Polyarthralgia

Polyarthralgia or polyArthritis involves joint pain at 5 or more joints of the body. This type of arthritis is common in aged people and attacks both gender equally. In simple terms, polyarthralgia is multiple joint pain. Oligoarthralgia is the term used to describe joint pain of less than 5 joints in the body and polyarthralgia damages at least 5 joints simultaneously. Muscle stiffness, rigidity and fatigue are the common symptoms of polyarthralgia.

The main cause for polyarthralgia is wear and tear of the joints and cartilages in the body. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder wherein the body’s own immune system produces antibodies for attacking the joints. Treatment is available in many forms like conservative measures, painkillers, antidepressants and strengthening exercises for joints.

Polyarthralgia and Polymyalgia : Difference

The term “myalgia” indicates muscle pain. Polymyalgia involves muscle weakness and pain in many parts of the body. Polyarthralgia has nothing to do with muscles it is a disease related to joints. The major symptoms of polymyalgia are stiffness and fatigue with pain all over the body but polyarthalgia is marked by inflammation of the joints (multiple joints). There is perhaps only one similarity between these two. People living with polymyalgia are likely to develop polyarthralgia in future.

Symptoms of Polyarthralgia :

The primary symptoms of this disease are inflammation of the joint, stiffness and joint pain. The affected joints develop swelling and causes intense pain. Sometimes the skin becomes hard and thick causing stiffness of joints. Owing to these symptoms it resembles rheumatoid arthritis. The signs are the worst in the morning after resting for long. The joints become stiff and lose flexibility and locks normal movement. After some time the intensity of rigidity reduces and one is able to move his joint.

The highlight of this disease is it involves many joints like hip, knee, ankle, upper limb, shoulder, hands and legs. Quality of life is affected if the swelling of joints is severe and one has to depend on medications to manage the symptoms. Signs of polyarthralgia can become evident in the age group of 30-50. The skin on the hands or fingers may become thick due to swelling causing pain and stiffness.

Causes :

Polyarthralgia is a type of arthritis and is caused by wear and tear of the cartilages of the joint. The slick coating at the ends of the bones gets weaker due to overuse causing pain and stiffness. Any joint injury or sometimes even an infection can trigger this problem. In many cases the disease progresses slowly causing inflammation of many more joints. The soft lining of the synovial membrane gets swollen it induces excruciating pain when two bones meet each other without cushion support.

Obesity is believed to be another cause for polyarthralgia. The joints are continuously bombarded with heavy loads of weight and are under constant pressure. This would eventually cause wear and tear of joints. People with wrong food habits and sedentary lifestyle are likely to develop many kinds of arthritis later.

Diagnosis :

Based on the symptoms, your doctor will carefully examine the affected joints and adjacent areas. He may order for imaging tests like X-rays or MRI scanning to get clear picture of the anatomy of the joints and to detect the intensity of inflammation.

Treatment :

The main goal of treating polyarthralgia is to provide relief from symptoms and to improve quality of life of the patients. Since polyarthralgia involves swelling of multiple joints, combined approach of medications and therapy would be effective. Your doctor would recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications to manage pain initially. If you have disturbance of sleep due to intense pain you may be given antidepressant drugs.

You will be referred to a physiotherapist to learn stretching and strengthening exercises. To begin with it would be very difficult for you to move the fingers or hands affected with inflammation. But gradually your symptoms will improve as you start working on it. Diet restriction and lifestyle changes will help you a lot in getting out of the intense pain and stiffness. If you are obese, you can consult a dietician to make out for Weight Loss plan.

Given with the availability of high tech medical equipments and expert medical advice in your area, it is easy to fight polyarthralgia. The progression of the symptoms of increased swelling of joints in many areas can be prevented by medications as well as exercise regimen. Stick on to the schedule of exercise and be optimistic to overcome the disease. For severe cases your doctor would use corticosteroid injection on the affected joint area to reduce swelling and to control stiffness. One shot of medicine is enough to control pain for many weeks and you will be given repeated injection whenever symptoms are worse.

