Inflammation of connective tissue
Inflammation is a reaction of the body, which is supposed to enable the immune system to act actively and increasingly on certain parts of the body. Inflammations always occur in the connective tissue and in the vascular system. They express themselves through typical symptoms.
These include redness, pain, swelling and warming. A limited mobility is often listed as a further symptom. The connective tissue at the inflamed site is less well supplied with oxygen.
The reason for this is that the existing swelling makes it difficult for oxygen to reach the cells. The cells begin to produce energy even without oxygen. A by-product of this energy gain is lactic acid, which causes the tissue to become over acidic. In order to be able to treat an inflammation, the cause of the inflammation must basically be identified.
Pain in the connective tissue – What not to be?
The body’s own remodelling processes of the connective tissue can be responsible for various types of pain. The connective tissue can also contract and cramp like muscles. If the connective tissue is severely altered or compressed, the underlying muscle is restricted in its ability to move and pain results.
For changes in the connective tissue, which are often accompanied by pain, very long periods in a relieving posture, operations, stress, overstretching, trauma or generally a severe lack of movement can be the cause. Depending on the cause, the fasciae stick to the connective tissue and harden continuously. Rebuilding processes begin in the connective tissue, in which the elastic parts are replaced by non-stretchable collagen fibres.
The basic tension in the tissue increases strongly and pain can occur. Hardened connective tissue in the neck or back area can also be the reason for pain in these areas. In order to prevent pain in the connective tissue, a healthy amount of exercise is therefore essential.
Bonded connective tissue
Connective tissue structures can become sticky and thus cause great pain. Affected connective tissue can occur anywhere in the body. The most common sites affected are those at joints, between muscle layers or between organs.
Causes are usually inflammatory processes, which can be caused by external influences, such as increased stress from sport, or internal influences, such as bleeding or after surgery. All the above causes lead to a kind of stress in the body and especially at the affected connective tissue site. This stress leads to the release of messenger substances from cells and blood vessels, which cause an increased production of precursors of connective tissue, which in turn cause increased adhesion to surrounding tissue.
The inflammation causes connective tissue to stick together. Movement causes increased tension on the adhesion, as the layers can no longer slide freely past each other as before. This hurts very much.
Due to the relieving posture that is taken as a consequence, the affected persons get into a vicious circle, because they cramp even more muscularly or do not move the joints sufficiently anymore. This causes even more pain and an even stronger relieving posture is taken. This vicious circle of stuck connective tissue is best broken by early and targeted movement therapy, such as physiotherapy, or by special massages of the affected area.
This should prevent further adhesions and loosen the existing ones. The inflammation process should also be stopped early by anti-inflammatory medication or cooling of the affected area. In the worst case, it is advisable to consult a doctor to weigh up a possible surgical intervention.
