Mechanical causes of joint pain
Trauma - # and sprains
OA
Hypermobility disorders
Contractures
Inflammatory causes of joint pain
Gout/Pseudogout Septic Arthritis RA Spondyloarthropathies Autoimmune connective tissue disorders (SLE, systemic sclerosis) Osteomyelitis
Mechanical and inflammatory causes of joint pain
Bursitis
Polio
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
Tendonitis
What are the Spondyloarthropathies?
Psoriatic arthritis
Ankylosing spondylitis
Reactive arthritis
Enteropathic arthritis
Back pain Hx - HPC:
S - Which joints are involved? (patterns?)
O - Sudden or insidious onset?
C - Describe the pain
R - Does it radiate anywhere?
A - Systemic symptoms? Changes in Sensation?
T - Continuous? On and Off? Progressive?
E - Improves or worsens on movement? Any morning stiffness?
S - Pain score 1-10 & Quantify loss of function
SR:
Extra-articular manifestations – eyes, skin, bowels
Night sweats, fevers, weight loss.
Back pain Hx - PMHx:
Previous joint disease Hx of recent illness Surgeries Trauma – fractures, open fractures, sprains Thyroid disease Periods of immobility Sickle cell disease Malignancy
Back pain Hx - DHx:
Allergies
OTC
Hormone therapy
Chemotherapy
Polypharmacy – falls risk
Back pain Hx - SHx:
Smoking, alcohol, drug use. Occupation Exercise/leisure ADLs Dependence or caring responsibilities Accommodation – stairs, etc. Diet and fluids.
Back pain Hx - FHx:
FHx of Any MSK/inflammatory conditions
May also impact the patients understanding/pre-conceptions.
Osteoarthritis
= a dynamic but slow process of remodelling and proliferation of new bone, cartilage and connective tissues, as well as focal degeneration of articular cartilage.
Any synovial joint can be affected but most commons sites are knees, hips and small joints of the hands.
Risk factors for OA
Any factor that increases stress on a joint or affects physiological response to joint damage is a risk factor.
Who is affected by OA?
& common sites affected?
Women > Men.
Uncommon before age 50
Knee > Hip > Hand
Changes occurring in OA
Loss of articular cartilage/joint space
Osteophytes
Subchondral Sclerosis (thickening of the bone
Subchondral cysts (lytic loss of bone density)
OA - radiological findings
L – loss of joint space
O – osteophytes
S – subchondral sclerosis
S – subchondral cysts
Most common joints affected in OA
Cervical/Lumbar spine
Tibiofemoral joint
Acetabulofemoral joint
PIPs and DIPs
Carpometacarpal joint
Metacarpophalangeal joint
1st Metatarsophalangeal joint
Symptoms of OA
Continuous pain
Worsens on movement, improves on rest
No significant morning stiffness (<30 mins)
Signs of OA
Bony enlargement of the affected joint
Reduced Range of Movement
Joint Crepitus
Deformity - Varus/valgus
Effusion
Antalgic gait
Name for the bony expansion of DIP joints
= Heberden’s nodes
Name for the bony expansion of PIP joints
= Bouchard’s nodes
Varus deformity
= deformity in which an anatomical part is turned inwards towards the midline
Valgus deformity
= deformity in which an anatomical part is turned outward away from the midline
Rheumatoid Arthritis
= an inflammatory arthritis (severe form of chronic synovitis), leading to destruction and ankylosis of the joints
The condition is of autoimmune aetiology, believed to be initiated by a microbial agent.
RA is polyarticular, symmetrical and systemic
Prevalence of RA
~1% of UK population.
F:M - 3:1
Onset peaks in people aged 30-50
Approx. 1/3 of people stop work within 2 years of onset.
Pathophysiology of RA