Joints of the legs: arthritis and other diseases

Arthritis of the foot is called the inflammatory process, which affects the joints of the legs and manifests itself with pains, edema and a gradual decrease in the function of the joints. Arthritis is divided into two groups:

- Primary arthritis is considered an independent nosological unit that can arise with a perfectly healthy body.

- Secondary arthritis affects the joints of the legs, its appearance is due to the presence of another disease and can be one of its symptoms.

The causes of arthritis:

• Autoimmune processes, when the body produces antibodies against its own tissues. It can occur with scleroderma, acute rheumatic fever, systemic lupus erythematosus.
• Infectious agents: develop after infection or when penetrating the pathogen into the synovial membrane of the foot joints.
• Injuries: Acute development of arthritis, which causes edema of the joints of the legs, can be with fractures or bruises, and chronic - with constant mechanical stress on the joint.
• Specific diseases: in case of metabolic disorders, arthritis can occur, affecting the joints of the legs (with gout, psoriatic arthritis).

In all cases, the manifestations of joint arthritis are quite similar. But at the same time, specific symptoms are distinguished, characteristic only for a specific disease or group of diseases, and nonspecific, which occur in any arthritis that affects the joints of the legs.

Nonspecific symptoms:

• pain;

• change the appearance of the joint;

• violation of functions;

• crunching in the joints;

• symmetry of the lesion;

• damage to the body as a whole.

Specific symptoms:

• Morning stiffness;

• Multiple lesions;

• deformation of the joints;

• Skin syndrome.

Diagnosis of arthritis of the joints of the foot does not present great difficulties because of the pain syndrome with which people turn to a specialist. It is much more difficult to identify the cause that caused it. Surveys that are performed with arthritis of the foot include:

• Anamnesis, that is, the possible causes that precede the onset of the disease.
• Studies of synovial fluid and blood.
• Revealing rheumatoid factor, serological examination, urine and blood test. As well as special studies specific to a particular disease.
• X-ray examination is used to determine lesions and severity.

How to treat leg joints

For each case, strictly individual treatment is required, primarily aimed at eliminating the etiologic factor. When arthritis is used:

1. Anti-inflammatory non-steroid therapy to stop pain and to work on the immune link of pathogenesis. Perhaps topical application, in the form of injections or inside.
2. Basic preparations.
3. Therapy with drugs (Methotrexate, Infliximab, Azathioprine, etc.).
4. Hormonal therapy with the use of the drugs "Prednisolone", "Dexamethasone".
5. Specific treatment depends on the cause of the disease. Immunomodulatory and antiviral therapy, chondroprotectors, cytostatics, antibiotics are used.
6. Non-drug therapy makes it possible to adjust the way of life and nutrition, includes therapeutic gymnastics and physical training, physiotherapy procedures, and the application of techniques of traditional medicine.