Swelling of the joints of the legs is caused by too much fluid that accumulates in the tissues and cells of the body. Most often, edema of the subcutaneous tissue is understood as swelling. The sizes of edema can be different, they are also located differently. Swelling is usually accompanied by additional symptoms. In some cases, swelling is normal, in other cases it is a symptom of the disease.
There are several types of edema, depending on the reasons for their occurrence.
The joints in the legs swell for several reasons. Mild forms of joint diseases appear in the morning, after the start of active physical activity they decrease. After a busy day, swelling increases in the evening.
The main causes of swelling of the leg joints:
In some cases, swelling of the legs is considered normal. For example, when a woman is pregnant. If there is slight swelling, then it is considered normal. For large areas of edema, a woman should consult a doctor for advice. Swelling can be a symptom of gestosis in pregnant women. If you drink too much liquid before bed, a person may also experience swelling.
Depending on the cause of the swelling, the patient may experience various symptoms:
Other types of leg swelling may be accompanied by other symptoms.
Treatment for swelling of the leg joints depends on the cause of its occurrence. Treatment is aimed at the underlying disease.
Only a specialist can identify the cause of edema.
Self-medication can be dangerous. The doctor's recommendations should be followed.
Leg swelling is caused by fluid accumulation in the tissues and can be worsened when people consume too much salt, sit for long periods of time, or have additional health problems. While swollen legs do not always indicate a serious illness, it is a symptom that should not be ignored, especially if it occurs regularly.
With the aging process, blood circulation and the process of delivering blood to peripheral tissues and back to the heart weakens. As a result, more and more fluid accumulates in the peripheral tissues, causing the accumulated fluid to leak into the surrounding tissues. Typically, such accumulations are observed in the most vulnerable places in people, which are the lower limbs, and in particular the ankles. In addition to these locations, fluid can also accumulate in the knees and even inside the thighs, depending on the cause and nature of the fluid leak.
In addition to age-related circulatory dysfunction, the causes of swelling in the legs may be due to concomitant diseases. The inability of the heart to adequately pump blood will lead to fluid accumulation in the lower extremities, while kidney failure will result in an increase in the amount of fluid in the body as the kidneys' ability to excrete can be significantly reduced.
At the same time, local causes can also lead to swelling of the legs - the formation of blood clots in the legs, as in the case of deep vein thrombosis, cellulite and inflammatory conditions. Leg injuries can also cause swelling, and fractures particularly affect the elderly population due to their increased susceptibility to falls and brittle bones.
There are many reasons why legs swell in older people. Swelling can also be a natural reaction caused by prolonged standing or pregnancy. In these cases, it is not a serious disease and is temporary. However, cases where swelling reappears cannot be ignored.
Depending on the underlying cause of leg swelling, symptoms may vary.
Swelling often becomes more noticeable after sitting or standing for long periods of time, and can be affected by diet and the amount of fluid you drink.
When swelling of the legs is accompanied by shortness of breath, chest pain, yellowish pigmentation of the skin, poor urine output, fever, redness of the skin on the legs, pain, difficulty moving the joints, etc., then you should seek the advice of a doctor before self-medicating .
If the swelling subsides when the leg is raised above the heart, then wearing compression stockings can be done, since such stockings can put constant pressure on the blood vessels and, therefore, prevent the accumulation of fluids in the lower extremities.
If you have severe leg swelling that does not go away and symptoms such as extreme tiredness are present, this meets the criteria for a more serious underlying condition and should prompt you to see a doctor right away. Pigmentation and pain in the lower legs are also markers of a dangerous condition.
When you visit your doctor, diagnostic tests will be performed to determine the underlying cause of the swelling.
Below are some possible variations of ankle swelling in older adults.
This medical term is characterized by poor circulation in the body, which leads to the accumulation of fluid under the skin. Swelling increases with age as the veins stop functioning normally. This causes fluid to become trapped in intracellular spaces, causing patients to experience swelling in areas such as the ankles. Edema can be a sign of a serious health condition as it is also considered heart failure, kidney failure and liver failure.
The lymphatic system has an important role in blood circulation. A network of lymphatic vessels supplies fluid called lymph to the heart and other parts of the body. Lymph fluid often contains white blood cells associated with infection and helps the body get rid of toxins, waste, and other unwanted materials. If this movement of fluid is blocked, it can cause swelling in various parts of the body, including the ankles. If the problem is not addressed promptly, increased lymph can impair wound healing and lead to infection and deformity.
Gout occurs due to the accumulation of urate crystals in the joints, causing inflammation and severe pain. These crystals can form in the presence of high concentrations of uric acid in the blood. Your body produces uric acid to break down purine substances that are found naturally in the body and in certain foods such as meat, organ meats, and seafood. Other foods that increase uric acid levels include alcoholic drinks and drinks sweetened with fructose (fruit sugar).
Gout can manifest itself as sudden pain in the joint, swelling and increased local temperature.
Arthritis is the most common cause of swollen feet in older people, when the joints begin to degenerate, causing pain and swelling. There are many forms of arthritis, but they all share common inflammation, leading to joint pain, swelling, and decreased mobility. Autoimmune conditions, diseases, and simply aging lead to the development of arthritis.
Accidental injuries can occur at any age, but older people are more susceptible as their bones tend to be fragile. Even a minor ankle sprain can cause a fracture, leading to excessive swelling and discoloration of the skin. Being overweight can also cause a fracture because there is excessive pressure on the weight-bearing joints.
A blood clot that has developed in the leg veins blocks the main veins in the legs, leading to further complications with blood drainage. Most worrisome is that the clot can break away, becoming a free-floating blood clot. If this happens, it has the potential to end up elsewhere in the body, causing life-threatening conditions such as a pulmonary embolism or even a stroke.
In some cases, doctors may prescribe diuretics, medications to remove excess fluids from the body through urine. Although mild diuretics are prescribed quite often, strong diuretics are used when they will not pose a threat to the heart and kidneys.
