| Joint Pain | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Rheumatology |
Arthralgia (from Greek arthro- 'joint' and -algos 'pain') literally means 'jointpain'.[1][2] Specifically, arthralgia is a symptom ofinjury,infection,illness (in particulararthritis), or anallergic reaction tomedication.[3]
According toMeSH, the termarthralgia should only be used when the condition is non-inflammatory, and the termarthritis should be used when the condition isinflammatory.[4]
The causes ofarthralgia are varied and range, from a joints perspective, from degenerative and destructive processes such asosteoarthritis and sports injuries to inflammation of tissues surrounding the joints, such asbursitis.[5] These might be triggered by other things, such as infections or vaccinations.[6]
| Cause | Mono- or polyarticular | Speed of onset |
|---|---|---|
| Rheumatoid arthritis | Polyarticular[7] | Weeks–months[8] |
| Systemic lupus erythematosus | Polyarticular[7] | Months[9] |
| Viral arthritis | Polyarticular[7] | |
| Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome | [10] | |
| Reactive arthritis | Polyarticular[7] | |
| Rheumatic fever | Polyarticular[7] | |
| Lyme disease | Polyarticular[7] | |
| Gonococcal arthritis | Polyarticular[7] | |
| Drug-induced arthritis | Polyarticular[7] | |
| Ligamentous laxity | Polyarticular[7] | |
| Osteoarthritis | Monoarticular[7] | |
| Gout attack | Monoarticular[7] | Hours[11] |
| Pseudogout | Monoarticular[7] | |
| Behcet's Disease | Monoarticular[7] | |
| Physical trauma | Monoarticular[7] | Immediate |
| Septic arthritis | Monoarticular[7] | Hours[11] |
| Hemarthrosis | Monoarticular[7] | |
| 5HT2-antagonists[12] | ||
| Henoch-Schonlein purpura[13] |
Diagnosis involves interviewing the patient and performingphysical exams. When attempting to establish the cause of the arthralgia, the emphasis is on the interview.[2] The patient is asked questions intended to narrow the number of potential causes. Given the varied nature of these possible causes, some questions may seem irrelevant. For example, the patient may be asked aboutdry mouth,light sensitivity,rashes or a history ofseizures.[2][14] Answering yes or no to any of these questions limits the number of possible causes and guides the physician toward the appropriate exams and lab tests.
Treatment depends on a specific underlying cause. The underlying cause will be treated first and foremost. The treatments may includejoint replacement surgery for severely damaged joints,immunosuppressants for immune system dysfunction, antibiotics when an infection is the cause, and discontinuing medication when an allergic reaction is the cause. When treating the primary cause, pain management may still play a role in treatment.[15]
