Diagnosis
The diagnosis of an inflammation in the connective tissue can be made by different doctors. Often the family doctor is the first point of contact in case of complaints. If necessary, he or she can detect signs of inflammation, such as swelling, redness, overheating or pain.
Fever and a general feeling of illness are also possible accompanying symptoms. These occur for example in the case of bacterial inflammation, including phlegmons. The medical history can also contain important information for the correct diagnosis.For example, injuries, previous illnesses or other accompanying symptoms can be queried.
A blood test can show an increase in the inflammation values CRP, BSG and leukocytes. For the diagnosis of autoimmune connective tissue inflammation, special antibodies in the blood are determined and further rheumatological examinations are arranged. Deeper-seated inflammation of connective tissue can also be diagnosed by means of imaging, for example an MRI.
Therapy
The treatment of an inflammation in the connective tissue depends on the underlying cause and the localization of the inflammation. There is therefore no generally valid therapeutic approach. For pain in the connective tissue caused by inflammation, anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen or diclofenac are used because they combine two important principles of action.
In case of acute inflammation in the connective tissue, for example due to an injury, the affected area should be kept still and cooled. Bacterial inflammation is also treated with antipyretic and antibiotic drugs. Chronic inflammatory processes in particular, which often play a role in connective tissue inflammation of the back, are also treated with physical methods and physiotherapy.
Massages also help to treat the inflammation and relieve the pain. In the case of autoimmune diseases, such as scleroderma or lupus erythematosus, special drugs can be used to suppress the immune system. Here too, however, different treatment methods, consisting of painkillers, physiotherapy and physical therapy, are usually combined.
Localizations of the connective tissue inflammation
Connective tissue inflammation can also occur in the eye. This can affect different parts of the eye. One possible localization is the eyelids.
The so-called blepharitis is an inflammation of the connective tissue at the edge of the eyelid. It is caused by bacteria (staphylococci). Typical symptoms are thickened eyelids, redness and itching.
A foreign body sensation in the eye and fatty deposits are also typical. Endocrine orbitopathy is an inflammation of the fatty, muscle and connective tissue in the eye socket, which leads to a structural change and ultimately to an increase in size. A typical cause is autoimmune Graves’ disease (autoimmune hyperthyroidism).
Typically, the eyes protrude (exophthalmos). This can lead to visual disorders. Another cause of inflammation of the connective tissue of the eye is orbital aphlegmon.
Here, pathogens cause an infectious inflammation of the connective tissue. The pathogens enter the tissue of the eye cavity through injuries or by conduction from neighbouring inflammations, such as sinusitis or dental inflammation. In the case of orbitaphlegmone, the eye is severely swollen, reddened and painful.
Inflammations in the connective tissue of the leg often have traumatic causes. Sports injuries and strains in particular can lead to local inflammation of the ligaments and tendons, which are conspicuous by pain, redness and swelling. Non-traumatic causes are also possible, however.
For example, pathogens can enter the connective tissue through small wounds on the toes or skin and cause infectious inflammation. However, this is more often the case on the lower leg, less frequently on the thigh. In both cases, overheating of the leg and fever would be typical.
The foot can be affected by an inflammation of the connective tissue for various reasons. The feet of diabetics are particularly susceptible to such inflammation, which is why the examination of the feet is an integral part of the care of diabetics. In diabetes mellitus, the sugar deposits in the vessel walls cause circulatory disorders that manifest themselves particularly early on the feet.
Due to the poor blood circulation, wound healing is disturbed. Inflammations can quickly develop into chronic conditions. Small injuries to the toes and skin promote the entry of bacteria, which in turn cause bacterial inflammation in the feet.
Non-diabetics may also be affected. Inflammation of the connective tissue can also occur in the context of gout or rheumatic diseases. This topic could also be of interest to you:
- Diabetic microangiopathy
- Diabetic foot
Back pain can also be caused by inflammation of the connective tissue around the spine.
A possible cause is a degenerative change and loss of elasticity of the connective tissue.Lack of exercise and advancing age promote these remodelling processes in the connective tissue and are a cause of persistent pain in movement. The connective tissue of the spine is also usually affected in the context of so-called ankylosing spondylitis. Especially the bone-tendon junctions are inflamed.
This is known as enthesiopathies. The pain manifests itself primarily at the transition from the lumbar spine to the pelvis. Bekhterev’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the spine and can lead to severe back pain.
Inflammation of the connective tissue in the thigh is usually caused by overuse or underuse of the muscles, tendons and surrounding connective tissue. This may sound contradictory at first, but can be explained as follows: Overuse, for example due to frequent or even too intensive training, causes small injuries in the muscle tissue, but also in the surrounding connective tissue and tendons. These small injuries lead to inflammatory processes that serve to heal the tissue and cause pain.
A lack of exercise, on the other hand, can also lead to inflammatory processes. The connective tissue loses its elasticity and the friction between bone, muscles, tendons and nerves increases. This also leads to constant irritation, which also causes minor inflammation.