Anti-inflammatory drugs can also help reduce swelling to a certain extent, although their effect is mostly indirect. If a blood clot occurs, doctors will conduct further tests and may prescribe blood thinners to prevent the clot from developing further. If infection occurs, antibiotics along with painkillers may be necessary as these tumors are usually painful.
Another way to reduce fluid accumulation is to limit salty foods, and in some cases, when the kidneys are unable to process more than a certain amount, patients limit fluid intake.
Finally, exercise and some massage techniques may also be necessary to relieve leg swelling. They should only be undertaken after consulting a doctor, as some exercises may worsen the situation.
If the swelling is not caused by any serious reasons, it will be enough to simply reduce the pressure on the sore leg. Elevating your legs on a sofa or chair can be a great option for relieving leg swelling as you get older. Placing an ice pack on an elevated leg may also provide relief.
If you suspect a drug you are taking is causing leg swelling, talk to your doctor before stopping it.
Lie on your back or do this exercise while sitting. Raise your legs, point your toes forward, and then extend them in the opposite direction. Perform about 30 repetitions three times a day.
Another exercise: sitting or lying down, tighten your gluteal muscles. Try to hold the tension for a few seconds and then relax. Take a few seconds break, then repeat. Perform 10 exercises three times a day.
Third exercise: Lying on your back, bring one knee to your chest. Now return your leg to the starting position. One leg should remain extended and motionless while the other bends. Switch legs and repeat the action. Try to do about 10 repetitions, three times a day.
The risk of developing leg edema most often exists in people with heart failure, so there is even a special term “cardiac leg edema”. The symptom is also common in people with hypertension, liver disease and kidney disease. In cases where swelling is not accompanied by a serious medical condition, simple measures such as regular exercise, controlling salt in the diet and massaging the ankles at the first sign of swelling are quite effective. Sleeping with your legs slightly elevated also prevents fluid buildup during the night. Adequate hydration is also important, as water is a natural diuretic. Older adults showing early signs of heart failure or kidney disease should follow their doctor's recommendations and make necessary lifestyle changes to prevent the condition from worsening.
Swollen legs that swell in the evening are a problem that many people face. More often, women who are forced to spend most of their time on their feet suffer from swelling of the legs (because of this, the most common cause of swelling of the legs, they are called “sellers’ disease”). Swelling of the legs can be caused by a variety of reasons, and not all of them are harmless: in some cases, swelling of the legs can indicate quite serious diseases.
Swelling of the legs, as a rule, is not accompanied by pain, although unpleasant sensations (“ache” from tired legs) with swelling are quite common. Depending on the reasons, either both legs or one may swell, and swelling can be observed in the area of the feet, ankles, legs or even thighs. Due to the natural influence of gravity, swelling of the lower half of the body is much more noticeable and much more common.
Swelling may begin suddenly, but usually it begins unnoticed by the patient. At first, the patient may simply gain a little weight. How to gain weight and why do it even need to be done? . And this is precisely the main mistake - people seek help when the disease has already progressed enough
Normally, the fluids contained in our body move within the cardiovascular system. Human blood consists of blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets) and plasma. Blood cells are produced primarily by the bone marrow, and most of the chemicals that make up plasma (glucose, sodium, potassium, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, calcium, total protein, albumin, bilirubin, liver enzymes, and some other elements) produced in the liver. Together, blood cells and plasma form circulating blood, which the heart pumps, causing it to move through the arteries to various organs. The blood moving from the heart through the arteries is enriched with oxygen and therefore has a rich red color. Blood carries oxygen and important nutrients to the organs. After the blood passes through certain organs, it enters the veins. Now there is significantly less oxygen in it, and it appears bluish. Through the veins, blood returns to the heart, first passing through the lungs, where it is again saturated with oxygen.
Under normal conditions, all blood components remain within the circulatory system. However, in some cases it penetrates beyond the blood vessels. When blood cells are outside the veins and arteries, bruises form. When plasma penetrates the venous or arterial walls, edema appears. Usually, after an injury (bone fracture, muscle strain, soft tissue damage, dislocation, and so on), as a result of damage to the blood vessels, both blood cells and plasma enter the adjacent tissues - then hematomas and edema are formed simultaneously. When a person takes anticoagulants (blood thinners)—such as aspirin, heparin, or warfarin—even minor injuries can cause bruising and swelling because the medications change the way the blood clots.
Acute and chronic swelling of the legs is most often caused by external causes, including serious illnesses and potent drugs.
Salt is especially dangerous for patients. Do not ignore your doctor's advice and limit salt intake in your diet
Most often, swelling of the legs is a fairly harmless consequence of being in an upright position for a long time: if a person spends most of the time on his feet, then swollen legs in the evening are a completely natural phenomenon. Long flights or travel on public transport, which involve an uncomfortable posture, can also lead to swelling of the legs - most often the feet or ankles. Excess weight, circulatory problems, varicose veins, and some diseases increase the risk of leg swelling. In addition, swelling of the legs is typical for older people. Not always, however, swelling of the legs can be considered as a harmless and short-term phenomenon - in some cases, swelling of the extremities can be a sign of a serious illness. For example, swelling of the legs is characteristic of certain diseases of the cardiovascular system, impaired renal function, and liver function. Finally, swelling of the legs may indicate an acute inflammatory process due to arthritis or degenerative changes in the joints of the extremities.
If swelling of the legs is accompanied by the appearance of other, more unpleasant symptoms, it is better to consult a doctor - timely diagnosis and prompt treatment of certain diseases accompanied by swelling. Swelling: symptoms and treatment (in particular, kidney diseases) are very important. It is necessary to seek medical help if swelling is accompanied by shortness of breath, chest pain, redness of the skin of swollen areas of the legs, pain and fever.
Standing or sitting in one place for a long time can worsen the situation. Be sure to do leg exercises three to four times a day. Simply raising and lowering your legs can significantly improve your overall condition.
