Arthralgia Explained
Arthralgia literally means 'joint pain'.[1] [2] Specifically, arthralgia is a symptom of injury, infection, illness (in particular arthritis), or an allergic reaction to medication.[3]
According to MeSH, the term arthralgia should only be used when the condition is non-inflammatory, and the term arthritis should be used when the condition is inflammatory.[4]
Causes
The causes of arthralgia are varied and range, from a joints perspective, from degenerative and destructive processes such as osteoarthritis and sports injuries to inflammation of tissues surrounding the joints, such as bursitis.[5] These might be triggered by other things, such as infections or vaccinations.[6]
| Cause | | Speed of onset |
|---|
| Polyarticular [7] | Weeks–months[8] |
| Polyarticular | Months[9] |
| Polyarticular | |
| [10] | |
| Polyarticular | |
| Polyarticular | |
| Polyarticular | |
| Polyarticular | |
| Polyarticular | |
| Polyarticular | |
| Monoarticular | |
| Gout attack | Monoarticular | Hours |
| Monoarticular | |
| Monoarticular | |
| Monoarticular | Immediate |
| Monoarticular | Hours[11] |
| Monoarticular | |
| 5HT2-antagonists[12] |
| Henoch-Schonlein purpura[13] | | | |
Diagnosis
Diagnosis involves interviewing the patient and performing physical 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 about dry mouth, light sensitivity, rashes or a history of seizures.[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
Treatment depends on a specific underlying cause. The underlying cause will be treated first and foremost. The treatments may include joint 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]
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Arthralgia Definition. MedicineNet.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20071011105648/http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2343. 11 October 2007 . live. 2007-09-20.
- Web site: Arthralgia. Joe G. Hardin. Clinical Methods - The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 2007-09-20.
- Web site: Allergic Drug Reactions - Systemic Allergic Drug Reactions. James R Philp. 2007-09-20 . Clinical Methods - The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations.
- Web site: MeSH . 2007-12-23 .
- Web site: Table 161.1. Some Common Regional Rheumatic Syndromes. Joe G. Hardin. 2007-09-20. Clinical Methods - The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations .
- Web site: Information from CDC and FDA on the Safety of Gardasil Vaccine. Loris McVittie. 2008-07-21. supplement to your biologics license application (BLA) for Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16 and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant (GARDASIL), to include arthralgia, myalgia, asthenia, fatigue, and malaise in the Adverse Reactions section of the package insert.
- Table 6-8 in: Book: Elizabeth D Agabegi . Agabegi, Steven S. . Step-Up to Medicine (Step-Up Series) . Lippincott Williams & Wilkins . Hagerstwon, MD . 2008 . 978-0-7817-7153-5 . registration .
- [Diagnosis lag time]
- Doria . A. . Zen . M. . Canova . M. . Bettio . S. . Bassi . N. . Nalotto . L. . Rampudda . M. . Ghirardello . A. . Iaccarino . L. . SLE diagnosis and treatment: When early is early . Autoimmunity Reviews . 10 . 1 . 55–60 . 2010 . 20813207 . 10.1016/j.autrev.2010.08.014.
- Web site: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome - Symptoms and causes. 10 February 2018.
- https://books.google.com/books?id=Idb0Z658lFQC&pg=PT773 Page 740 (upper right of page)
- Passier . Anneke . van Puijenbroek . Eugene . Mirtazapine-induced arthralgia . British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology . November 2005 . 60 . 5 . 570–572 . 1884949. 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2005.02481.x . 16236049 .
- Web site: Henoch-Schonlein purpura (video). 2020-06-06. Khan Academy. en.
- Web site: Table 159mptomatic Extraarticular Features of the Connective Tissue Diseases and the Spondyloarthropathies. 2007-09-20 . Clinical Methods - The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations.
- Web site: Pain Management. Arthritis Action UK. Arthritis Action. 16 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160213052724/https://www.arthritisaction.org.uk/living/pain_management. 13 February 2016. dead.
