Joint diseases: causes, symptoms and treatment

Joint inflammation is a natural reaction of the body, which is manifested by one or another pathogenic effect. As a rule, inflammatory processes have a negative effect on the inner lining of the joint and arise through the accumulation of synovial fluid in them. Inflammation of the joints leads to damage to cartilage tissue, ligaments, and periarticular tissues, which painfully hurt and swell. There is also a limitation in the movement of the joint, their motor function and the patient’s physical activity are lost.

What do inflamed joints look like?

The danger of the disease lies in the deformation of the joint, disorders of the musculoskeletal system, which can be irreversible if treatment of the disease is not started in a timely manner.

Inflammation of the joints of the legs and arms

Soreness in the joints of the fingers can occur as a result of injury. It can be:

fractures of arms, legs;
sprains;
bone displacement;
other.

For women, joint inflammation can occur as a result of hormonal imbalances. Weakened immunity, hereditary predisposition, metabolic disorders lead to the occurrence of a disease with pain in the joints of the arms and legs. Often, joint inflammation can occur during inflammation in the body. This depends on a number of diseases that can occur with greater or less intensity and affect the arms, legs, and spine. When the cartilage tissue of the hand is inflamed, the joint becomes deformed and the fingers become bent.

Gout often occurs on a person’s feet, and the joints of the hands also become inflamed. Inflammation of the joint of the big toe or hand is manifested by burning and intense pain. It is difficult for the patient to move his big toe or toe.

Reasons why the big toe becomes inflamed:

hereditary predisposition;
injury;
uncomfortable shoes;
poor nutrition;
infectious diseases;
hypothermia.

Inflammation of the ankle joint (arthritis) may be caused by the following diseases:

Bekhterev's disease;
rheumatoid arthritis;
joint psoriasis.

The course of these diseases leads to a significant burden on the immune system. Therefore, the immune system does not fully protect the body and accepts its own tissues as foreign. The disease gout contributes to metabolic disorders, which leads to the deposition of uric acid crystals into the joint cavity.

Important causes of ankle arthritis are flat feet and heavy loads. These factors can contribute to the long-term formation of microtraumas, which will lead to arthritis. The infectious nature of the disease occurs due to injuries to the joint.

How does arthritis of the hand joints manifest?

Causes of joint diseases

The causes of joint disease can be varied, but in order to prevent the development of the disease, you need to know the causes of its occurrence. Bone and joint disease can occur due to:

infectious diseases that a person suffers from (for example, tuberculosis, streptococcus);
mechanical damage to the articular joint, especially repeated;
allergic reactions that increase the overall sensitivity of the body;
disruptions of the endocrine system, including diabetes;
deterioration of blood supply, and, therefore, a decrease in cartilage nutrition.

Although genetic predisposition, hypothermia, gender, and the patient’s lifestyle may play a role in the development of bone and joint disease, the main prerequisites still relate to a person’s internal problems.

Inflammation in the elbow

Inflammation of the elbow can be internal or external. Internal formation - bursitis is manifested by inflammation of the joint capsule. External inflammatory process - epicondylitis is characterized by inflammation of the tendons and periosteum of the humerus. There are a large number of reasons due to which inflammation of the elbow joint occurs.

These factors include:

fresh or untreated injuries;
hypothermia;
a bite of an insect;
introduction of infection into the circulatory system through a source with a chronic infection or from the surface of a wound.

When infection penetrates into the cavity of the elbow joint, inflammation of the elbow joint occurs. Among the main reasons, it is worth noting the working professional factor, which has a negative impact on the elbow, manifesting itself in the form of load (friction) of the joint, heavy lifting, and sudden movement of the elbow. As a result, minor injuries to the ligaments and condyles of the elbow occur, and the external structures in the elbow become inflamed.

Inflammation of the elbow joint

Diagnostic measures

If you notice signs of illness, you should not hesitate to visit a doctor. Advanced forms of arthritis and attempts at self-medication can lead to complications, including generalized sepsis or bone necrosis. To prevent negative consequences and determine treatment tactics, a set of diagnostic measures is carried out.

List of examinations for joint inflammation:

history taking and visual examination;
general blood and urine analysis;
X-ray examination in two projections;
Magnetic resonance imaging;
Ultrasound of the joint;
arthroscopy;
cytological and bacteriological examination of synovial fluid;
analysis for the presence of rheumatoid factor if rheumatism is suspected, determination of the amount of uric acid to confirm gouty inflammation;
biopsy of joint tissue to exclude oncological tumors.