Almost any leg injury leads to immediate swelling. Normally, swelling goes away as damaged tissue is restored. In some cases, the injuries are so severe that the soft tissue needed to maintain blood flow in the veins of the legs and lymph flow is damaged. Such patients often develop chronic swelling in the leg that was injured. In addition, both injuries and treatment after them increase the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis and venous insufficiency.
How to deal with swelling of the legs
Movement is vital for patients with edema. It allows you to maintain the functionality of your body and facilitates the evacuation of excess fluid. Consult your doctor, he will tell you what exercises are best to perform in this condition. Walking, swimming and cycling are especially beneficial
As you know, the best treatment method is prevention, and leg swelling is no exception. Since most often swelling of the legs is not caused by any serious diseases, but by minor disorders in the body, preventing the appearance of edema is quite simple. First of all, it is necessary to eliminate the influence of all risk factors - normalize weight (obesity very often provokes swelling), change your diet and eat right (fluid retention in the body, causing swelling of the legs, can be a direct consequence of too much salt in the diet).
Provide your feet with the necessary rest: if for some reason you are forced to spend most of the day on your feet, take just a few minutes an hour to rest - and the swelling of your feet will decrease. The best way to get rid of swelling of the legs and prevent their occurrence is to rest in a horizontal position, with your legs raised above the level of your body. Of course, you can’t always afford such rest during the day, but at least try to set aside a few minutes to just sit down and stretch your legs. If swelling of the legs appears after a long stay in an uncomfortable position (for example, during a long flight on an airplane), try to change your position more often - you can even stand up, walk around, stretching your limbs.
Spend a little more time on physical activity: playing sports normalizes blood circulation and metabolism, violations of which are considered one of the most common causes of leg swelling. Avoid clothes that are too tight or too tight, such as skinny jeans or trousers. Contrasting foot baths will help relieve the feeling of discomfort in legs that swell in the evening and “ache” from fatigue. Foot baths: for relaxation and health, quickly relieving swelling.
Why leg joints may hurt - this is the question that brings many people of different genders and ages to the doctor’s office. Without examinations, it is impossible to establish the cause of pain, since its occurrence can be provoked by a wide variety of pathologies and injuries.
Causes of pain
When is a doctor needed?
Diseases that cause joint pain
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There are a huge number of causes of joint pain. The first thing you might suspect is injury. Dislocations, fractures, sprains, cracks, bruises will definitely cause pain. And if there was no injury, but the joints hurt, then this may indicate the presence of the following diseases:
In some diseases, it is not the joints themselves that may hurt, but other organs, the pain from which radiates to the joint. An example of such diseases is venous thrombophlebitis, vascular atherosclerosis, venous stagnation, pinched nerves in the spine, etc.
You should seek help immediately if you experience the following symptoms:
In other cases, you should also not try to cure joint pain on your own and consult a doctor at the first opportunity. After all, the transition of some joint diseases into a chronic form can complicate movement or even immobilize the legs.
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Arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints. The most commonly affected joints are the knees and feet. There are several types of arthritis depending on the etiology, but the symptoms will be the same for all:
This type of disease combines the appearance of arthritis and psoriasis. It affects men and women aged 25-45 equally often. Arthritis can develop both after the onset of psoriasis and before it. The most common causes of this disease are disruptions of the nervous system, previous injuries, taking certain medications, infectious diseases, and heredity. Both large and small joints can be affected.
In severe cases, the disease may cause fever, myocarditis, polyneuritis, and kidney inflammation.
Treatment of the disease should be carried out simultaneously by two doctors: a rheumatologist and a dermatologist. It is impossible to completely cure the disease, however, by starting timely therapy, you can slow down the rate of development of the disease, reduce symptoms and avoid the development of severe complications.
For treatment the following is prescribed:
In addition to treatment with pharmaceutical drugs, courses of special physical therapy are prescribed.
This type of arthritis is the most severe. Its development involves a disruption of the immune system, as a result of which immune cells begin to attack joint cells, mistaking them for foreign agents. The knee and interphalangeal joints are most often affected. When the disease is advanced, almost all joints of the body can be affected. The exact causes of the disease have not yet been established.
The disease occurs more often in women than in men. Most patients are over 30 years old.
It is almost impossible to recover completely from the disease. All drugs used in therapy eliminate the symptoms of the disease and prevent its progression.
As part of complex therapy, the following are used:
Physiotherapeutic treatments, laser and cryotherapy are also prescribed.
This type of arthritis occurs after a traumatic injury to the joint. This type of arthritis is most common in the ankle and knee joints. The disease is equally common in men and women, with risk groups being athletes and people with constant heavy loads on their joints.
Treatment of such arthritis depends on the degree of damage to the joint and includes the use of medications (NSAIDs, glucocorticoids), massages, physiotherapeutic procedures and exercise therapy.
This type of arthritis develops due to the deposition of uric acid salts in the joint cavities.
Gouty arthritis is more common in men aged 35-50 years. Women are exposed to this disease at the age of 55-70 years. The reasons may be metabolic disorders in the body, heredity, unhealthy diet, taking certain medications, etc. Small joints are primarily affected, in particular the toes.
Treatment includes 2 areas: relieving gout attacks and preventing relapses.
In complex therapy the following are used:
Arthrosis is a dystrophic disease in which intra-articular cartilage is destroyed. This disease is the most common among all joint diseases. Both men and women suffer from arthrosis equally often, starting from about 30 years of age. The older you are, the higher the chance of developing the disease.
There are several types of arthrosis:
Arthrosis develops as a result of a violation of intra-articular metabolism, which causes a loss of elasticity of cartilage. This can be caused by excessive stress on the joint, metabolic disorders, heredity, circulatory disorders of the joint, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, etc.
Treatment of arthrosis should be comprehensive and include, in addition to taking medications, physiotherapy, exercise therapy, and an orthopedic regimen.
Drug treatment includes:
This disease develops rather slowly due to the destruction of joint structures, damage to cartilage and changes in the capsule. Knee and hip joints are more susceptible to this disease. The disease occurs with equal frequency in people of both sexes after 45-50 years.
