Which doctor should you contact for joint pain: arthrologist, rheumatologist, neurologist

Inflammatory diseases of the joints of the hands and feet are more common in young and middle-aged people. But degenerative changes in cartilage tissue are the lot of older people who have crossed the 45-year mark of their lives. In both the first and second cases, timely treatment with the right choice of a doctor who treats the joints of the arms and legs allows a complete recovery without loss of mobility.

Which doctor treats hand joints in a city clinic?

As a rule, the initial appointment and examination is carried out by a general practitioner, who, based on the laboratory data obtained, can prescribe a consultation with a neurologist, surgeon, orthopedist and rheumatologist. These specialists will standardly recommend symptomatic treatment, since the most progressive pharmacological drugs, which, in essence, should restore the structure of cartilage tissue, act extremely weakly and selectively.

Basically, the effect of chondroprotectors can be activated only with intra-articular administration of the drug. This medical manipulation does not guarantee a positive result, and is highly traumatic and risky due to the factors of septic post-injection inflammation.

Other conservative treatments for arm and leg joints include:

1. restriction of mobility - leads to an even greater deterioration in the blood supply to cartilaginous tissues;
2. the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - relieve pain, but at the same time have a negative effect on the organs of the digestive tract and cause a violation of erythropoiesis with subsequent anemia;
3. novocaine blockades are purely symptomatic measures that block pain only for a short time;
4. intra-articular administration of steroid drugs - reduce inflammation and relieve pain, but at the same time contribute to the rapid leaching of calcium from the bones, due to which deforming osteoarthritis progresses.

Also in the doctor’s arsenal there are various physical procedures that may have not entirely predictable consequences in the form of a risk of benign and malignant neoplasms, destruction of cartilage and bone tissue, increased background radiation to the patient and many other pathological influencing factors.

In this case, no one not only guarantees, but also does not promise a positive result. According to the standards of official medicine, all diseases of the joints of the hands and feet are considered incurable pathologies, which can only be dealt with through partial or complete endoprosthetics. Accordingly, all treatment is aimed only at eliminating the pain syndrome. The cause of the pathology is not taken into account. The exception is rheumatoid processes, in which antibacterial therapy is actively used.

It is very important to understand and know which doctor treats the joints of the arms and legs with a guarantee of recovery and without risk to the patient’s health . We will talk about this further.

When to see a specialist: warning signs

There are several joint diseases, but the most common are arthrosis and arthritis. They have similar symptoms, but different mechanisms of development, and therefore treatment. Once diseases are diagnosed, it is almost impossible to completely recover from them, so experts recommend consulting a doctor at the very first problems at work in order to slow down and delay serious pathologies.

So, the warning signs:

• pain;
• impaired fine motor skills;
• swelling in the joint area;
• crunch;
• discomfort while moving;
• general weakness and malaise;
• fever accompanied by pain;
• seals on the phalanges of the fingers.

Such symptoms may appear suddenly or be the result of hypothermia or physical fatigue. Even isolated and short-term symptoms of joint problems that go away on their own require consultation with a doctor.

An initial examination for joint pain can be carried out by a general practitioner, who will give recommendations and referral to a specialist.

Symptoms of joint diseases: when to sound the alarm

Joint problems are not only indicated by pain in the knee or shoulder. Sometimes a regular therapist can notice something is wrong during a general appointment. Joint lesions have systemic and non-systemic manifestations. Sometimes they are accompanied by disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

Typical symptoms include:

• soreness and swelling;
• stiffness of movement;
• local redness of tissues;
• compactions and hard formations, for example, with arthrosis of the hand on the phalanges of the fingers;
• a crunching sound that is repeated and causes pain;
• violation of fine motor skills.

In addition, if the joints suffer, the person experiences weakness, may shiver, and general malaise appears. All of this indicates that it is time to seek help.

Joint pain is not the only warning sign

In what cases are they referred to an arthrologist?

An arthrologist treats pathologies affecting joints and periarticular tissues. His competence covers diseases such as:

• osteoarthritis;
• osteoarthritis;
• bursitis;
• periarthritis;
• tendinitis;
• osteoporosis;
• Bekhterev's disease.

It is the arthrologist who accurately establishes the diagnosis and treatment regimen. It is to him that a patient with symptoms characteristic of damage to the joints and adjacent tissues should be referred first. If the joints hurt, the doctor will prescribe painkillers and directly treat their causes.

To make an accurate diagnosis, the patient will have to undergo a series of general and special blood tests, take a picture of the joint, undergo an ultrasound examination and clearly describe to the doctor the provoking factors and the nature of the pain.

Which doctor treats you?

If you have unexplained pain in your arm, you should consult a neurologist. Who will do the treatment depends on the cause of the illness. You can immediately contact a traumatologist.

Pain in the arm, regardless of the nature of the pain syndrome (burning, sharp, aching or cutting), requires careful examination and close supervision of a specialist.

IMPORTANT! A person should not ignore this symptom or self-medicate, because the cause of pain in the arm can be associated with both muscle pathology and an inflammatory process that urgently needs to be stopped.

Make an appointment with a neurologist or traumatologist at the Kuntsevo Medical and Rehabilitation Center to determine the causes of the unpleasant symptom and eliminate it.

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What other specialists treat joints?

The nature of the development of arthrosis, arthritis and other joint diseases has not been clearly studied. But experts have identified the underlying provoking factors. It's always not just about joints and heavy physical activity.

Any disease is a complex of causes that relate to the nervous and endocrine systems, past injuries, and past infections. That is why the question of which doctor to contact if your joints hurt has an answer in the form of a whole list of specialized specialists.

