Arthralgia

	WikiDoc Resources for Arthralgia
Articles
Most recent articles on Arthralgia Most cited articles on Arthralgia Review articles on Arthralgia Articles on Arthralgia in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Arthralgia Images of Arthralgia Photos of Arthralgia Podcasts & MP3s on Arthralgia Videos on Arthralgia
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Arthralgia Bandolier on Arthralgia TRIP on Arthralgia
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Arthralgia at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Arthralgia Clinical Trials on Arthralgia at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Arthralgia NICE Guidance on Arthralgia NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Arthralgia CDC on Arthralgia
Books
Books on Arthralgia
News
Arthralgia in the news Be alerted to news on Arthralgia News trends on Arthralgia
Commentary
Blogs on Arthralgia
Definitions
Definitions of Arthralgia
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Arthralgia Discussion groups on Arthralgia Patient Handouts on Arthralgia Directions to Hospitals Treating Arthralgia Risk calculators and risk factors for Arthralgia
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Arthralgia Causes & Risk Factors for Arthralgia Diagnostic studies for Arthralgia Treatment of Arthralgia
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Arthralgia
International
Arthralgia en Espanol Arthralgia en Francais
Business
Arthralgia in the Marketplace Patents on Arthralgia
Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Arthralgia

	Arthralgia;
ICD-10	M25.5
ICD-9	719.4
DiseasesDB	15237
MeSH	D018771

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Please Take Over This Page and Apply to be Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [2] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.

Arthralgia (from Greek arthro-, joint + -algos, pain) literally means joint pain; ^[1]^[2] it is a symptom of injury, infection, illnesses -- 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]

Diagnosis and Causes

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, the questions may strike the uninitiated as irrelevant. For example the patient may be asked about dry mouth, light sensitivity, rashes or a history of seizures.^[2] ^[5] Answering yes or no to any of these questions limits the number of possible causes and guides the doctor toward the appropriate exams and lab tests.

The causes of arthralgia are varied and range from, a joints perspective, degenerative and destructive processes such as osteoarthritis and sports injuries to inflammation of tissues surrounding the joints (e.g. bursitis, a painful inflammation of bursa, fluid filled sacks around the joints). ^[6]

Treatment

Treatment depends on 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. The extent of its role varies depending on the specific cause of the arthralgia. Pain management may include stretching exercises, over the counter pain medications, prescription pain medication, or other treatments deemed appropriate for the symptoms.

Complete Differential Diagnosis of the Causes of Arthalgia

(In alphabetical order)

Complete Differential Diagnosis of the Causes of ...

(By organ system)

Cardiovascular	No underlying causes
Chemical / poisoning	No underlying causes
Dermatologic	No underlying causes
Drug Side Effect	No underlying causes
Ear Nose Throat	No underlying causes
Endocrine	No underlying causes
Environmental	No underlying causes
Gastroenterologic	No underlying causes
Genetic	No underlying causes
Hematologic	No underlying causes
Iatrogenic	No underlying causes
Infectious Disease	No underlying causes
Musculoskeletal / Ortho	No underlying causes
Neurologic	No underlying causes
Nutritional / Metabolic	No underlying causes
Obstetric/Gynecologic	No underlying causes
Oncologic	No underlying causes
Opthalmologic	No underlying causes
Overdose / Toxicity	No underlying causes
Psychiatric	No underlying causes
Pulmonary	No underlying causes
Renal / Electrolyte	No underlying causes
Rheum / Immune / Allergy	No underlying causes
Sexual	No underlying causes
Trauma	No underlying causes
Urologic	No underlying causes
Miscellaneous	No underlying causes

^[7] ^[8]

References

↑ "Arthralgia Definition" (HTML). MedicineNet.com. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Joe G. Hardin. "Arthralgia" (HTML). Clinical Methods - The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
↑ James R Philp. "Allergic Drug Reactions - Systemic Allergic Drug Reactions" (HTML). Clinical Methods - The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
↑ "MeSH". Retrieved 2007-12-23.
↑ "Table 159.3. Selected Symptomatic Extraarticular Features of the Connective Tissue Diseases and the Spondyloarthropathies" (HTML). Clinical Methods - The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
↑ Joe G. Hardin. "Table 161.1. Some Common Regional Rheumatic Syndromes" (HTML). Clinical Methods - The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
↑ Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:77 ISBN 1591032016
↑ Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:68 ISBN 140510368X

External links

Template:Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue Template:SIB

de:Arthralgie

Template:WH Template:WS

[medterms_arthralgia-1] "Arthralgia Definition" (HTML). MedicineNet.com. Retrieved 2007-09-20.

[jgh_arthralgia-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Joe G. Hardin. "Arthralgia" (HTML). Clinical Methods - The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. Retrieved 2007-09-20.

[drugReaction-3] James R Philp. "Allergic Drug Reactions - Systemic Allergic Drug Reactions" (HTML). Clinical Methods - The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. Retrieved 2007-09-20.

[title-4] "MeSH". Retrieved 2007-12-23.

[spondyl_table1-5] "Table 159.3. Selected Symptomatic Extraarticular Features of the Connective Tissue Diseases and the Spondyloarthropathies" (HTML). Clinical Methods - The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. Retrieved 2007-09-20.

[nihbook_2-6] Joe G. Hardin. "Table 161.1. Some Common Regional Rheumatic Syndromes" (HTML). Clinical Methods - The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. Retrieved 2007-09-20.

[7] Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:77 ISBN 1591032016

[8] Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:68 ISBN 140510368X

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]