The causes of osteoarthritis are age-related changes, genetic predisposition, excess weight, and joint injuries.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis are mild. Sometimes, even when the diagnosis is confirmed by X-ray examination, no symptoms may be observed. The pain is not constant: during the period of exacerbation the pain is severe, during the period of stability it is completely absent.
In more severe cases:
For treatment, drugs from the group NSAIDs, glucocorticoids, and chondroprotectors are used. A complex of therapeutic exercises and physiotherapy is also prescribed.
Although this disease is less known to a wide range of the population, it is no less common than arthritis and arthrosis. This disease is characterized by damage to the meniscus of the knee joint. The cause of its development can be injuries, sprains, excessive stress on the knees, gout, arthritis, etc. Depending on which meniscus is damaged, medial and lateral meniscopathy are distinguished.
Treatment of meniscopathy can be conservative or surgical. Conservative treatment includes taking NSAIDs, glucocorticoids, and chondroprotectors. If such treatment does not produce results or the cyst, effusion or hemarthrosis is severe, then arthroscopy is performed. This operation removes accumulated effusion and restores the meniscus.
A lot of different diseases can cause pain in the joints of the legs. Therefore, if even minor periodic pain occurs, you should consult a doctor. This will allow you to start treatment on time and prevent the development of complications.
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This pain is familiar to many. This may be soreness in the hip joint or knee joint, or the joints of the toes may hurt. The pain is aching and sharp. And in each case we can talk about different ailments.
If you choose the wrong shoes, they can cause pain in your feet.
But the main reasons are overexertion and injury.
They occur after intense physical activity in people of any type, without exception. In this case, the help of doctors will not be needed. The pain in the joints of the legs is not severe, is aching in nature, can increase with movement, and goes away with rest. Slight hyperemia of the skin in the area of a joint may sometimes be observed.
Such pain goes away on its own after a short rest. But if they are strong, then you can resort to creams and ointments with an analgesic effect (drugs Indomethacin, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac). The medicine is applied to the joint area on the skin with massaging movements two to three times a day.
Pain in the joints of the legs, the cause of which is injury, usually occurs after this injury (immediately or some short time later). In this case, the cartilage, capsule or ligaments are damaged. The pain will be constant. It is felt at rest, but intensifies with movement. Accompanied by hyperemia of the skin in the joint area, limited movement and swelling.
If the pain symptom is not expressed, there is no swelling, and the contours of the joint are not changed, then it is enough to give it rest and limit the limb’s movement. It’s as if an elastic bandage was specially created for these purposes. It needs to be wrapped around the affected area, capturing the area below and above the joint - this will help the bandage stick better.
The first twenty-four hours after injury, to avoid severe swelling, you can apply a cold compress, but not more than half an hour. To prevent frostbite, a cold compress should be applied through clothing. The next day, warm, but not hot, compresses are applied to the joint. They will increase blood circulation and speed up the recovery of damaged areas.
In the first 24 hours after the injury, the joint should be placed in an elevated position (a pillow under the injured knee joint).
For severe pain, creams and ointments with an analgesic effect are used. If the measures taken do not reduce pain in the joints of the legs, then the reasons may be more serious, and in this case it is worth making an immediate visit to a traumatologist to prescribe appropriate treatment after examination.
This age group has many ailments, the symptoms of which include pain in the joints of the legs. Only a doctor can determine and prescribe the causes and treatment. But any parent, by paying attention to some points, will be able to establish a probable cause.
During the period when the child is rapidly growing, he may experience some discomfort, pain in the joints of the left leg and right leg, in the muscles and bones. These “growing pains” should not be taken as something terrible. They will have no consequences, and they do not require treatment. More often, girls between eight and fourteen years old suffer from such troubles. If the child’s activity is not reduced, he has a good appetite and mood, then, most likely, growing pains are observed.
He needs to be told what kind of pain is in the joints of his legs. The causes are related to growth, and in most cases they will go away on their own. A warm heating pad or a light massage can bring relief.
But if joint pain is accompanied by additional symptoms, then the child should be shown to a doctor. After all, he may have a serious illness.
Pain in the joints of the left leg, right leg, and other joints, coupled with a skin rash, general hyperthermia, local swelling and redness, can occur with such ailments as:
The cause of joint pain in adults can also be a great variety of diseases. That is why it is important to immediately pay attention to pain in the joints of the legs, the causes and treatment of which can be determined and prescribed by a doctor.
To make an assumption before visiting a doctor, it is worth studying all the accompanying symptoms. Thus, aching pain in the joints of the legs or acute pain in combination with fatigue, weakness and hyperthermia of the body can indicate a number of diseases.
One of them is rheumatoid arthritis. A chronic disease accompanied by inflammation of connective tissue. In this case, the pain comes suddenly and will increase over the course of one to two weeks. The painful effect will be felt both in the joint itself and in the muscles surrounding it. In the morning and at rest, the discomfort increases. Several or one joint may be affected. The inflamed joint becomes larger, the skin reacts to touch. Hyperthermia and redness are noted. Limited mobility. Morning stiffness is typical, when the joint does not work well for about an hour until the person wakes up.
This type of pain is usually associated with chronic illnesses, due to which there is a slow destruction of cartilage. They are called degenerative.
Aching pain in the joints of the legs will be long-lasting and gradually progress. Osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis) is one of these ailments. The pain is slight at first, but later becomes more pronounced. The disease affects those joints that bear the maximum load. Therefore, pain in the hip joints of the legs, knees, and ankles most often indicates this disease. It may intensify in the evening and occur during sleep.
The hip joint begins to react painfully when it itself is affected. It is worth studying the accompanying signs. Fever, rash, inflammation of other joints - rheumatoid arthritis. Vague pain radiates to the lower back, buttock, groin area, knee, along the back of the thigh - similar to avascular necrosis of the femoral head. The pain appeared a long time ago, progressed slowly, intensifies when walking and standing for a long time, gait is impaired - osteoarthritis. Pain in the joint itself occurs along with severe pain in the lumbar part, and radiates to the knee, to the back of the thigh - characteristic of lumbosacral radiculitis.
