musculoskeletal pain Flashcards
length that req provider asssessment
Chronic ≥ 3 months
length of acute pain
< 4 weeks
myalgia location
muscles
myalgia sign
Swelling (rare)
myalgia symptoms
Dull, constant ache, weakness, muscle fatigue
myalgia onset
Trauma = acute, Drug-induced = insidious
myalgia approach
Eliminate cause, stretching, rest, heat, topical and systemic analgesics
tendonitis location
Tendons around joints
tendonitis sign
Warm, swelling, erythema
tendonitis symptoms
Mild-severe pain after use, loss of range of motion
tendonitis onset
Gradual, but can be sudden
tendonitis approach
Eliminate cause, stretching, rest, ice, heat, topical and systemic analgesics
bursitis location
Bursae within joints (knee, shoulder, big toe)
bursitis sign
Warm, edema, erythema, crepitus
bursitis symptoms
Constant pain that worsens with movement or external pressure over joint
bursitis onset
Acute with injury, recurs with use of joint
bursitis approach
Joint rest, immobilization, topical and systemic analgesics
sprain location
Stretching or tearing of ligament within joint
sprain sign
Swelling, bruising
sprain symptoms
Initial severe pain, followed by pain with joint use, tenderness, reduction in joint stability and function
sprain onset
Acute with injury
sprain approach
RICE, stretching, protective wrap, cane, topical counter-irritants, systemic analgesics
strain location
Hyper-extension of muscle or tendon
strain sign
Swelling, bruising
strain symptoms
Initial severe pain with continued pain upon movement and at rest, muscle weakness, loss of some function
strain onset
Acute with injury
strain approach
RICE, stretching, protective wrap, topical counter-irritants, systemic analgesics
osteoarthritis location
Weight-bearing joints (knees, hips, low back hands)
osteoarthritis sign
Usually no joint inflammation but possible to have swelling
Narrowing joint space, bone and cartilage restructuring,
osteoarthritis symptoms
Dull joint pain relieved by rest, joint stiffness < 20-30 minutes, localized symptoms to joint, crepitus
osteoarthritis onset
Insidious over years
osteoarthritis approach
Diagnosis, then exercise (light-moderate), weight loss, topical and systemic analgesics
RICE- rest
Total rest is no longer recommended
Instead, relative rest is employed including resistance exercise, biking, water aerobics, water jogging, Tai Chi
RICE- ice
Work best for superficial injuries, still used as ice message (frozen Dixi cup), ice/cold packs, cryo-cuff to prevent and treat acute swelling, patients with stiffness such as RA and osteoarthritis may prefer heat
RICE- compression
Limited data, patients like it and it somewhat decreases local effusion, make sure the compression item fits appropriately and is comfortable
RICE- elevation
Current recommendation is to elevate the injury for 10 minutes at a time but to change positions. Biggest error is having the injury in the dependent position for too long