Knee inflammation

Tendinitis is a disease in which inflammation of the ligaments of the knee joint occurs. The course of the disease does not cause discomfort. Moreover, if the inflamed knee is not treated, the disease can become chronic.

Causes of inflammation of the ligaments in the knee:

knee injury;
sport exercises;
physical heavy load;
age factor;
deformation of limbs;
poor posture;
infectious diseases.

Due to certain difficulties during diagnosis and similar symptoms with other knee diseases, it is not always possible to detect meniscus damage. Therefore, drug treatment is prescribed, which is used during bruises and sprains.

Often after treatment, the patient returns to the normal rhythm of life. Over time, the knee joint experiences a full load, which can trigger the development of synovitis if there has been inappropriate treatment. Repeated injury to the knee joint or awkward movement can lead to another accumulation of synovial fluid in the knee joint. Then the function of the knee joint is impaired or the joint becomes blocked. This is called secondary inflammation of the meniscus or its chronic damage.

Inflammation of the meniscus is manifested by pain in the knee joint during movement. It is difficult for the patient to straighten the limb completely and sit down. Movement is carried out with outside help. When the blockade of the joint is removed, the function of the knee is restored.

This is what inflammation of the knee joint looks like

Main symptoms

Symptoms of joint diseases are approximately the same for several joint diseases. Therefore, it is advisable to consult a doctor so that he can choose the appropriate treatment, and most importantly, accurately establish the diagnosis. He will also tell you what prevention is necessary in each specific case.

The disease may have the following symptoms:

pain, mild in the initial stages and turning into severe sensations even at rest in the later stages;
a feeling of stiffness appears in the joint, it is impossible to move it;
in the area of the affected joint there is redness of the skin and an increase in its temperature;
the joint area swells;
the shape of the articular joint is distorted, this is visible to the average person;
There is a crunching sound when driving.

Spinal cord inflammation

Inflammation of the spinal cord (myelitis) is a rare disease that affects the entire area of the spinal column at once or some parts. If left untreated, inflammation can lead to disability.

Inflammation can occur due to various factors and is classified based on a number of pathogens:

Viral – the presence of polio, rabies, influenza, measles, typhus, sepsis.
Bacterial – the causative agent of the disease is streptococcus, a spirochete.
Traumatic pathogen - injury to the vessels of the spinal cord. The disease myelitis occurs when there is a spinal injury or infection.
Post-vaccination – myelitis occurs after a person is vaccinated.

Regardless of the reasons listed, inflammation of the spinal cord can contribute to the suppression of the immune system and destroy nerve cells.

Inflammation of the spine (spondylitis) is characterized by a chronic course of the disease and contributes to destruction and deformation of the vertebrae. The disease process can manifest itself in the area of the vertebrae, with ankylosing spondylitis. Also with osteomyelitis of the spinal column, in which inflammation of the spine begins from the bone marrow and spreads to the vertebrae.

Causes of spondylitis:

specific - the presence of bacteria that causes changes in the vertebrae;
nonspecific – microorganisms present contribute to the development of purulent formation;
rheumatoid – previous diseases (angina, pyoderma, carditis), the causative agent is streptococcus.

Predisposing factors include a long-term decrease in the immune system, spinal injury, and chronic infections.

Effective treatment with aloe leaves

Treatment methods for joint diseases

To properly treat joint problems, it is important to seek medical help. Treatment can be varied, so it is impossible to choose it for yourself. All treatment methods can be divided into three types:

therapeutic;
surgical;
alternative.

Therapeutic treatment

Joint diseases can be treated with this method in the first two stages. All drugs used to treat patients can be divided into several groups: etiotropic and symptomatic. Etiotropic drugs act primarily on the cause of the disease itself, while symptomatic drugs help to muffle the signs of the disease and make the patient feel better.

Diseases of the joints and spine can be treated with tablets, capsules, intramuscular, intravenous and intra-articular injections. Therapeutic methods of treatment can also include massages, therapeutic exercises, and physiotherapeutic procedures.

Surgical intervention

If the disease of bones and joints has reached the last stage and other more gentle treatment methods do not bring relief, then the doctor may prescribe joint replacement surgery. In some cases, the joint is not replaced, but simply secured in the desired position using splints. The course of the operation itself will depend on the course of the disease and other characteristics of the patient.

Alternative Treatments

This group of drugs includes traditional methods. More and more people are inclined to try to treat themselves in this way. First of all, this is due to the fact that treatment with natural drugs has a milder effect and does not cause severe side effects. Typically, to treat problems with the musculoskeletal system, herbs are used that have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial effects. However, even such therapy is best carried out under the guidance of a specialist knowledgeable in such treatment methods.

