Joint swellings in the menopause
One of the most common complaints during the menopause is joint pain. This is caused by the changing concentrations of female sex hormones. During pregnancy, these hormones cause the connective tissue to become looser, whereas during the menopause they are responsible for harder joint membranes.
Increased concentrations of certain messenger substances can also lead to inflammation-like symptoms. In addition to an effusion, which leads to swelling of the joint, pain is the main cause and mobility is often significantly restricted. However, not all joint complaints that occur during the menopause can be attributed to fluctuating hormone concentrations. A doctor should be consulted, especially if the symptoms are very severe and persist for a long time, if the joints appear reddened and overheated, and if lumps and deformities form. The menopause is often also the age at which chronic joint diseases such as arthrosis or rheumatism become symptomatic for the first time.
Rheumatism
Reactive arthritis is a clinical picture in which joint inflammation occurs as a reaction to infection with certain bacteria. The infection can affect the intestine, for example, and does not take place in the affected joint, so that no pathogens can be detected there. Bacteria that can trigger such reactive arthritis are often Salmonella or Shigella, which attack the gastrointestinal tract and cause diarrhea and vomiting.
Campylobacter is a widespread gastrointestinal germ that is also considered to be a trigger of reactive arthritis. However, tick-borne borrelia, which can cause Lyme disease, can also cause arthritis. Arthritides, which are triggered by previous intestinal infections caused by Shigella, Salmonella or Campylobacter, have the proper names “Reiter syndrome” or “Reiter’s disease”.
In 2-3% of cases, the joint complaints occur about 2-6 weeks after the intestinal infection. The three main symptoms of Reiter’s syndrome (Reiter’s triad) are arthritis, conjunctivitis or iritis (inflammation of the conjunctiva or iris) and urethritis (inflammation of the urethra). Often the knee and ankle joints are affected, more rarely the toe, hand or finger joints may also be affected.
The diagnosis is made on the basis of the typical anamnesis (previous infection) and typical constellation of symptoms, as well as a pioneering laboratory. If an infection is still detectable, it is treated with antibiotics. Otherwise a symptomatic therapy with NSAR (non-steroidal antirheumatic drugs) such as Ibuprofen or Diclofenac is usually well effective.
With more serious courses and an infestation of the inner eye glucocorticoids can be used. Approx. 80% of the courses heal after one year, with more severe courses and certain characteristics in the blood (the proof of certain antigens) it comes more frequently to the Chronifizierung.
