimmune processes in the joint tissue. Sometimes arthralgia is medicinal or meteopathic. Arthralgia caused by autoimmune and biochemical disorders usually indicates the onset of arthritis. Pain occurs when the neuroreceptors in the joint are irritated. They penetrate the entire articular surface. Irritation can be caused by internal hematomas and bruises of the legs and arms, which are not externally noticeable.
There are a number of diseases, the first symptom of which is arthralgia of various types. If your joints hurt periodically, you shouldn’t ignore it. Joints are the most mobile structure of the human body, thanks to them we can make various movements of the arms, legs, and fingers. It is important to consult a doctor in time to diagnose the cause of arthralgia as early as possible and begin treatment. Problems of this nature are usually dealt with by a surgeon or rheumatologist, less often by other specialists.
The main diseases of the musculoskeletal system that cause pain in the joints:
All these leg diseases lead to joint pain of varying intensity. The knee joints are most often affected; they bear the main load when walking and flexion-extension movements of the legs. If the joints are not treated, there may be deformation and limited mobility.
In some cases, it is necessary to contact several doctors at once for diagnostic tests and therapy.
Bechterew's disease Marie is a chronic arthritis in the spine. Intervertebral, sacroiliac, costovertebral joints are affected. An inflammatory process occurs, during which osseous fibrous tissue is formed inside the joint with the deposition of salts and trace elements on it. May lead to severe restrictions in joint movement. Symptoms of Marie's ankylosing spondylitis: constant nagging pain in the lumbar region, buttocks, sacrum and muscle stiffness. The chest hurts, especially when coughing or deep breathing, there is sweating, and there is an increased body temperature.
Osteoarthritis occurs if metabolic processes in cartilage, bone and joint tissues, synovial membranes and ligaments are disrupted. Gradually they are destroyed, leading to serious limitation of movements in the limbs. Mainly the joints of the legs are affected. knee, hip, ankle. Signs of osteoarthritis: pain in the legs and arms during exercise, night aching pain, swelling and hyperthermia of the affected area, formation of dense nodules in the interphalangeal joints.
Reactive arthritis is an acute inflammatory process that occurs after infectious diseases (influenza, ARVI, genitourinary, intestinal, etc.). There are acute pains that increase with exertion, swelling, redness of the skin in the area of inflammation, and fluctuating temperatures. There may be conjunctivitis, myocardia, arrhythmia, central nervous system pathologies, kidney disorders, nail and skin diseases.
In rheumatoid arthritis, the knee and elbow joints are rarely affected. Most often the hand and foot hurt. It manifests itself as constant pain, joints become deformed, swell, and become stiff. A person develops general weakness, weight decreases, body temperature rises, and damage to internal organs and the gastrointestinal tract is observed.
Psoriatic arthritis develops against the background of psoriasis. Symptoms: acute pain, changes in pigmentation of the skin over the affected joint, swelling, lower back pain. This type of arthritis affects the toes, feet, and, less commonly, the knee joints.
If your joint hurts, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Under no circumstances should you treat yourself. First of all, you need to determine the type of disease. Which doctor should you consult for joint pain? As a rule, referrals for diagnostic examinations are given by a general practitioner. The therapist is the doctor who conducts the first examination of the patient and, based on existing complaints and external symptoms, sends him for diagnosis.
Diagnostics includes various techniques, the main of which are:
Joint problems are not limited to just older people. Recently, young people have begun to make complaints no less often. There may be many reasons for such a situation, but in no case should everything be left to chance. It is necessary to find out the pain trigger and take prompt measures. And here a logical question arises: “If your joints hurt, which doctor should you turn to for help?”
Such a problem never arises out of the blue. There are always reasons. The joint capsule may hurt due to:
As can be seen from all of the above, joints are disturbing for a huge variety of reasons. And this is not a complete list, since each disease may have subtypes. This is the moment when they decide which doctor to go to if their joints hurt. My patients use a proven product. thanks to which you can get rid of pain in 2 weeks without much effort. There are several doctors who can help resolve this situation. And they are as follows:
As can be seen from all of the above, there are many doctors for back and joint pain. It all depends on the reason why the joints hurt.
In order not to look for a specialist who will solve this issue on your own, you should contact your local physician, who will collect data and write out the necessary referral to a specific physician.
