Joint pain all over the body is not a disease but a symptom. At the same time, painful sensations often spread to the muscles, as a result, it can be difficult to even get out of bed. Many diseases lead to such unpleasant consequences, treatment of pain 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 a few, but all at once, it is a sign of systemic damage to the body. In addition, it is difficult to understand exactly where the pain is located - in the joints, muscles, bones, or anywhere at the same time. The pain is felt all over the body, making it difficult to find. Because all joints can be damaged:
- Very strong physical activity.
- Infectious diseases.
- Pathological changes in connective tissues.
- Diseases of the circulatory system.
- Oncological diseases.
- Neuralgia.
As can be seen from the above, it is impossible to immediately understand the causes of pain. The exact cause can only be determined after you have passed the proper examinations. If heavy physical work the day before is ruled out, we are talking about diseases that need to be treated.
Why it is dangerous
First of all, severe pain throughout the body reduces mobility, but this is not the main risk. The main threat is the disease, which provoked painful sensations in the joints. Self-medication in such cases is extremely dangerous, as it will lead to the fact that only the symptoms will pass, while the disease itself will progress. You can try to relieve the possible pain and swelling yourself, but after that you should definitely consult your doctor.
Symptoms of the disease
Every disease has symptoms that are characteristic only of it. Since pain is the most obvious sign, the first thing to do is to determine its characteristics:
- Type of pain (pain, sharpness, cramps).
- Localization (joints, surrounding muscles, bones).
- If it moves through the body, or a specific area it hurts constantly.
- Persistent pain or seizures are permanent.
- Intensity of sensations.
In addition, the patient may feel weakness, severe fatigue, or muscle aches. Other symptoms vary depending on the specific cause of the pain:
- overcurrent. . . Excessive physical activity the day before can lead to the fact that the next day the whole body will ache. This is due to the production of lactic acid, which accumulates in the muscles. In this case, a good heat is enough to relieve the pain.
- Infections. . . Joint pain often accompanies diseases such as flu, fever, meningitis and even common acute respiratory infections in an advanced form. In addition to pain, symptoms are complemented by 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 whites of the eyes, a worsening of appetite.
- Pathological changes in connective tissue. . . Arthritis, lupus erythematosus, polymyositis - all of these can provoke joint pain. In addition, some diseases of the heart, kidneys, lungs, vascular and nervous systems can also lead to painful sensations in the joints.
- Blood disease. . . In addition to the sensation of pain in the body, the patient experiences fever, the skin becomes pale, the lymph nodes, liver and spleen increase in size. In this condition, susceptibility to infectious diseases increases. In an acute form, such diseases are life threatening if not treated in time.
- Oncology. . . With oncological tissue damage, joint pain may appear earlier than the disease itself is diagnosed. Moreover, symptoms such as weakness, weight loss, poor appetite, fever, mood swings, depression speak of oncology.
- Neuralgia. . . With diseases of the nervous system, in addition to pain in the joints and muscles, the patient may experience numbness in the fingertips, loss of sensation and weakness. In addition, hair begins to fall out and the skin becomes drier and thinner.
If joint pain is accompanied by any of the listed symptoms, this is a reason to consult a specialist.
Diagnostic methods
Where to deal with pain complaints throughout the body:
- Rheumatologist.
- Hematologist.
- Oncologist.
- Infectionist.
After the doctor examines the patient and hears the complaints, he should send the patient for examination. To identify the diagnosis, the following diagnostic methods are used:
- General urine analysis.
- General blood test.
- Blood biochemistry.
- Blood and LHC staining analysis.
- Bone marrow drilling.
- CT and MRI.
- Neuromography.
A comprehensive examination will give a complete picture of the patient's condition. Only then can we talk about a specific disease and prescribe treatment.
Treatment of joint pain
The method of treatment is chosen by the doctor depending on the data obtained during the examination. The most common is drug therapy. A wide range of medications can treat almost any cause of joint pain. The choice of groups of medicines depends on the type of disease:
- Antibiotics
- Anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Pain relievers.
- Hormonal agents.
- Immunosuppressants
- 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 medications have their own contraindications and side effects. This is one of the reasons why it is impossible to independently choose medicines and take them without thinking. The exact dose and type of medication is prescribed only by a doctor. If after the course of administration there are no results, the specialist can replace the medicine with another.
Surgery is required in extreme cases when drug therapy is powerless. Usually, surgery is prescribed for tumor diseases and blood diseases. In the case of cancer, surgery can be supplemented with radiation therapy, and in the case of serious blood diseases, a bone marrow transplant is required.
Prophylaxis
To prevent damage to your joints, you should follow six simple recommendations:
- Proper nutrition. . . First, a balanced menu will give the body all the substances needed for normal functioning. Second, good nutrition 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 the health of the joints. They are found in meat, cartilage and fish.
- Drinking regime. . . Fluid helps establish metabolism, if there is not enough water in the body, nutrition of organs, muscles and joints will be insufficient. You should drink about 2 liters of water a day.
- Physical activity. . . Even regular morning gymnastics will help normalize blood circulation, as a result, the joints will get enough nutrients.
- Careful. . . Any joint damage should be avoided.
- Vitamin complexes and dietary supplements. . . Missing vitamins and minerals can be obtained from preparations, the main 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 periodically undergo preventive examinations by doctors. This will help to spot the disease in time and start treatment.