A dysfunctional knee joint can seriously affect your plans for work and daily activities.
Knee pain for an elderly or obese person, which intensifies when walking, as well as when standing for a long time, or moving up and down the stairs, indicates osteoarthritis as a likely cause.
Along with the pain, there is redness, swelling of the skin at the site of the affected joint, skin rash, and increased body temperature - there may be a whole galaxy of arthritis (reactive, infectious, rheumatoid).
The pain came suddenly, the mobility of the joint is impaired, you cannot lean on your leg - this could be gout.
Pain in the joints of the toes occurs in many diseases.
Gout is a disease characterized by a periodically occurring inflammatory reaction of the joints. The joint at the base of the big toe is the first to be affected, but later others (ankle, knee) may also be involved. The pain comes suddenly, often at night or in the morning. It is pronounced and therefore the movement of the entire joint, and more often the entire limb, is disrupted. The affected joint swells, skin hyperemia is observed, and the skin reacts to touch with pain. After some time, the inflammation goes away on its own, only to reappear after a couple of months or years, in the same joint or in several.
Valgus deformity of the first finger. The disease is characterized by outward deviation of the base of the first finger. In this case, the foot becomes deformed, a kind of bump appears, which increases over time. There is severe pain in the affected area.
Pain in the joints of the toes can also be associated with rheumatoid arthritis, which was discussed above.
If a person has pain in the joints of the legs, the cause and treatment will be prescribed and determined by a doctor. That is why you should visit it as soon as possible. He will not only hear the symptoms that the patient describes to him, but will also prescribe additional studies to identify what went unnoticed. This will make it easier for the doctor to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.
Providing rest will help reduce pain in the diseased joint and speed up recovery. In some cases, an elastic bandage should be applied for this. The patient is shown complete rest so that the affected joint is not loaded with work.
Pain in the joints of the feet and other joints can be eliminated with the help of painkillers, which can be in the form of ointments, injections, and tablets. Ointments with an analgesic effect and relieving inflammation - “Efkamon”, “Viprosal B”, “Indomethacin”, “Ibuprofen”, “Voltaren”. Each such remedy has its own heap of contraindications, and they should be studied before using the remedy. The ointment is applied to the affected area in a thin layer and rubbed in with massaging movements. The procedure is repeated two to three times a day.
Pain in the joints of the legs, the causes and treatment of which was determined and prescribed by an aesculapian, is best treated with the following drugs:
There are diseases of the hip, knee, and ankle joints of the foot (toes). Important information:
Causes of diseases of the leg joints:
Arthritis, arthrosis, gout in the modern world are tormenting more and more people. This is due to a sedentary lifestyle, most often sedentary. Improper lifting of heavy weights contributes to joint dysfunction because the pressure on the joints is unevenly distributed. As a result, some people barely work, while others are forced to cope with double work.
Dysfunction of the immune system results in a distorted response to various factors. Therefore, the body can provoke inflammation in the joints itself.
What we put on our feet to protect us often becomes the root cause of illness. Doctors recommend choosing your shoes carefully. It should be soft, with a wide nose and a heel of up to 4 centimeters. You can use orthopedic insoles.
If pain or crunching occurs in one or more joints, it is recommended to immediately consult a doctor. After all, untimely treatment will lead to serious consequences: limitation of limb movements and even disability.
The specialist will conduct a diagnosis and prescribe treatment based on the research results. The course of the disease will be under control, so recovery will not be long in coming.
Arthritis, arthrosis and gout require complex and long-term treatment. After all, the most important thing is to fight the cause of the disease, and not its consequences. Medication is only a small step on the path to recovery. You need to strictly adhere to the doctor’s recommendations, reconsider your lifestyle and diet.
Only a doctor will be able to select a set of necessary methods for treating leg joints, because an individual approach to each case is vital for patients who have lost the joys of a normal life.
Among the prescribed medications are the following:
Anti-inflammatory - to relieve inflammation and pain (indomethacin, diclofenac, brufen, acetylsalicylic acid).
Corticosteroid drugs - hormones to quickly suppress inflammation (hydrocortisone, triamcinolone, prednisolone). Injected directly into the most painful joints
Chondroprotectors – accelerate the restoration of cartilage tissue, inhibit the process of its decomposition (alflutop, artron flex). These drugs are prescribed at the beginning of the disease, because it is not possible to restore completely destroyed cartilage.
The most pleasant treatment is provided by massage and spa, unfortunately, not the cheapest pleasures, but so necessary for a complete recovery. Prosthetics and surgery are used when the disease is advanced or there is no other option, for example, with dysplasia.
Exercises for cellulite on the legs are not as important for health as exercise, which helps strengthen the joints of the legs, but, nevertheless, is in great demand among modern women.
From time immemorial, humanity has known how to treat leg joints using the gifts of nature. There are a great many recipes that relieve pain in joint diseases and help remove salts and uric acid from the body.
In order not to encounter diseases such as arthritis and arthrosis, you need to monitor your weight, lead a healthy lifestyle, and walk more often.
Uncomfortable shoes distort your gait, disrupt your posture, and overload your leg joints. Tight shoes contribute to the deformation of the foot and the formation of a “bunion” - a lump at the base of the big toe.
If arthrosis is left untreated, it will lead to complete immobility of the joint. It can be replaced with a prosthesis, but even after surgery the functions of the limbs are impaired. They become shorter and, when relaxed, remain in an unnatural position.
If diseases of the leg joints are not identified and treated in a timely manner, this will lead to frequent pain, gait disturbance, deformation of the lower extremities, and curvature of the spine.