Traditional treatment

There are many diseases that result in inflammation of the joints, they cause inconvenience to the patient. Treatment can be long. To support the body during treatment, relieve inflammation, and speed up the healing process, you can resort to treatment at home using traditional medicine recipes.

One such remedy is aloe. Treatment with this plant will help relieve the patient from unbearable pain, speed up tissue restoration, and remove inflammation of the ligaments. Aloe leaves are juicy, so you can treat sore spots with the juice by taking it externally.

Effective treatment of the disease with aloe flower will be achieved if the plant is 3 years old.

Aloe juice at home should be taken before eating, 3 large spoons. Treatment with aloe leaves can also be done in this way. It is necessary to apply aloe to sore spots, after softening the leaves. Treatment is carried out on average 6 times per day.

Recipes

You will need to chop 5 cloves of garlic and half an onion. Mix the resulting mass. Then add a leaf from a 3-year-old aloe, a piece of wax, and a large spoonful of melted butter. Cook over low heat until boiling. Then grind the remaining lumps and cool. The compress is left on all night and wrapped in a scarf.

For the second recipe you need honey, aloe juice, and vodka. The compress is applied no more than 2 times a day. Treatment takes 30 minutes.

To make an ointment at home, you will need equal proportions of aloe juice, honey, and boiling water. It is necessary to evaporate the resulting mass in a water bath for 5 minutes, then cool. The compress should be applied before bedtime 1-2 times for 7 days. Treatment lasts on average 30 days.

Causes and symptoms of arthritis

The reasons for the development of arthritis can be very different. The natural processes of aging lead to wear and tear of the joints, so such diseases are typical for older people. It can also be diseases of the nervous or immune system, healed injuries, severe or prolonged hypothermia, allergies, excessive physical activity, excess weight, genetic predisposition, diabetes, sore throat, pneumonia, etc.

Symptoms of arthritis are characteristic of most joint diseases: swelling and swelling, which are a consequence of changes within the tissue of the joint. Minor pain in the early stages of the disease, which over time becomes permanent and unbearable. A crunching sound and partial limited mobility of the joint may appear.

Video. Joint inflammation

When using any prescription to get rid of an illness, you should consult your doctor. The reason is the possible harm to health during treatment with some of the drugs used.

What to do when your knee is inflamed: treatment

Many people try to get rid of inflammation on their own using traditional medicine. But the sooner the patient contacts a specialist, the faster he can be cured with the help of medications. In this case, an accurate diagnosis must be made. You will need to donate blood for a biochemical analysis.

Medicines to treat inflammation:

Nonsteroidal drugs. They not only relieve inflammation, but also relieve pain, swelling and redness. But they cannot be used for a long time.
Glucocorticosteroids. Used as injections directly into the source of the problem. They are used only in severe cases, as they carry many side effects.
Antibiotics and antiviral drugs. Act on the pathogen. Can only be used with a doctor's prescription.
Vitamins. Designed to strengthen the immune system.
Immunomodulators. It is recommended to use components based on medicinal herbs. These are tinctures and teas to strengthen the body's protective properties.
Chondroprotectors. Aimed at improving cartilage tissue. This is an additional component in complex treatment.

Inflammation is often treated with folk remedies. It is recommended to use them in combination with drug therapy. These include compresses made from chamomile, cabbage leaves, tinctures of nettle and chamomile, and Kalanchoe.

It is prohibited to heat the site of inflammation. Heat improves the spread of infection, leads to purulent processes, and worsens the condition of soft tissues.

You can prepare an anti-inflammatory mixture. It includes St. John's wort, calendula, mint, chamomile. Compresses made from aloe and honey are often used. Don't forget about physical therapy. Massage, acupuncture, magnetotherapy, and electrophoresis show good results.

Physiotherapy for arthritis

Physiotherapy for arthritis helps in treating joints, inflammation goes away, and along with it there is swelling and pain. Individually selected procedures by a physiotherapist have proven themselves in the treatment of joint inflammation. Among them are manual therapy, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and amplympulse.

Treatment of inflamed joints is impossible without the use of massage. After all, it is this procedure that relaxes the muscles, increases their elasticity, improves blood supply and increases the range of motion of diseased joints.

Paraffin baths help fight pain, relieve spasms and improve joint mobility. The procedure involves applying a mixture of warm paraffin and essential oils to the affected area for 30-35 minutes.

Experts also advise not to ignore exercise therapy, swimming and mud baths.