Approach To Patient With Joint Pain

Question 1

Questions to ask for joint pain

Answer 1

Any activity out of the ordinary?

Any injury with daily usual activity?

Question 2

Mechanism of injury questions to ask

Answer 2

What was direction of force
What did your joint do
What did it feel like
Did you hear anything? 
Was there bruising?
When did this happen?
Can you still walk now?

Question 3

Strain vs sprain

Answer 3

Strain - occurs when muscle is over stretched (tendon) (grabbing sensation)

Sprain - ligament is over stretched (hear the pop)

Question 4

What should you observe in patient

Answer 4

Bi-lateral, both extremities

Question 5

Which side to start on for exam

Answer 5

Normal side

Question 6

What to watch for in range of motion

Answer 6

S/S for pain and asymmetric motion

Question 7

Monoarticular

Answer 7

One joint

Question 8

Polyarticular

Answer 8

Multiple joints

Question 9

Migratory

Answer 9

Moves from one joint to another

Question 10

Extra articular

Answer 10

Bones, muscles, tendons, bursa, skin

Question 11

Myalgia

Answer 11

Muscle pain

Question 12

Arthralgia

Answer 12

Joint pain

Question 13

Effusion

Answer 13

Fluid escape from blood vessels or lympthatic into the tissues or a cavity

Question 14

Tnedonitis

Answer 14

Inflammation of the tendon

Question 15

Bursitis

Answer 15

Inflammation of the bursa

Question 16

Valgus

Answer 16

Knees knocked together

Question 17

Varus

Answer 17

Bowed legs

Question 18

Sensitivity

Answer 18

The proportion of patients with with the diagnosis that also have the physical sign

Negative results rules things out

Question 19

Specificity

Answer 19

The proportion of patients without the diagnosis tho lack the physical sign

Positive result rules things in

Question 20

Synovial joint movement

Answer 20

Freely movable

Question 21

Cartilaginous joint movement

Answer 21

Slightly moveable

Question 22

Fibrous joint movement

Answer 22

Immovable

Question 23

Examples of red flags for joint pain

Answer 23

Very young or very old
Cancer
Unexplained weight loss or fatigue 
Pain > 1month 
IV drug use 
Pain at rest 
Long-term steroid use 
Neuro deficit