When the joints of the legs hurt and swell, it is important to clearly interpret the symptoms of the pathology and make a correct diagnosis. The causes of pain can be very diverse. They arise as a result of damage to the ligaments,
tendons, joints, bones, muscles, as well as nerve endings and blood vessels. In each case, there is a different nature of pain and symptomatic manifestations. The pain may be aching or sharp, or accompanied by a burning sensation. It can occur abruptly and have the character of attacks or continue continuously. Therefore, in order to understand why the leg joint hurts, you should study general information about the causes of pain.
The most common diseases of the joints of the legs
Such diseases include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Osteoarthritis usually occurs in the knee and hip joints. The course of the disease usually passes without a strongly pronounced tumor process. This disease is mostolder people are susceptible. When moving, they periodically experience creaking and clicking in the joints. The joint of the leg hurts more often during physical exertion, after a long walk or prolonged standing in an upright position. Osteoarthritis is treated with massage, swimming, mud therapy, or physiotherapy.
Rheumatoid arthritis, by contrast, is an incurable disease. However, with timely medical intervention, deformation of the joints and bringing them into complete immobility can be avoided. Arthritis most commonly affects the ankle, but other joints can also be affected. Unlike osteoarthritis, arthritis pain is lessened by exercise.
When the leg joint hurts with gout, we can conclude that a large amount of purines is present in the patient's body. Treatment in this case should take place with the use of a special diet. In the patient's diet, the content of meat products, fish and alcohol is limited. He is prescribed drugs that normalize metabolism.
Other causes of leg pain
There are factors that can cause pain in the area of the leg joint. These include:
- dehydration;
- insufficient levels of calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium in the blood;
- breaking ligaments;
- fractures or cracks in bones;
- bone tumors or bone infections;
- various circulatory disorders;
- inflammation of tendons;
- reflected painwhen the spinal discs are displaced.
Diagnostic Methods
When a leg joint hurts, the patient is examined and interviewed to identify symptoms. Then, at the discretion of the doctor, the necessary examination method is prescribed. Among them are:
- blood test to determine the level of leukocytes, erythrocytes, uric acid;
- ultrasound examination to detect vein thrombosis;
- x-ray to examine the integrity of the bone and joint;
- arterial-brachial index for assessing blood circulation in the legs;
- Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for more detailed examination of the joint, blood vessels, bones and soft tissues.
