Symptoms and treatment of polyarthritis of the legs: 5 best ways

Quite often, when the weather changes, a person feels pain in the joints. If there is pain and slight swelling, it is worth considering the likelihood of the appearance and development of a pathology such as polyarthritis of the toes. This is a peculiar health problem that is characterized by severe pain in the area of ​​the big toe. There is also severe swelling, a local increase in temperature and slight redness. To know how to quickly get rid of the disease, having first studied the main causes of the pathology and the rules of the treatment.

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Description of the pathology

Polyarthritis is a disease associated with inflammation of joint tissues.
Polyarthritis of the legs is diagnosed when several joints are simultaneously affected; the symptoms and treatment are similar to arthritis. The result of therapy is achieved only with an integrated approach; it uses medications, physiotherapeutic methods, and folk recipes. Most often, 3 or more joints are affected.

The defeat can be unilateral or bilateral, which further aggravates the situation. Pathological reactions in the joints cause increased load on the spine, the vertebrae of which also begin to undergo negative transformations.

Summing up

Instead of a conclusion, it is worth highlighting certain measures to prevent the disease. It is important to eat right, lead a healthy lifestyle, and you can eliminate the most unpleasant symptoms for a long time and even completely prevent their occurrence. During prevention, special attention is paid to diet. It is important to include foods in your diet that will help reduce inflammation and completely restore joint tissue. It is imperative to exclude from the diet foods that fall into the category of artificial, refined and canned. Salty, smoked, spicy foods and various sweets will be strictly prohibited. During an exacerbation, you will need to remove alcoholic beverages, strong tea, coffee and cocoa from your diet.

It is worth pampering yourself with dairy products as often as possible, eating cottage cheese, lots of fruits and vegetables. Buckwheat and rice porridges will be useful. If thirst occurs, you need to quench it with herbal teas, juices, fruit drinks from fresh berries, as well as clean water.

To prevent the development of the disease, it is important to be attentive to your health - take care of your feet, avoid foot injuries and wear only comfortable shoes. Foot baths, foot massage, and finger massage are ideal for effective prevention. In case of overexertion, it is worth using ointment to relieve fatigue from the legs.

Causes and forms of polyarthritis

The reasons for the development of the disease are very different, depending on its form. Polyarthritis of the legs develops against the background of increased stress to which the lower extremities are exposed. They constantly experience dynamic loads. The process of joint destruction may be associated with uric acid metabolism disorders.

The disease can progress due to many reasons

It can be:

• past infections;
• metabolic disorders;
• injuries;
• autoimmune processes.

Polyarthritis of the joints can greatly impair the patient's quality of life, which can also lead to the assignment of a disability group. If there are signs of illness, you should immediately seek medical help; timely diagnosis will help prevent further development of the pathology.

Depending on the form of polyarthritis, the pathology is accompanied by simultaneous or sequential damage to the joints. Sometimes joints are affected symmetrically, in other cases chaotically.

Infectious form

Infectious polyarthritis of the foot and other joints of the legs often develops as a result of damage to the body by harmful microorganisms. Timely initiation of therapy will avoid serious negative consequences and complications and will help prevent the transformation of the infectious acute form of the disease into a chronic one.

Infectious form of polyarthritis

Varieties of polyarthritis are four times more common among women, and the disease often becomes the reason for assigning a disability group to patients over sixty years of age.

Rheumatic form

This form of the disease often occurs during the first attack of rheumatism; the basis of the disease is considered to be acute synovitis. The main cause of polyarthritis of the fingers and other joints of the legs is considered to be group A streptococcus.

According to statistics, this form is diagnosed among 0.5–3% of patients who have suffered a streptococcal infection. Risk factors include stress, allergies, weakened immunity due to fasting, increased physical activity, and hypothermia.

Rheumatic polyarthritis of the foot

Post-traumatic form

The disease most often affects the knees, ankles, and big toes. The impetus for the development of the disease is considered to be various forms of injury, including dislocations, bruises, and minor hemorrhages. The traumatic form also develops against the background of frequent vibrations of the body. The disease develops rather slowly and there are often no symptoms. The rapid onset of symptoms indicates an acute form of post-traumatic arthritis.