When your leg joints hurt, which doctor should you consult with this problem? First of all, it is necessary to understand that this situation arises against the background of the fact that the cartilage tissue has lost its elasticity, which is why the articular bones begin to rub against each other. The joints of the legs may cause concern due to the following points:
If the joints of the legs hurt, what kind of doctor is needed in this case? If the pain does not go away for more than 2 days, then you should make an appointment with one of the following doctors:
Stop putting up with this joint pain! Write down the recipe.
Regardless of what triggered the pain, each subsequent doctor will force his patient to undergo a series of tests. This is necessary in order to specify the disease, because despite the fact that, in general, all the above doctors deal with diseased joints, they still have a narrower specialty.
Therefore, what a chiropractor needs may not be of any use to a traumatologist. But an x-ray will be taken in any case. If your joints hurt, you should urgently seek medical help. Initially, you should visit your local physician, who will give you a specific referral to a specialist doctor. You cannot delay this situation, because ultimately it can lead to impaired mobility of any part of the body or the entire musculoskeletal system as a whole.
When joints hurt, every person should know which doctor to turn to. There are many factors influencing the development of the disease. This may be mechanical damage as a result of injury or excessive physical exertion. Some diseases can provoke joint pain, in particular arthritis and arthrosis. It is impossible to determine the cause on your own; for this you need to consult a doctor.
Pain in the joints of the upper extremities may be associated with lesions of the cervical spine. Young people whose activities involve working at a computer experience joint pain quite often. This is due to being in one position for a long time. The pain syndrome may involve the wrist and elbow joints. In this case, you need to contact a neurologist. It will help with pinched nerves located in the cervical spine.
In case of pathologies in the form of arthrosis, you need to go to a chiropractor. Eliminating pain in this case is a long process. A person will have to tune in to long and hard work. Long-term therapy is the key to good joint condition.
In most cases, knee pain is caused by arthritis or arthrosis. Some specialists conduct diagnostics for the presence of osteochondrosis. This disease is the most common illness. If pain occurs, it is advisable to go to a chiropractor or neurologist. In some modern clinics, a specialist is a vertebrologist.
If pain is a consequence of injury or surgery, you should visit a traumatologist, surgeon or physical therapy specialist.
There are many competent specialists who eliminate joint diseases. These include:
If a person knows why he has discomfort in the joint area, he should go to a specific specialist. Otherwise, you will have to bypass all the above-mentioned doctors.
Constant malaise, pain in the joints and severe weakness can be the causes of various ailments. You should definitely consult a doctor if there is severe swelling. It may indicate progression of the disease or the presence of a fracture.
The pallor of the skin near the affected area should be alarming, especially if the symptom is accompanied by dizziness and unbearable pain in the joints. Often the clinical picture is supplemented by severe swelling. If symptoms occur after an injury, the likelihood of a fracture increases. Which doctor to contact in this case becomes immediately clear. If you have a fracture, you should immediately go to a traumatologist. If a person is unable to move independently, an ambulance should be called.
Sometimes a person experiences pain only while walking. Moreover, they have varying degrees of intensity. They can occur due to incorrect position of the leg when moving. If the symptom appears constantly, you need to make an appointment with a specialist. The victim decides which doctor to go to. It is advisable to visit a neurologist or traumatologist.
You should go for an appointment if your body temperature rises. This symptom indicates the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. If at the same time motor activity in the painful joint is disrupted, you can’t hesitate even more.
Any incomprehensible symptoms should not be left without the attention of a specialist.
People can experience joint diseases at any age. The joints of the legs are most often affected, because they are responsible not only for movement, but also for support. And weight loading, especially if you are overweight, often leads to the development of diseases.
The main joints of the legs are the hip, knee, ankle, and foot joints. The most commonly affected are the knees, which are the most complex in structure and bear the heaviest load in the body.
Symptoms of joint diseases can not only be felt, but also be visible to the naked eye. People often have the following complaints:
In medicine, this complex of symptoms is called articular syndrome.
Pain is an almost constant companion to joint diseases. It can be aching, constant or stabbing, short-term. The pain can be dull and sharp, twitching. When a bone or cartilaginous fragment is pinched in the articular cavity, it occurs suddenly, in the midst of complete health, and can be very strong.
