Foot joint pain on rainy days

Many older people are particularly prone to joint pain on cloudy and rainy days, especially the day before a rain. The pain starts and they know it’s going to rain soon, which is more accurate than the weather forecast. This is a manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis, which is mostly caused by long-term joint injuries or being caught in the cold when young and not treated in time. Some people have knee pain, while others have foot joint pain. Next, we will specifically analyze the causes and treatments of foot joint pain on rainy days.

Clinical manifestations

1. Pain

Joint pain is the primary symptom of rheumatoid arthritis. Pain may occur in joints throughout the body, but it is more common to affect large joints, such as the knees, ankles, shoulders, wrists, etc. Typical symptoms include symmetrical, migratory pain, accompanied by inflammatory manifestations of redness, swelling, and heat. Usually, the symptoms of acute inflammation last for 2 to 4 weeks to subside. After the symptoms of one joint subside, symptoms of another joint may reappear. Sometimes several joints may be affected at the same time.

Joint symptoms are greatly affected by climate changes, and joint pain often occurs when the weather turns cold or before it rains. After the acute phase, no joint deformities remain, which is different from rheumatoid arthritis.

2. Muscle pain

At the onset of the disease, patients may experience symptoms such as muscle aches, general fatigue, lack of appetite, and irritability.

3. Irregular fever

Before rheumatism appears, there will be irregular fever, mostly mild to moderate fever, rapid pulse, and sweating, which is not proportional to body temperature.

4. Skin and mucous membrane symptoms

There are subcutaneous nodules, annular erythema, etc., which are more common in children and rare in adults.

5. Chorea

It is only seen in children, more commonly in girls. The children first have mental symptoms such as restlessness, irritability, and anger, followed by purposeless and rapid movements, frowning, pouting and other strange faces. The limbs may have unrhythmic alternating movements of extension and flexion, adduction and abduction, pronation and supination. It is more obvious when you are tired or excited, less severe when you rest or calm, and disappears during sleep.

6. Heart symptoms

Since rheumatic fever mainly affects the joints and heart during its active phase, patients with rheumatic arthritis often suffer from myocarditis, endocarditis, pericarditis, etc. There are symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, and precordial pain.

treat

1. Anti-rheumatic treatment

The principle of treatment is early diagnosis and early, reasonable, combined medication. Commonly used anti-rheumatic drugs are as follows:

(1) Salicylic acid preparations are the most commonly used drugs for the treatment of acute rheumatic fever and have definite efficacy. Aspirin is the drug of choice. It can reduce fever, relieve inflammation, improve joint symptoms, and lower erythrocyte sedimentation rate. However, it cannot eliminate the basic pathological changes of rheumatism, nor can it prevent heart damage and other complications.

Salicylic acid preparations often cause stomach irritation symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite, which can be relieved by taking aluminum hydroxide. For those who cannot tolerate salicylic acid preparations, clofenamic acid can be used.

(2) Adrenal cortex hormones Corticosteroids are not necessary drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. It should only be considered in patients with arthritis who have evidence of carditis and who are inadequately responding to salicylic acid preparations.

2. Anti-streptococcal infection

Eradicating streptococcal infection is an essential measure for treating rheumatic fever. The preferred drug is penicillin. For those who are allergic to penicillin, erythromycin or acetylspiramycin can be used instead.

3. Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis belongs to the category of arthralgia in traditional Chinese medicine. In the acute phase, it is advisable to dispel wind, clear heat and resolve dampness. In the chronic phase, it is advisable to dispel wind, disperse cold and resolve dampness, which can play an auxiliary role in alleviating symptoms.

prevention

Pay attention to joint exercise during the inactive period, keep the joints warm and avoid moisture; remove the streptococcal infection foci in the body to prevent recurrence. If tonsillitis recurs, tonsillectomy can be performed; after rheumatic activity is controlled, 1.2 million units of long-acting penicillin should be injected intramuscularly every 2 to 4 weeks; if suffering from acute pharyngitis, seek medical attention immediately to avoid recurrence of the disease.