Human legs have a more massive bone and muscle structure, unlike the arms, as they are exposed to significant stress every day. After all, their main function is to move the body. Therefore, the lower limbs have a number of features - the ability to straighten the knee joint, a powerful ligamentous apparatus, the pelvic part has an expanded shape. This makes it possible to support the internal organs, and the large distance between the joints of the pelvis contributes to the stability of the body.
Human legs are longer than arms. Although in a newborn the length of the lower limbs is only sixty-five percent, but in an adult it is already one hundred and seven. The legs are stronger and more robust, and the arms are capable of a wider range of movements. This is achieved due to the length of the collarbones, the location of the shoulder blades and the characteristics of the shoulder girdle. The joints of the shoulders are slightly moved away from the body due to the collarbone, and due to the connection with the chest, the arms rest on the skeleton of the body.
Thanks to the shoulder blades for the upper limbs, freedom of movement is ensured. The shoulders are connected to the body by muscle tissue. The fossa in the scapula joint is the size of a quarter of the articular surface of the humerus bone. Due to this, the arms move freely, but at this particular point they are highly susceptible to dislocations.
The human forearm is shorter than the humerus. Due to this, the hand is capable of quick and precise movements, and also makes it possible to put less effort into lifting heavy objects. In humans, the hand is adapted to perform a wide range of movements due to the predominance of flexors in muscle tissue over extensors, and pronators over supinators.
Human limbs perform important functions that make it possible to move, play sports, work, and perform everyday household tasks.
Main functions of the upper limbs:
The legs support the entire weight of the body and provide the ability to move. The joints are more durable than those of the arms, the muscle corset is more powerful. With excessive physical activity or excess weight, the cartilage tissue in the joints wears out very much. Thus, the functional ability of the limbs suffers. The location of the joints and ligaments ensures the stability of the body while standing, walking, and running.
Among the muscle tissue in the legs there are many oblique fibers, which, due to elongation, ensure tirelessness and endurance of the limbs. The distinctive feature of the legs is the feet. They have springy vaults of transverse and longitudinal types. What makes a person capable of walking upright?
The feet provide weight distribution on the leg, absorb shocks, points during walking, and promote smooth movement and stability. The arch of a person’s foot is not formed immediately at birth, but closer to the year when the child takes his first steps.
The main structural units of the limbs are joints, bones, muscles, blood vessels, nerve fibers, and ligaments. Separately, it is worth highlighting the hands and feet as important and structurally complex elements of the limbs. Next, we'll take a closer look at each unit of leg and arm anatomy.
The arm is attached by the collarbone and scapula. The collarbone is located at the top of the sternum, and the shoulder blade is located above the upper ribs on the back side. It then articulates with the humerus bone. The latter holds the remaining bones of the arm. The next part is called the forearm. Consists of the ulna and radius bones, which are connected to form a joint.
The next section is the most complex and multifunctional - the brush. Which in turn is divided into departments:
The leg on top consists of the ischium, ilium and pubic bones of the pelvis. They provide support for the body. At the age of eighteen, these bones fuse and form the acetabulum. The femur bone fits into it, forming the joint. Thanks to it, the leg rotates and supports the weight of a person.
The femur ends at the patella, which fits into the kneecap. Next is the tibia and the tibia. And actually the last element is the foot. There are twenty-six bones in its structure.
The foot is divided into three parts, just like the hand:
The hand consists of three large joints (shoulder, elbow and wrist), as well as a huge number of small ones. Large joints of the upper limbs:
The hand consists of four types of joints:
The longest range of movements is provided by the last two groups of joints. The remaining joints perform an additional function without particularly participating in movements.
The following is a table of the joints of the human lower extremities.
Ligaments connect bones to each other, fixing them in a certain position, and limit the range of their movements. Ligaments are located in and around joints, and are named identically to the bone joints to which they are attached.
The following bundles are in your hands:
The lower limbs are represented by the following ligaments:
The leg muscles are very strong, since their main function is to ensure mobility of bones and joints. On the thigh is the quadriceps, which allows you to bend the lower leg. The sartorius muscle also provides flexion of the tibia and femur. It also allows you to rotate your hip. Two more groups of leg muscles are adductors and medials. Thanks to them, the femur rotates inward, raising and lowering the thigh towards the body.
The calf muscles allow you to raise and lower your foot. The external muscles of the lower leg lower the foot and flex the sole, and the rear muscles raise the heel and allow you to stand on your toes. There are eleven muscles of different sizes and shapes in the foot. They are responsible for the movements of the fingers and lifting the foot off the surface (in total, thirty-eight different muscles of the body are used to perform this function).
The muscle structure of the arms is very numerous. It is very difficult to list all the names, since the forearm alone has about twenty bundles. It is worth highlighting that there are two types of muscle fibers - extensors at the back of the bones, flexors at the front. They envelop the entire structure of the upper limb and allow it to fulfill its functional purposes. The muscles of the hand are divided into thenars, gopotenars and middle ones.
This part of the structure provides the limbs with blood supply (oxygen and micronutrients) and innervation (impulses to the spinal cord and brain and back). The upper limbs are supplied by the subclavian artery, which then passes into the axillary and brachial arteries. And then the branches connect and flow into the ulnar artery, from which there is a branch further along the arm and hand.
The venous network has a similar structure, and there are also subcutaneous vessels on both parts of the arm. The nervous system begins in the shoulder area. And then there is a branching through the nerve columns - axillary, musculocutaneous, radial, median fibers and ulnar.
Blood circulation in the legs also passes in three directions - arteries, veins and capillaries. The latter are small vessels located close to the surface of the skin. They receive blood from the eight large veins of the leg, which in turn connect to form the femoral vein. Arteries pass through the entire leg - femoral, tibial (anterior and posterior), under the knee, dorsal for blood supply to the foot, lateral, medial (the last two on the sole).
The nerve canals in the leg begin from the lumbar region and move to the nerve of the thigh. The innervation of the lower leg is carried out by the perineal, tibial and subcutaneous fibers. Three nerves are responsible for the foot - medial, lateral and gastrocnemius.