General symptoms of the disease

To accurately establish a pathology such as polyarthritis of the toes, the symptoms should be studied in detail about this disease. Based on them, the doctor and the patient himself will determine the form of the pathology and the degree of its development. At the very beginning of the disease, a person experiences pain in the area of ​​the big toe, which gradually spreads to nearby joints and to the entire foot as a whole. After some time, redness of the skin and slight swelling appear. If certain signs appear, you should immediately contact a specialist, as there is a risk of encountering a complete loss of mobility of the feet and fingers. The main signs of the disease include:

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• Pain that occurs due to the gradual destruction of cartilage and the development of inflammatory processes in them. In this case, any movement can lead to pain;
• If this is a subargic form of polyarthritis, pain may occur with every exertion;
• The advanced form of the disease is manifested by severe pain, as well as joint deformation. All this interferes with living, walking and working normally; a person, as a rule, becomes disabled.

Important! If these symptoms are detected, you should not self-medicate. This may make the situation even worse. It is necessary to contact a specialist and strictly follow his recommendations.

Clinical picture

The time, severity, symptoms and severity of manifestations of polyarthritis of the ankle and other joints depend on the form of the disease; comprehensive treatment will help reduce their severity. The pathological process in the joint tissues starts due to the thinning of the cartilage tissues; intense friction between the bones causes pain. Often the disease begins with damage to the toes.

The patient feels pain in the joints and swelling of the tissues

The progression of polyarthritis leads to tissue deformation and the appearance of bone spurs. Destroyed parts of the cartilage remain in the joint cavity, which leads to increased pain. The patient experiences limited motor activity; bending the legs causes pain. In the rheumatoid form of polyarthritis, rheumatoid nodules form under the skin.

Symptoms of the disease:

• joint pain, swelling;
• skin hyperemia, high temperature;
• lameness;
• difficulty in motor activity.

The severity of symptoms depends on the stage of development of the disease:

• first - accompanied by moderate pain, mild symptoms, no swelling;
• second - severe pain, swelling, limitation of motor activity of the joint;
• third - severe pain, severe limitation of motor activity of the joints;
• fourth - accompanied by irreversible complications, joint deformation, the patient cannot move, and receives a disability group.

Experts distinguish 4 stages of disease development

Causes of arthritis

The complexity of this treatment is the versatility of the causes and foundations of the pathology. …. develops due to such important factors and health problems as:

1. Past influenza or acute respiratory viral infection. At this time, the patient’s immunity is greatly reduced, so the infection can easily harm the body. As soon as the body has the opportunity to remove harmful microbes, the protective force begins to fight them. All this leads to the rapid development of joint inflammation. In the case of children, polyarthritis occurs after poisoning, about a week later.
2. The disease is quite often provoked by various diseases of a specific nature. For example, it could be tuberculosis, syphilis, gonorrhea.
3. The reason may be metabolism, in which a large amount of salts is deposited on the joints. With a certain accumulation, the joints begin to become seriously injured and injure the adjacent connective tissue. For this reason, severe inflammation develops in the joints of the toes.
4. Quite often, polyarthritis appears due to a malfunction in the immune system. In this case, the body’s defense perceives all connective tissues as antigens to the body’s cells. To completely eliminate the disease, patients are prescribed drugs that effectively suppress the rapid activity of the immune system.
5. In most cases, the pathology develops due to constant bruises and injuries.

Polyarthritis of the toes is a disease in which a person affects not one joint, but several at the same time.

Based on the reasons that caused the disease, we can draw a conclusion as to what types of damage are in the category of joint diseases. Based on the type of pathology and the degree of its development, the doctor prescribes treatment that will be most effective in a given situation. Among the most common types of this disease are the following:

1. Osteoarthritis. This is the most common category of polyarthritis. It causes severe destruction of articular cartilage and severe pain in the foot and toes. Every movement for the patient becomes limited and very painful. As you move, the pain becomes stronger and the swelling becomes more pronounced. After a long rest, a certain stiffness in movement is noted.
2. Rheumatoid form of polyarthritis. This type of joint inflammation can manifest itself at different ages. The disease affects the joints, leading to serious deformation. This is a dangerous form of the disease that affects connective tissues and important organs of the body. Once this disease appears, it remains for life, causing a large number of problems.
3. Gout is another form of polyarthritis. With this pathology, a large number of crystals accumulate on the joint capsule, and in the process of movement, the finger joints are seriously affected by arthritis.

Each type of disease is characterized by its own individual characteristics and symptoms. They can only be determined by a specialist who, after an examination, prescribes the most effective treatment.

Diagnostic measures

When the first symptoms appear, you should seek medical help from a therapist, rheumatologist, or arthrologist. At the first appointment, the patient is examined and questioned, the joint is palpated, and the range of motion is measured. As part of the diagnosis of polyarthritis and rheumatism, the patient must undergo the following procedures:

• Ultrasound;
• MRI, CT;
• X-ray;
• arthroscopy.