Usually it is the joint that is damaged that hurts. Although sometimes the sensation of pain can be transmitted throughout the bone. Often there is muscle spasm in the area of the inflamed joint, which is described by the patient as “a sore knee or leg.”
Sometimes people complain that their legs hurt during physical activity - walking, going up or down stairs, while running. But with some diseases, the pain, on the contrary, disappears during movement. A person needs to move apart to reduce discomfort in the joint. Such pains bother a person in the morning, after sleep.
Crunching is more typical for diseases of the knee joints. It is first noticed at a young age with increased physical activity - for example, during squats. It happens in children too. In old age, creaking knees are a common occurrence.
Crunching can occur in the ankle and hip joints, but this is less common. Crunching is a manifestation of degenerative-dystrophic processes in the joint or its lack of training.
Movement in the joints can be limited for many reasons.
If a person has pain in his foot or knee, he will spare this area when walking. When bone spines form inside the joint cavity, the range of movements is significantly reduced, since they do not correspond to each other. Impaired production of joint fluid also leads to joint stiffness.
Jamming, or blockage of a joint, is a symptom that occurs with advanced destruction of the joint or some degenerative diseases. It manifests itself as a sudden loss of movement in the joint. The range of motion depends on where the fragment of bone or cartilage is pinched. It may disappear completely or remain in some plane - for example, the inability to bend the leg while moving to the side.
The blockade of the articulation often disappears on its own - when the fragment is displaced. Sometimes this is facilitated by active leg movements. If the jamming does not go away on its own, surgery may be required.
If a person notices that the skin over the joint is red and hot to the touch, the joint has increased in volume, most likely, an inflammatory process in this area begins. Inflamed joints hurt especially severely, and the general condition may worsen. Inflammatory processes often develop in the knee area.
Deformation of the joints of the legs is called osteoarthritis deformans. The most susceptible to this disease are the knee joints and the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe. The changes in them are pronounced, the deformation is striking. Lumps, bumps or protruding bones are visible in the area of the damaged joint.
Changes in the shape of the hip joints may initially be invisible externally, but significantly limit movement. Over time, it leads to severe disability.
When joint pathology manifests itself as just a crunch, people usually do not think about medical help. But if your knees hurt or your foot suddenly swells, the question arises: “What kind of doctor treats joints? Where to go with complaints?
More than one doctor treats joint diseases. This problem is at the intersection of several specialties:
Most often, diseases of the musculoskeletal system are treated by a rheumatologist and an orthopedic traumatologist. But usually the first doctor a sick person has to turn to is a general practitioner.
Local therapists are the primary level of medical care. They treat diseases of the internal organs and the musculoskeletal system - the entire body as a whole. The therapist's task is to make a preliminary diagnosis and initial examination. Articular symptoms do not always develop with joint disease; they can be a mask for other problems. For example, lumbosacral radiculitis with pinching of the sciatic nerve is manifested by pain in the hip joint and leg, but the joint itself is not damaged.
A competent therapist, with a complaint of pain and redness of the knee, may suspect a systemic disease affecting the entire body, for which arthritis is only a single symptom.
The therapist sees a connection with previous diseases - colds, sore throats, which specialists do not always pay attention to. Some joint diseases are dealt with by a therapist - age-related osteoarthritis or mild reactive arthritis.
When first contacting a therapist, in addition to a clinical examination, a person with articular syndrome undergoes an examination:
Depending on the results of the examination and preliminary diagnosis, the therapist begins treatment or recommends contacting an appropriate specialist.
In recent years, the role of local therapists has been taken over by family doctors.
Any joint complaint - pain, crunching, swelling, impaired movement - is a reason to contact your family doctor. Like a therapist, he examines the human body as a whole. But his area of expertise is broader; the family doctor treats mild forms of most joint diseases. He refers you to a specialist if therapy is ineffective or the diagnosis is unclear.
A family doctor observes the whole family - from a baby to an old man, and this allows him to recognize hereditary diseases manifested by articular syndrome.
In addition to general studies, the family doctor must check the patient’s metabolism of certain substances - uric acid, calcium, urea. He refers for additional examination - computed tomography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging.