All nerve channels are interconnected and impulses pass from one to another. This system provokes referred pain. When the injury is localized in one place, and the pain syndrome spreads to several parts of the limb. Or there is a problem in the spine, but the leg hurts.
The main joints of the lower extremities are:
1. Hip, connecting the femur and pelvic bone.
2. The knee joint connects the tibia, femur and patella.
3. Ankle - connection of the fibula, tibia and talus bones.
4. Joints of the foot and toes.
disorders that result in pain in the joints of the legs. Therefore, it is most convenient to describe them by dividing them into pathologies that can occur in any of the listed joints, and diseases characteristic of a specific area.
Common diseases that cause pain in the joints of the legs:
Lesions of specific joints:
Arthritis is an inflammatory process in the joint, which is a manifestation of any of the systemic connective tissue diseases:
There are 2 forms of arthritis:
1. Acute, characterized by severe pain, swelling, increased temperature in the joint area, and redness of the skin.
2. Chronic, occurring slowly, not pronounced, and causing pain periodically, occasionally.
This lack of obviousness of symptoms in the second case is actually the main danger of the chronic form of arthritis. The patient does not pay attention to the existing disease for a long time, and thus can bring the diseased joint to complete destruction.
Arthritic pain in the joints of the lower extremities most often has a fairly pronounced intensity. It occurs not only during movement, but also at rest. In addition, with any arthritis, severe swelling and swelling of the affected area is observed. The skin over the inflamed joint becomes red or purple in color. Local temperatures also increase. Arthritis is also characterized by limited mobility in the joint: its flexion and extension are impaired.
The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is that the patient’s immune system, for some unknown reason, perceives the cells of its own body as foreign and tries to destroy them. This leads to inflammation, dysfunction, and as a result, the development of disease.
The course of rheumatoid arthritis is usually chronic. The inflammation first affects the joints of the hands or toes, and then spreads through the extremities, gradually affecting all the joints from the bottom up on the legs and arms.
The most characteristic sign of this disease is the symmetry of joint damage. This means that the inflammatory process develops in the same joints on both limbs at the same time (for example, both knee or both hip joints begin to bother).
In areas affected by the disease, swelling and redness of the skin is observed. The limbs do not move fully in them. And the joints themselves acquire a characteristic spindle-shaped shape.
The pain can be constant or intermittent. Sharp, severe pain is not typical for this disease. They are quite noticeable, but quite tolerable. A person notices stiffness - difficulty moving for several hours after sleep. The patient says that he needs to “disperse.” After physical activity, the pain decreases somewhat.
In the absence of timely treatment, dislocations and subluxations may develop in the affected joints. There are two main reasons for such conditions:
1. Ligaments and joint capsules are destroyed, which deprives the joints of stability. At the same time, the tendons continue to exert traction. This leads to deformation.
2. Tendons can be destroyed, which also develops inflammation. They are replaced by scar tissue and tear in places where they are exposed to friction and pressure.
Psoriatic arthritis in most cases develops in patients who already have psoriatic plaques on the skin - dry, reddish, scaly patches on the surface of the body and scalp.
Psoriatic lesions of the joints of the lower extremities, especially the fingers, are characterized by “axial inflammation.” All small joints of the finger are affected at once, it turns red and takes on a sausage-like shape. In addition, this disease is not characterized by symmetry of the process.
Gout is a disease caused by metabolic disorders, in particular purines. It is caused by an increase in the concentration of uric acid in the blood and the deposition of its salts (urates) in the joint tissues.
Most often, the first sign of a gout attack is pain in the big toe joint. But as the lesion progresses, the pathological process gradually involves an increasing number of joints. This condition is called polyarthritis.
A gout attack begins mainly at night. It is characterized by a rapid increase in local temperature around the affected joint and its redness. Its swelling and pain also increases rapidly. An excruciating burning pain can spread from the toes up the leg. On average, the duration of a typical gout attack ranges from several days to several weeks.
Exacerbations of this disease occur 2-6 times a year. Factors that can trigger the onset of an attack are:
Another characteristic sign of gout is tophi, which look like foci of pathological compactions located in the subcutaneous tissue. They usually form above the affected joints, on the extensor surfaces of the legs and thighs, on the Achilles tendons, on the ears or on the patient’s forehead.
More about arthritis
Pain in the joints of the lower limb can be bothersome due to arthrosis, a disease that is based on early wear and tear of the cartilage covering the joints of the bones. Such cartilage becomes thinner, cracks, dehydrates and loses its shock-absorbing properties. All this is manifested by pain. In most cases, this disease affects older people. But there are also hereditary, familial forms of osteoarthritis. In this case, the onset of the disease is noted in adolescence, or even childhood.
Pain due to osteoarthritis is most often observed in the knee and hip joints. But this pathology can also affect the small joints of the feet.
Classic symptoms of osteoarthritis:
Pain in osteoarthritis is usually dull and intensifies during the day, especially with physical stress. Its intensity is much less in the morning and after a long rest. From time to time, characteristic clicking and crunching sounds can be heard in the joints. As the disease progresses, the pain syndrome intensifies. The pain does not stop after rest, and may appear even at night. The course of osteoarthritis is wavy: sometimes the exacerbation lasts several months, and sometimes the attack can stop after just a couple of days.
More about osteoarthritis
Tendinitis, or tendinosis, is a group of inflammatory lesions of the tendons. If the process spreads to the tendon and the membrane that surrounds it, then they speak of tenosynovitis. Both diseases are characterized by pain and impaired motor function.
The joints of the lower extremities are fixed by a fairly large number of ligaments and tendons. Therefore, inflammatory processes in them will always lead to pain in the joint itself. In addition, when tendons become inflamed, their strength decreases. This creates the risk of ruptures, and therefore joint dislocations.
The main symptoms of tendon inflammation are:
In many cases, pain in the lower extremities is referred and comes from damaged segments of the lumbosacral spine. Such referred pain does not have visually detectable manifestations in the form of changes in the appearance of the affected joints. In addition, in such cases, joint mobility is fully preserved.
