Week 2: MSK conditions Flashcards
1
Q
causes of back pain
A
- Herniated discs e.g. sciatica
- Muscle strain (overuse or poor posture)
- Muscle injury
- Vertebral fracture
- Osteoporosis
- Metastases
2
Q
types of back pain
A
axial
referred
radicular
3
Q
axial pain
A
- ‘mechanical pain’
- Confused to one spot or region
- Sharp or dull, comes and goes, constant or throbbing
- E.g. muscle strain
4
Q
referred pain
A
- Dull and achey, pain moves around and varies in intensity
- E.g. degenerative disc disease may cause referred pain to the hips and posterior thighs
5
Q
radicular pain
A
- Electric shock-like or searing
- Pain follows path of the spinal nerve as it exits the spinal canal
- Caused by compression or inflammation of the spinal nerve root
- May be accompanied by weakness/ numbness
- E.g. sciatica
- Herniated discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
6
Q
red flags of MSK presentation
A
-
Back pain
- Cauda equina
- Bone cancer
-
Joint pain
- Septic arthritis
-
Bone pain
- Bone malignancy
7
Q
Inflammatory joint disease
A
Joint inflammation caused by an overactive immune system affects many joints at the same time.
8
Q
major types of inflammatory joint disease
A
- RA
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Gout
- Lupus
9
Q
Difference between OA and inflammatory
A
-
OA- caused by physical use i.e. wear and tear of joint over time
- >50yo
-
Inflammatory arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease
- Affects people of all ages
- F>M
10
Q
presentation of inflammatory joint disease
A
- Morning joint stiffness
- Swelling, redness, warmth in affected joints
- ‘flare’ periods
11
Q
treatment of inflammatory joint disease
A
- Early use of DMARD
- Steroids
12
Q
rheumatoid arthritis background
A
- Autoantibodies RF and anti-ccp cause destruction of bone
13
Q
RF for rheumatoid arthritis
A
- 3:1 female
- 30-50 years old
14
Q
presentations of rheumatoid arthritis
A
- Progressive, peripheral and symmetrical polyarthritis
- Commonly affected joints: MCP/ PIP/ MTPs (typically spares DIP (OA)). May effect any joint inc hip/knees/shoulders/c-spine
- Hx .6 weeks
- Morning stiffness >30 min duration
- Fatigue/ malaise
15
Q
examination for rheumatoid arthritis
A
- Soft tissue swelling and tenderness first
- Ulnar deviation/palmar subluxation of MCP
- Swan-neck and boutonniere deformity to digits
- Rheumatoid nodules- most common on elbows
- Median nerve- carpal tunnel association
16
Q
investigations for RA
A
- Auto antibodies: RF and anti-CCP
- FBC- normocytic anaemia (chronic disease)
- WCC (septic arthritis)
- Inflammatory markers (CRP and ESR)- elevates
- X-ray changes apparent in established disease- USSS/MRI more sensitive in early disease
17
Q
treatment of RA
A
- Initially DMARD monotherapy (methotrexate), Consider combination DMARDs (leflunomide, hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine)
- Steroids (acutely)= PO/IM or intra-articular
- Symptoms control with NSAID (PPI cover)
- If disease still severe add biologic- anti-TNFs – etanercepts
- Non-drug- OT/PT, podiatry, psychological