Rheumatologists treat diseases of the joints and connective tissue. In practice, they are more concerned with inflammatory processes in these structures. The appearance of signs of acute inflammation in blood tests in combination with complaints of pain, swelling, redness of the joints of the legs is a reason to consult a rheumatologist.
Rheumatological diseases with articular syndrome are:
In public clinics it is difficult to get direct access to a rheumatologist; this requires a referral from a general practitioner or family doctor. In commercial medical centers, if the described joint complaints appear, it is better to immediately go to a rheumatologist - this will help save money and time.
The range of rheumatological research is wide. It includes immunological tests (for antibodies to infections or one's own cells) and determination of the content of various substances in the blood.
Doctors in this specialty also treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system. When would their consultation be preferable? Pain and crunching in the joints after injuries and bruises, stiffness of the legs due to dislocations and fractures - this joint pathology requires examination by a traumatologist.
Orthopedic traumatologists also treat the following diseases:
Traumatologists deal primarily with degenerative and post-traumatic changes in joints. They complement the examination of the musculoskeletal system with arthroscopy - an endoscopic examination of the joint cavity from the inside.
Doctors of many specialties encounter joint diseases in their practice. And if the treatment of such a pathology is beyond their competence, they will definitely refer the patient to a specialized consultation.
It is important that if even minor complaints appear - a slight crunch or periodic pain in the legs - not to experiment with self-medication and dubious traditional medicine recipes, but to consult a doctor in a timely manner.
But orthopedist Sergei Bubnovsky claims that a truly effective remedy for joint pain exists! Read more >>
Leg pain. Who doesn't have pain in their feet right now? Yes, almost everyone has pain. But they still hurt differently. Patients often come to us with this complaint. To the question: why did you turn to a surgeon? They answer: what, don’t surgeons treat legs?
So, dear patients, legs are treated not only by surgeons, but also by traumatologists, therapists, as well as dermatologists and other specialists.
A reasonable question arises: so which of them should I turn to? Well, let's figure it out.
The scheme is simple. In this article, you read, select the complaints that you have, and based on this, visit the appropriate specialist.
This article is not a standard, but you will choose the right direction.
We hope that these recommendations will help you choose the right route to the appropriate doctor.
Author: Andrey Podlipaev
Takes cardiomagnyl and corinfar.
About a month ago, red spots appeared on the back of his lower legs, then dry necrotic spots. On one leg up to 0.5 cm, on the other about 4 cm. They are placed mirror-like. The surgeon at the clinic said to lubricate it with fukurtsin and that most likely this is a consequence of some kind of mechanical impact, most likely socks. But to calm down, I took my dad for a Doppler ultrasound. Result: the vessels are passable, atherosclerotic plaques are visualized, which leads to a narrowing of the lumen of the SA on the right and left by 4%, a narrowing of the lumen of the VA on the right and left by 3%... Conclusion obliterating atherosclerosis. Dad’s legs don’t hurt, he can walk a lot, up to 1 km for sure. But the black necrotic spots have not gone away for two weeks now. Everything would be fine, but the skin around them is red and blue. My father was advised to take Vasonit 600, 2t per day. But I don’t know if it’s worth using it for a tumor. What do you recommend?
Every day a person performs an incredible amount of movements with his arms, legs, head, and walks a lot. This is why our legs experience a lot of stress and are often prone to injury.
Very often, patients find themselves in the doctor’s office complaining that their knee joint hurts and do not know what to do in such situations, what treatment to start, and which doctor to see. The knee joint is the most susceptible to injury compared to other joints. This statistics is associated with the complexity of the knee structure and frequent falls, in which the first thing that suffers is the knee joint.
It is important to know! Doctors are shocked: “An effective and affordable remedy for joint pain exists. " Read more.
The knee joint is the largest joint in the human body; it connects three bones: the femur and two tibia (small and tibia). To soften shocks during flexion and extension, shock absorption, reduce the load on the spine, and reduce the friction force between the bones of the joint, there is a cartilage layer, shaped like a crescent and called “meniscus”. In addition, the bones of the joint can be connected using muscles, tendons, and ligaments attached to them, which are covered by the kneecap; they help the leg when it bends. All components of the joint are equally susceptible to injury.