The main difference from direct joint lesions is the nature of pain:
1. Pain caused by spinal injuries bothers the patient not only when moving the legs, but also at rest, and in some cases can even wake up at night.
2. Painful sensations are not observed strictly in the area of the affected joint, but spread into it from the lumbar region, as if piercing the entire leg.
The cause of such pain can be pinched nerve pathways due to intervertebral hernias or spinal osteochondrosis. These disorders also lead to the development of radiculitis - inflammation of the nerve roots emerging from the spinal cord.
The main symptom of radiculitis is pain along the involved nerves, changes in sensitivity towards its increase or decrease. Sometimes movement disorders also occur. With lumbosacral radiculitis, the sciatic nerve, which innervates the entire lower limb, is affected. This disease is also called sciatica. Most often, this disease develops with osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine. Moreover, the spine itself may not bother you - the person will feel pain only along the course of the sciatic nerve.
With sciatica, pain is observed in the lower back and sacral area, as well as the buttocks. The pain intensifies with movement and radiates to the joints of the hip, leg and foot. A symptom characteristic of sciatica is bending and tucking the affected leg in bed. Such manipulations lead to some reduction in pain. Often the pain syndrome is accompanied by coldness of the limb, numbness of the skin and “crawling goosebumps”.
The following are characteristic of lumbosacral radiculitis:
Osteomyelitis is a disease characterized by a purulent-necrotic process that develops in the bone, bone marrow and soft tissues that surround them. The cause of this disease is the entry into the body of microorganisms that produce pus. Osteomyelitis is often a complication of various bone pathologies, including open fractures. In many cases, osteomyelitis can spread to the articular surfaces of the bones, causing pain.
Acute osteomyelitis occurs mainly in childhood. The disease begins with a sharp increase in temperature to 39-40 o C. The patient’s well-being quickly deteriorates because the body suffers from intoxication. The following symptoms are expressed:
The first 2 days of the disease are characterized by the appearance of severe pain in the affected area. The diseased limb is in a position that alleviates the condition. The patient cannot move the affected leg independently. Tissue swelling increases rapidly. The skin over the site of the lesion is reddened, tense, and there is often an increase in local temperature and a pronounced venous pattern. Next, arthritis of the joints located nearby may occur.
If the disease becomes chronic, the patient’s well-being improves, and the intensity of pain in the limb decreases. Signs of body intoxication disappear, body temperature normalizes. At the site of the lesion, fistulas (channels connecting the bone with the external environment) with a light purulent discharge are formed. Several fistulas can form a whole network, the exits from which will open at a considerable distance from the lesion. With osteomyelitis, joint immobility, shortening of the affected limb and bone curvature further develop.
More about osteomyelitis
Chondrocalcinosis is a disease associated with the deposition of calcifications in the cartilage of the joint. Calcium salts impair mobility in the joint, leading to pain and swelling. There are several forms of this pathology:
Pseudogout. It is characterized by a sudden onset with pain, swelling, redness of the skin and limited mobility in the joint. An attack of pain is usually accompanied by an increase in body temperature and can last up to several weeks. Similar attacks in some patients appear after surgery (often when removing the parathyroid gland), with acute vascular pathologies (stroke, myocardial infarction) or trauma.
In the absence of attacks, all of the listed symptoms disappear almost completely.
Pseudoreumatoid arthritis. This disease is characterized by stiffness in the morning, swelling, increasing deformation of the joints and limited mobility.
Destructive form. More common in women over 60 years of age. This form occurs in the form of polyarthritis, that is, it affects several joints at once. The disease may involve the hip, knee and ankle joints, as well as the elbow or shoulder joints. The destructive form of chondrocalcinosis is accompanied by severe pain and severe impairment of motor functions.
Latent form. The deposition of calcium salts in cartilage tissue may not manifest itself in any way. In this case, there is no pain syndrome, and the disease is detected x-ray.
Osteophytes are growths that form on the surface of cartilage and bone tissue. Such marginal growths occur due to mechanical stress on the joint, or as a result of calcium metabolism disorders. They are often accompanying osteoarthritis.
The appearance of osteophytes is accompanied by limitation of joint mobility. In addition, these formations always cause intense pain resulting from damage to surrounding tissues during movements in the joint.
Bursitis is an inflammation of the periarticular bursa, accompanied by the accumulation of fluid in it.
Bursitis occurs as an independent disease, as a result of chronic injuries, or can be a complication of arthritis. The main symptom of this disease is a mobile, round swelling, the size of a chicken egg, in the area of the affected joint. This formation has a soft consistency. This swelling is usually clearly visible and painful to the touch.
In the affected area, the temperature of the soft tissues rises, and the skin becomes purple. Bursitis almost always impairs movement in the limb to one degree or another. With a significant duration, the disease can become chronic.
Pathogenic microflora can join the inflammation. Then purulent bursitis develops, and all symptoms become more pronounced.
More about bursitis
Diffuse fasciitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the connective tissue membrane of the muscles attached to the joint. It is characterized by limited mobility, nagging pain in the joint and decreased muscle strength.
This disease is also manifested by changes in the properties of the skin over the affected area. It becomes rougher, loses elasticity, and becomes like an orange peel. Under such skin you can often feel pockets of compaction.
One of the causes of constant pain in the joints of the lower extremities can be flat feet. With this pathology, the arch of the foot flattens, it becomes flatter, which causes a violation of its shock-absorbing functions. Inertial loads when running or walking can reach up to 200% of a person’s body weight. The arch of the foot is designed to “extinguish” them, and if this does not happen, then they fall on the joints and muscles of the lower limb. Most often, the ankle and knee joints suffer, since they bear most of the load.
Flat feet are manifested by a feeling of “leaden” heaviness in the muscles, pain in the joints when moving and rapid fatigue when walking. In addition, the load on the spine also increases, since the body needs to somehow compensate for shocks and jolts when moving.
The main symptoms of flat feet: