JOINT/MUSCLE PAIN

See also

Sports injury

Common problems

• Inflammatory arthritis - e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, aggressive joint swelling and sometimes destruction.
• Osteoarthritis - "wear and tear" type conditions - very common from mid-life onwards.
• Reactive arthritis - joint swelling following a viral illness, food poisoning, and some other infections.
• Septic arthritis - infection in a joint.
• Trauma.

Danger signs

• Aggressive joint swelling - morning stiffness especially in a young person should beseen by your GP.
• Joint swelling associated with a local infection - Contact GP urgently.
• Joint pain associated with trauma - if deformity, lack of full range of movement or ability to use normally - Contact GP

Notes for children

• Contact GP
• A limping child (often irritable hip) should be advised not to weight bear - and be given an NSAID (not aspirin) while waiting for medical review.

Notes for the elderly

• Beware of NSAID induced dyspepsia.
• Consider acid blocker (H² receptor antagonist) therapy.
• Advise: Weight bearing exercise
  - low fat/fat free calcium in diet or supplement
  - adequate vitamin D or supplements.

General advice

• Rest swollen painful joints.
• Exercise when joints OK.
• Avoid obesity.

Therapy

• NSAIDs (can be in addition to analgesics) - full dose for several days may be needed for anti-inflammatory action - 4g aspirin in divided doses. Ibuprofen recommended in a relatively low dose.
• Topical NSAIDs - oral route preferred - but many people prefer topical preparations.
• Analgesia.
• Embrocations.
• Fish oils.

Dictionary

Dyspepsia: gastric indigestion.

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