When your knees hurt, life certainly won't seem wonderful. Often the pain becomes debilitating, does not subside day or night, and the painkillers taken, if they help, do not last long.
Pain in the knee joint can occur for various reasons, it can manifest itself in different ways, and the nature of the pain is different.
The most common causes of knee pain are:
Should I immediately sound the alarm and go to the doctor? It is, of course, up to you to decide, but we would advise you not to joke and not to put off going to the doctor. We’ll figure out which doctor to contact if your knee joints hurt, a little later.
There are cases when pain in the knee joint occurs sporadically, it does not pose a threat to health, or certain inconveniences. The reasons for its short-term appearance may be an uncomfortable posture or too tight clothing. In such cases, it is worth eliminating the inconvenience and observing for a while. If the pain has not returned, then you can breathe a sigh of relief.
Sometimes there are signs that you can't help but pay attention to.
Even “advanced” joint problems can be cured at home! Just remember to apply this once a day.
Important! If at least one symptom from the list above occurs, you should immediately consult a doctor and begin treatment.
Pain can be different in nature, duration and frequency of occurrence, occur under certain conditions, and the diagnosis and treatment will depend on how it manifests itself.
Conditions for pain:
What may cause pain:
If your knee joint hurts, no matter under what conditions the pain occurs (when bending, during movement or at rest), you should immediately consult a doctor who will prescribe treatment in accordance with the diagnosis.
Who will treat a sore knee joint is determined by what caused the discomfort. The following doctors most often deal with treatment issues:
Thus, unpleasant sensations and crunching in the knees when bending and extending are far from a harmless symptom that can be ignored and let everything take its course. Since the knee joint is the most traumatic place in the human body and the most mobile, and it is unlikely that you will be able to live a full life with a damaged knee, you should not delay treatment. To the question of which doctor should you consult if your knee hurts when bending and straightening or at rest, you can answer this: it is best to contact a therapist first, and he will understand the causes, diagnosis and either prescribe treatment himself or let him do it other specialists who are well versed in this topic.
For the treatment and prevention of DISEASES OF THE JOINTS and SPINE, our readers use the method of quick and non-surgical treatment recommended by leading rheumatologists in Russia, who decided to speak out against pharmaceutical lawlessness and presented a medicine that REALLY TREATS! We have become familiar with this technique and decided to bring it to your attention. Read more.
If the syndrome arose spontaneously, while wearing tight clothes or shoes, or an unsuccessful turn of the body, and went away as quickly as it appeared, then there is probably no reason for concern. If unpleasant sensations occur when bending or straightening the knee, or, even worse, at rest, then this is a sure sign of inflammation of the tissues and ligaments, and in this case, quality treatment cannot be avoided.
But orthopedist Valentin Dikul claims that a truly effective remedy for joint pain exists! Read more >>>
If you want to get the same treatment, ask us how?
Knee pain is a common reason for visiting a doctor. They appear in every fourth person over the age of 55. And this is not surprising, because the knee joint performs a supporting function, experiencing not only the weight of the whole body, but also associated loads. Although functionally it is quite stable, with prolonged or sudden exposure to a mechanical factor, damage to the structural components of the joint occurs. And metabolic and age-related changes only accelerate the development of knee joint pathology. And then the question arises: which doctor should I contact, when is the best time to do it, and what is the treatment?
If you are worried about pain in your knee, then you definitely need to see a doctor. But not everyone knows which one exactly. The provision of medical care for diseases of the musculoskeletal system is carried out by various specialists, whose profile is determined by the cause of the pathology. But the primary stage, including diagnosis, is often carried out by a general practitioner - a therapist. This is what people mostly turn to when their knee hurts.
If additional consultation is required, a rheumatologist or orthopedist-traumatologist is involved. These same specialists conduct their own appointments in outpatient clinics, dealing with more specific issues. An examination by a rheumatologist is indicated in cases where arthritis is suspected, and in case of mechanical damage or osteoarthritis, you need to visit a traumatologist. But you can come to such a doctor right away, while the cause of the trouble with your knee has not yet been established. Sometimes this is even preferable, since time costs are reduced.
Knees can hurt due to various diseases. Therefore, you should first consult your family doctor or general practitioner. And he will already refer you to another specialist - a traumatologist or rheumatologist.