X-ray is one of the diagnostic methods.
When carrying out laboratory diagnostics, general and biochemical blood tests are indicated. A urine test and biomaterial analysis, including synovial fluid, are also carried out.

Treatment of the disease

The main goal of treatment is to eliminate the causes of joint inflammation; therapy is also aimed at getting rid of pain. The effect of therapy is achieved only if an integrated approach is followed; the qualifications of the doctor play an important role. Treatment of polyarthritis can take a long time; the cause of the disease must first be established.

Treatment for the patient must be selected by a doctor

Medications

The doctor prescribes medications; dosage and duration of therapy depend on the severity of symptoms. It must be taken into account that advanced stages of polyarthritis cannot be completely cured, but the severity of pathological symptoms can be reduced. The drugs are used in the form of tablets, ointments, injection solutions:

• NSAIDs - have pronounced analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, help get rid of swelling and redness of the joints. They cannot stop the destructive processes in the joints, but they help alleviate the patient’s condition. The most commonly prescribed drugs are Ibuprofen, Ortofen, Indomethacin and others.

• Corticosteroids - taking hormonal drugs is indicated in the absence of effect from NSAIDs; they are excellent in helping with inflammatory processes and suppressing autoimmune processes. Hydrocortisone, Betamethasone, and Triamcinolone show high effectiveness.

• Antirheumatic drugs - prescribed for the rheumatoid form, they prevent the destruction of joints; this category includes Plaquenil and other medications.

• Muscle relaxants - help get rid of muscle spasms that occur when there is a deficiency of nutrients and oxygen in the tissues. The most commonly used are Baclofen and Mydocalm.

If the infectious nature of polyarthritis is suspected, antibiotics are prescribed depending on the group of pathogen.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is prescribed to alleviate pathological symptoms, as well as to consolidate drug therapy. Rehabilitation should be carried out approximately twice a year, this will help achieve sustainable results.

Physiotherapeutic procedures will help relieve pain

Effective methods of physiotherapy:

• electrophoresis – as part of the procedure, drugs are administered into the affected joint using an electric current;
• phonophoresis - the effect is carried out using ultrasound, sometimes the administration of drugs is provided;
• paraffin therapy - has a warming, analgesic effect;
• mud therapy - its action is aimed at activating muscle function, stopping autoimmune processes, and getting rid of swelling;
• medicinal baths - prescribed during the period of remission, the effect of the procedure is aimed at saturating the tissues with useful substances and microelements.

Exercise therapy and diet

Performing physical exercises
An auxiliary component of therapy is also considered performing therapeutic physical exercises and maintaining a diet. The set of exercises is selected by the doctor, it all depends on the condition of the patient and the affected joint. The action of exercise therapy is aimed at activating blood circulation, restoring functionality to the joint, and preventing atrophy processes. The selection of a physical therapy scheme is made individually.

Diet adherence is also considered an important element of therapy; unhealthy foods, salty, peppery, and canned foods should be excluded from the diet. The menu must include fruits, vegetables, lean meats and fish, and cereals.

Surgery

If there is no effect from conservative treatment and joint immobilization, surgical intervention is prescribed. The decision on how to treat polyarthritis of the legs is made by the attending physician.

The presence of irreversible changes in articular tissues and the lack of possibility of recovery is considered an indication for endoprosthetics. As part of this operation, partial or complete removal of the affected joint is performed. A normally functioning endoprosthesis is installed in its place.

Installed endoprosthesis in the knee joint

After such therapy, the patient regains the ability to move normally and returns to his usual lifestyle.

It must be taken into account that the intervention requires long-term recovery; its absence can minimize the results of the intervention.

Traditional Treatments

If polyarthritis of the toes has been diagnosed, treatment should be prescribed as promptly as possible. Care must be taken to ensure that all recommendations are followed very carefully. Treatment of polyarthritis is carried out using the following methods of standard medicine. Among them are:

• Polyarthritis of the toes is effectively treated with anti-inflammatory, non-steroidal and hormonal drugs, ointments and tablets. They ideally relieve pain, as well as inflammatory processes;
• If polyarthritis is infectious in nature, it will be treated with antibiotics, which can be prescribed in the form of injections or tablets;
• After relieving the inflammatory process in the acute form of the disease, the doctor may prescribe special chondroprotectors. They effectively regenerate cartilage, gradually restoring it;
• Treatment of the disease after relieving acute inflammation consists of procedures such as baths, mud compresses, physical therapy, and special gymnastics;
• If the pathology is in an acute, advanced form, if the joints begin to become severely deformed, the patient may be scheduled for surgery, through which such defects can be quickly removed. Medicine has now developed so much that it is possible to replace a joint with a new, artificial one without any problems. Such operations will provide an opportunity for a sick person to return to a full life.

Regardless of the treatment prescribed, you should thoroughly stretch your toes every day. To do this, you just need to do the exercises prescribed by your doctor from time to time. It is also recommended to replace standard shoes with special orthopedic ones. Treatment of joint problems is aimed at eliminating the underlying causes. Proper therapy does not require the use of drugs prescribed for joint inflammation; arthritis almost completely disappears upon recovery.

Important! Polyarthritis can be completely cured only through the use of high-quality medications, physiotherapeutic procedures, and also by using traditional methods of treatment.

Quite often, experienced doctors prescribe modern anti-inflammatory drugs to eliminate acute and chronic inflammation. They are not taken independently, only under professional medical supervision. When choosing medications, the doctor relies on the individual characteristics of each organism, the degree of spread of the disease, as well as the duration of the overall treatment period.

Painkillers are prescribed simultaneously with these drugs; in advanced forms, hormonal therapy may be prescribed. If polyarthritis is characterized as rheumatoid, long-term treatment with basic effective drugs such as Methotrexate or Sulfasalazine is prescribed. It is equally important to undergo physiotherapeutic treatment, which consists of laser treatment, cryotherapy, special exercises for polyarthritis of the toes and phonophoresis may be prescribed.

Traditional methods

In the treatment of polyarthritis, folk recipes can also be used; such therapy is allowed only after consultation with the attending physician. Modern medicine has a large number of recipes; tinctures, compresses, lotions, decoctions, etc. are used as part of treatment.

Effective recipes:

• applying burdock and cabbage leaves at night;
• taking birch sap;
• pine baths;
• rubbing cinquefoil tincture or eucalyptus oil;
• compresses from chamomile and sweet clover decoctions.

The combination of all of these methods of influencing the pathology will help ensure long-term remission and prevent deterioration of the condition.

Traditional treatment methods

You can get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of a disease such as polyarthritis in its initial stages through special traditional treatment methods. Doctors advise using the following traditional recipes:

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW!

Have you been struggling with JOINT PAIN for many years without success?

Read the article where I told HOW I HEALED JOINTS with the help of four plants and Soviet technology from 1983

READ

1. You need to take horseradish root and grate it. The resulting composition should be applied to the sore joint and wrapped in cling film. There is no need to remove the compress for half an hour. The procedure quickly relieves pain and severe inflammation.
2. You will need to take equal quantities of such important components as wheatgrass root, juniper needles, calendula and lovage. Everything is thoroughly mixed, steamed with boiling water and simmered in a bathhouse for about 20 minutes. The cooled and strained broth is mixed with a small amount of vegetable oil, about 25 grams. A little pork fat is added until a special ointment consistency is achieved. Treatment with this composition should be carried out in the evening, applied to sore feet and toes. Everything is wrapped in a warm cloth and remains in this position until the morning.
3. You need to take 5 heads of garlic, pour it all with vodka in the amount of 0.5 liters. The mixture is infused in a dark place for 10 days. The prepared tincture is taken about a teaspoon half an hour before meals. This should be done 3 times a day, and if the product is difficult to drink, it is diluted in 50 ml of water.
4. You can heat sea salt, pour it into a small canvas bag, and then apply it to sore joints for about half an hour. After this, it is recommended to rub a little fir oil into the sore spot and again apply the salt to the sore spot, wrapping your toes in something warm. It is better to carry out this procedure at night. The pain goes away after three days.
5. You need to take a little piece of chalk, grind everything thoroughly and add kefir. The resulting pulp is applied to the sore legs, everything is wrapped in cellophane or paper intended for compresses. Everything is firmly fixed on the fingers and left overnight. This mixture is good for treating joints.
6. A mixture of iodine, honey, alcohol and glycerin is ideal for helping with polyarthritis. The resulting mixture is simply rubbed into the joints.
7. You need to take 10 lemons, mix them with three tablespoons of chopped horseradish root. Three heads of garlic are added to the resulting mixture. The mixture is stored in a dark place for three weeks. After preparation, the composition is taken in a teaspoon, previously diluted in water. You need to drink the mixture twice a day and take it until the entire composition is drunk.

The use of these folk remedies will help to quickly eliminate the disease or, at a minimum, eliminate all the unpleasant symptoms of the disease.