Orthopedist

This specialist is consulted to confirm the diagnosis of arthrosis, as well as to identify other pathologies associated with the destruction of cartilage tissue, joint deformation and impaired mobility.

Any discomfort during movement affecting the hands, fingers of the upper and lower extremities, feet and knees is a reason to consult an orthopedist. It is especially important to visit it for children and adolescents, for whom you can choose special shoes and a set of exercises to prevent further deformation.

Rheumatologist

A rheumatologist treats inflammatory pathologies for joint pain. These are gout and arthritis. The specialist will assess the affected area, the stage of development of the disease, identify the causes of the inflammatory process and prescribe treatment.

Important in diagnosing arthritis and gout are special blood tests and examinations:

• rheumatic tests;
• C-reactive protein test;
• virological analysis;
• immunological studies;
• studies of synovial fluid;
• antinuclear antibody test.

Collecting studies allows you to create a complete picture of the disease and determine the optimal treatment regimen.

Surgeon and traumatologist

These specialists are contacted for serious joint deformities, for which only surgical intervention is relevant.

A rheumatologist or orthopedist will refer you to a surgeon and traumatologist if there are serious visible joint deformities and there is no effect of treatment.

Neuropathologist

If you have joint pain, which doctor should you consult? Painful conditions do not always indicate pathology of the joint itself and adjacent tissues. Perhaps the reason is inflammation or pinched nerve endings.

A neurologist treats this condition. It can be determined by simply examining the painful area with a special instrument at a regular doctor’s appointment.

Infectious disease specialist

The help of an infectious disease specialist is necessary in the development of acute infectious arthritis. This disease most often affects young children and adolescents who have had a severe infection.

Arthritis develops quickly with partial loss of joint mobility and pain. Requires intensive antibacterial therapy and joint drainage. The first step to make a diagnosis is to analyze the synovial fluid.

Which doctor should I make an appointment with?

Kinesitherapy for joint pain

Pathological processes occurring in the joints for a number of reasons cause limited mobility, weakening of muscle tissue, and discomfort when performing normal movements and manipulations.
At the kinesitherapy center Doctor Osteochondrosis, treatment and restoration of joint mobility is carried out using special simulators. Rehabilitation under conditions of light local load allows you to strengthen the muscle corset and restore full mobility of the spine and joints. Such rehabilitation is absolutely safe, effective and painless for people with different types of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.

The clinic has been operating since 1999, successfully treating pain of various locations. All classes are supervised by a specialist, and the load regimen is developed strictly individually.

The Clinic of Effective Kinesitherapy has centers in Zelenograd, Tver, Dubna and Klin.

In what cases should you contact a specialist?

The therapist will tell you what kind of specialist this will be, depending on the clinical picture. But you definitely shouldn’t hesitate to contact us if you have the following symptoms:

• injuries of any severity - fractures, dislocations, damage to joints and soft tissues;
• chronic rheumatic diseases (the doctor must monitor the dynamics and effectiveness of therapy);
• sudden onset of pain in the joint;
• other alarming symptoms regarding the musculoskeletal system.

Approximately as shown in the video, an initial appointment with an orthopedic doctor takes place:

MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF DOCTOR:

Often, when examining a patient, doctors pay attention only to the bones, ligaments, and joints. At the same time, nothing is said about muscles
, the function of contraction of which plays a significant role in human life. Weakened muscles lead to thinning and deformed bones.

Unfortunately, common methods of therapy only aggravate the situation, leading to even more severe pain, muscle atrophy and a deterioration in the quality of life of patients.

Effective treatment is impossible to imagine without muscle restoration. Unique kinesitherapy technique

consists in a therapeutic effect, which implies, first of all, muscle activity during the methodical execution of a set of exercises on special simulators.

All exercises are performed by patients sitting or lying down, so there is no excessive stress on the joints and circulatory system, and our instructors-methodologists correct the technique of movements

and monitor the correct execution of actions.

Remember that diseases of the spine and joints are not a death sentence; if the patient wishes and the right approach to treatment, everything can be corrected!

Kinds

Discomfort in the hands may vary, since there are different types of pain:

• Burning. There is discomfort and burning, often a feeling of “goose bumps”.
• Aching. Periodically intensify and weaken, maybe 20-30 minutes.
• Spicy. With them, mobility decreases, muscle weakness and discomfort appear.
• Shots. They appear suddenly and last 2-3 minutes. This kind of pain is also called “cutting”.

Whatever the type of pain, it causes a lot of inconvenience. Therefore, it is important to consult a specialist in a timely manner in order not only to eliminate unpleasant symptoms, but also to prevent negative consequences.

Treatment methods

In our center you can undergo diagnostics - MRI, ultrasound. Research is performed after determining the location and nature of the pain. If necessary, additional blood tests are required to determine whether there are infectious and inflammatory diseases in the body.

The treatment method depends on the disease or injury that caused the pain. At the clinic, specialists prescribe the following treatment methods:

• Physiotherapy;
• Manual therapy;
• Reflexology;
• Physiotherapy;

It is up to the doctor to decide which procedures will be performed. Sometimes, when you have pain in your arms, you need to carry out several measures in combination. Experienced neurologists use effective therapy methods. Patients can perform diagnostics, undergo diagnostics and treatment without leaving the clinic.

Rehabilitation and lifestyle restoration

After treatment, patients need to recover. This is achieved using:

• maintaining moderate physical activity;
• balanced nutrition;
• compliance with the work and rest regime;
• taking vitamin and mineral complexes;
• maintaining correct posture;
• protection against hypothermia of joints and stress;
• correction of deformed joints;
• disinfection of wounds, scratches and abrasions;
• refusal of monotonous and monotonous work;
• timely treatment of infectious diseases;
• limiting alcohol consumption.