Probably everyone understands that it is easier to treat any disease when it just begins to develop. And knee joint pathology is no exception. To get the maximum effect, you should consult a doctor at the first symptoms. Every person can understand when something is wrong with their knee. Often this is accompanied not only by pain, but also by other signs:
If the development of arthritis is expected, then local signs of inflammation occur: swelling, redness of the skin, increased local temperature. Acute manifestations are difficult to miss, but the situation with chronic diseases is much more difficult. Then the clinical picture develops gradually, and the first symptoms often remain unrecognized. But in any case, you should seek medical help as early as possible. And treatment begins after a medical examination and receipt of the results of an additional examination:
These are the main points that precede therapeutic measures. More accurate information can be obtained directly during a consultation with a doctor.
Treatment of knee joint diseases should begin at the first symptoms. By consulting a doctor in a timely manner and undergoing an appropriate examination, you can be confident in the effectiveness of further therapy.
Following diagnostic measures, therapeutic measures begin. If your knees hurt, many doctors are involved in the therapeutic process. It all depends on the method used. An integrated approach is always used, when one is not limited to just eliminating the symptoms, but influences the causes and mechanism of development of the pathology. Therefore, treatment for knee pain includes:
Each technique has its own characteristics and requires qualified application. Therefore, knees should be treated by experienced specialists.
Regardless of the cause of the pain, you first need to rest the joint. And in acute arthritis this is especially important. The knee is fixed with an orthosis or even a plaster cast is applied. To reduce the load, the use of a cane is recommended. Orthopedic measures are necessary during the acute period of the disease, as well as after surgical correction. It is important to remember this in terms of prevention.
Any medical doctor can prescribe medications for joint pathology: therapist, rheumatologist, traumatologist. Moreover, the list of drugs for the same disease varies little among different specialists. This is due to the use of generally accepted standards of therapy. The following medications are most often recommended:
If the inflammation is infectious, antibiotics must be prescribed, and systemic autoimmune reactions require the use of cytostatics. After the elimination of acute phenomena, injectable forms of drugs are replaced with tablets or local ones (ointment, gel, cream).
Treatment with medications is indicated for any joint pathology; it is carried out in strict accordance with the recommendations of a specialist.
A physiotherapist will help eliminate acute signs of the disease. He will select the optimal procedures for the patient that will improve the condition of the osteoarticular system. Using physical methods, you can reduce pain and inflammation, stimulate blood circulation and activate biochemical processes in affected tissues. As a rule, the following procedures are prescribed:
If the patient has any concomitant pathology, then only those methods of physiotherapy are used that do not have an adverse effect on it.
Physical therapy is of great importance in the conservative treatment of musculoskeletal pathology. It is known that joints cannot function normally without adequate load and physical activity. But if acute pain is present, then gymnastics is used only after preliminary drug correction. Exercises for the knee joint are developed by a physical therapy doctor and must be performed under his supervision. First, they are performed in a light mode - lying down and sitting, and then standing and with weights. They try to improve muscle tone, especially the quadriceps, as this stabilizes the knee joint.
When performing exercises, you should avoid sudden movements that can cause pain. At the same time, the doctor monitors the precise dosing of the load.
Among the conservative measures for joint pain, massage should be noted. With the help of manual pressure, muscle relaxation is achieved and blood flow in the tissues increases, which promotes the healing of damage and improves motor function. The massage therapist uses the following classic elements:
In this case, the specialist acts not only on the joint area, but also on the thigh and lower leg. The patient is recommended to undergo 7-12 sessions, as well as learn self-massage, which can be performed at home.
If there is no desired effect from conservative measures, then you should seek help from surgeons. As a rule, this happens with injuries, severe osteoarthritis or destructive arthritis. Pathological formations and non-viable tissues are removed, and if necessary, a knee joint is replaced. Most operations are performed arthroscopically, which shortens the recovery period. But after surgery, immobilization and the services of a rehabilitation physician will still be required.
When knee pain occurs, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Not knowing which specialist to contact, you can go to a therapist, and he will indicate further direction. During the treatment process you will have to visit a physiotherapist, physical therapy doctor, or massage therapist. And in order not to bring the situation to the operating table, it is better to get rid of the disease in the early stages.