4.6 Musculoskeletal malfunctions: monitoring, treatment, and care needs Flashcards
What are the methods for monitoring for arthritis?
Physical examinations by doctor. They look for tenderness, creaking or grating of joints, excess fluid in the joints, restricted movement, ask about their experiences, and x-rays, ultrasounds, and MRI scans.
They also have blood tests that look for a reactive protein.
What is the medical intervention treatment for arthritis?
NSAIDS- non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce swelling. Painkillers- to manage day to day pain. Steroid injections- directly into joint for extremely painful joints, and steroid tablets to reduce inflammation. Arthroscopy- keyhole surgery to cut away damage tissues, minor surgery and no over-night stay required. Joint replacement- replacing joints with a prosthetic.
What are the lifestyle changes for arthritis?
Regular exercise to strengthen the joint, weight loss to avoid putting extra strain on joints, using adaptive devices to reduce the strain on joints during everyday activities, and physiotherapy that can help the individual improve fitness and muscle strength , making joints more flexible.
What are the methods for monitoring osteoporosis?
Bone density scans- radiation waves are passed through the body. The detectors pick up how much radiation has passed through and use this to calculate the density of bone and compare it to typical levels for someone of that age, sex, and ethnicity.
What is the medical intervention treatment for osteoporosis?
HRT- counteracts the reduction of oestrogen, which in turn keeps the bone tissue stronger- for women. Bisphosphonates- inhibit the function of osteo-clasts meaning bone is not broken down at the same rate. Parathyroid hormone treatments stimulate osteo-blasts, meaning that more bone tissue is created, increasing bone density.
What are the lifestyle changes for osteoporosis?
Increasing calcium and vitamin D- go outdoors more, regular exercise- weight bearing, preventing falls- for example railings, risk assessments, ramps, handlebars, seats in showers, wet-rooms, and stairlifts.
