Joint pain throughout the body is not a disease but a symptom. At the same time, painful sensations often spread to the muscles, as a result of which it can be difficult to get out of bed yourself. Many diseases lead to such unpleasant consequences, pain treatment is impossible without determining the exact cause. What symptoms to focus on and what to do?
The main causes of pain
If more than one joint hurts, not several, but all at once, this is a sign of systemic damage to the body. In addition, it is difficult to understand exactly where the pain is located - in joints, muscles, bones or anywhere at once. The pain is felt throughout the body, making it difficult to localize. Because of what all joints can hurt:
- For intense physical activity.
- Contagious disease.
- Pathological changes in connective tissue.
- Diseases of the circulatory system.
- Oncological diseases.
- Neuralgia.
As shown above, it is impossible to immediately understand the causes of pain. The exact cause can only be determined after passing appropriate studies. If hard physical work the day before is out of the question, we are talking about diseases that need to be treated.
Why it's dangerous
First of all, severe pain throughout the body reduces mobility, but this is not the biggest danger. The biggest threat is the disease, which provoked painful sensations in the joints. Self-medication in such cases is extremely dangerous as it will lead to only the symptoms will pass while the disease itself will develop. You can try to relieve pain and possible swelling on your own, but then you should definitely consult a doctor.
Disease symptoms
Every disease has symptoms that are only characteristic of it. Since pain is the most noticeable sign, the first thing to do is to define its properties:
- Type of pain (pain, sharp, cramps).
- Localization (joints, muscles around, bones).
- Whether it moves through the body or whether a separate area constantly hurts.
- Constant pain or seizures are intermittent.
- The intensity of the emotions.
In addition, the patient may feel weakness, severe fatigue, or muscle aches. Additional symptoms vary depending on the specific cause of the pain:
- Overvoltage. . . Excessive physical activity the day before can lead to pain throughout the day throughout the body. This is due to the production of lactic acid, which builds up in the muscles. In this case, a good warm-up is sufficient to relieve pain.
- Infections. . . Joint pain often accompanies diseases such as influenza, fever, meningitis and even common acute respiratory infections in an advanced form. In addition to pain, the symptom is supplemented with cough, skin rash, chills, weakness, nausea and indigestion, high body temperature.
- Viral hepatitis. . . With liver damage, in addition to possible pain, there is a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, a deterioration of appetite.
- Pathological changes in connective tissue. . . Gout, lupus erythematosus, polymyositis - all this can cause joint pain. In addition, some diseases of the heart, kidneys, lungs, vascular and nervous systems can also lead to painful sensations in the joints.
- Diseases of the blood. . . In addition to the sensation of pain in the body, the patient experiences fever, the skin becomes pale, lymph nodes, liver and spleen increase in size. In this condition, the vulnerability to infectious diseases increases. In an acute form, such diseases are life-threatening if not treated in time.
- Oncology. . . In the case of oncological tissue damage, joint pain may occur earlier than the disease itself is diagnosed. In addition, symptoms such as weakness, weight loss, poor appetite, fever, mood swings, depression talk about oncology.
- Neuralgia. . . In diseases of the nervous system, in addition to pain in joints and muscles, the patient may experience numbness in the fingertips, loss of sensitivity and weakness. In addition, hair begins to fall out and the skin becomes drier and thinner.
If joint pain is accompanied by one of the listed symptoms, it is a reason to consult a specialist.
Diagnostic methods
Who to contact with complaints of pain throughout the body:
- Rheumatologist.
- Hematologist.
- Oncologist.
- Infectionist.
After the doctor has examined the patient and heard the complaints, he should send the patient for examination. To identify the diagnosis, the following diagnostic methods are used:
- General urine analysis.
- General blood analysis.
- Blood biochemistry.
- LHC blood and smear analysis.
- Puncture of the bone marrow.
- CT and MRI.
- Neuromyography.
A comprehensive examination will provide a complete picture of the patient's condition. Only then can we talk about a specific disease and prescribe treatment.
Joint pain treatment
The treatment method is chosen by the doctor depending on the data obtained during the examination. The most common is drug therapy. A wide variety of medications can treat almost any cause of joint pain. The choice of drug groups depends on the type of disease:
- Antibiotics
- Anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Analgesics.
- Hormonal agents.
- Immunosuppressive agents
- Cytostatics.
Many drugs from the listed groups have serious contraindications - some of them should not be taken in the presence of tumors. In addition, almost all drugs have their own contraindications and side effects. This is one of the reasons why it is impossible to choose medicines independently and take them thoughtlessly. The exact dosage and type of medication is only prescribed by a doctor. If there are no results after the course of administration, the specialist can replace the drug with another.
Surgery is required in extreme cases where drug therapy is powerless. Usually the operation is prescribed for tumor diseases and blood diseases. In the case of cancer, the operation can be supplemented with radiation therapy, and in severe blood diseases a bone marrow transplant is required.
Prophylaxis
To prevent your joints from hurting, follow six simple recommendations:
- Proper nutrition. . . First, a balanced menu will provide the body with all the substances necessary for normal functioning. Second, eating well will help you maintain your weight. Obesity is known to be one of the causes of joint pain.
- Chondroitin and glucosamine. . . These substances are essential for joint health. They are found in meat, cartilage and fish.
- Drinking scheme. . . Fluid helps establish metabolism, if there is not enough water in the body, the nutrition of organs, muscles and joints will be inadequate. You should drink about 2 liters of water a day.
- Physical activity. . . Even regular gymnastics in the morning helps to normalize blood circulation, as a result, the joints will receive enough nutrients.
- Warning. . . Any joint damage should be avoided.
- Vitamin complexes and supplements. . . The missing vitamins and minerals can be obtained from preparations, the most important thing is to choose them correctly.
Simple tips can help keep your joints healthy. In addition to adjusting the diet and daily routine, it is necessary to regularly undergo preventive examinations by doctors. This will help to notice the disease in time and start treatment.