Polyarthralgia

Polyarthralgia



Polyarthralgia is when someone suffers from pain in more than one joint, and is always associated with arthritic pain. Diagnosis is difficult due to a wide range of signs and symptoms. Doctors need to review patient histories as well as carry out physical examinations in order to give an accurate diagnosis of polyarthralgia.

Signs of Polyarthralgia
There are some initial symptoms to watch out which usually happen between the ages of 30 and 50, such as painless swelling or thickening of the skin on your hands and fingers or pain and stiffness in the joints.

Signs	Descriptions
Simple Arthralgia	The main symptom is pain. There is no inflammation in the joints or stiffness, but patients may have a history of intercurrent illness or viral infections.
Rheumatoid Arthritis	A person will experience at least 4 of the following symptoms for six weeks: pain and swelling in a minimum of three joint areas, subcutaneous nodules, positive rheumatoid factor, joint stiffness in the morning that lasts more than an hour, symmetrical presentation, involvement of metacarpophalangeal joints, proximal interphalangeal joints (knuckle joints) and wrists, and radiological evidence of erosions.
Seronegative Arthritis	This is a non-Rheumatoid Arthritis that is linked with Psoriasis, bowel diseases like Crohn’s Disease or ulcerative Colitis, bladder symptoms and anterior Uveitis. This can often occur after infections like Strep Throat, Chlamydial urethritis, or bowel infections like Salmonella. It is mainly asymmetrical pain with large joint and possible spinal involvement.
Osteoarthritis	Sufferers will experience pain in large weight-bearing joint areas as well as the carpometacarpal joint of the thumbs and distal interphalangeal joints of the fingers. There may also be the presence of nodes around the joints. Lifestyle factors play a large role. Those who are overweight, work sedentary jobs, overuse joints or have a history of injury to various joints can all suffer from osteoarthritis.
Fibromyalgia	Fibromyalgia is a difficult disease that is more common in women than in men. Pain in the tendons and ligaments as well as tender points throughout the body are common signs of fibromyalgia, as is fatigue. Even the slightest pressure can cause acute pain on tender points. Fibromyalgia has also been known and referred to as ‘chronic muscle pain,’ ‘psychogenic Rheumatism,’ ‘tension myalgias,’ and ‘fibrositis.’

Diagnosis of Polyarthralgia
Diagnosing and treating polyarthralgia requires a keen attention to various details. Take a look affected joints or joint areas and also take into account lifestyle, athletic activity and ability, weight, and age. There are many risk factors involved in diagnosis such as previous injury or heavy, repeat use of major joints. The following points show diagnosis symptoms as well as basic treatments for all of the conditions discussed above in regards to polyarthralgia.

If you are not experiencing any active inflammation, then consider your affliction to be basic arthralgia. Take simple analgesics or nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs. If there is more generalized pain or signs of Depression, then consider fibromyalgia. For this there are medications that can be prescribed, but mostly lifestyle changes will help.

When symptoms are indicative of osteoarthritis you need to become knowledgeable about the problem. Learn about the wear and tear on joints due to osteoarthritis and create a Weight Loss plan if necessary. Good exercise and analgesics can also help as well as anti-inflammatory medications. Physiotherapy may be needed to slow joint deterioration. Again, lifestyle changes are key.

When there is swelling and features of inflammation you need to consider inflammatory arthropathy which is the most common root cause of rheumatoid arthritis. Further investigation into your condition may be needed such as a full blood count to check for anaemia, markers of inflammation like plasma viscosity, rheumatoid factor and radiography of your hands. There is no real cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but Vitamin D supplements can help the slow the deterioration process.

If there are no contraindications, then you need to start with a treatment of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If you instate a long-acting treatment you can have more sustained control over your condition. Long term treatments will be needed as well as adequate rest of the affected joints. Occupational therapy may be needed from time to time as well.

When rheumatoid arthritis or seronegative inflammatory arthropathy is the diagnosis then be sure to understand the nature of the condition. An assessment by a specialist is highly beneficial. There are several treatments to help slow the progression of these conditions. Nowadays, very few patients become disabled and wheelchair-bound because of this.

Start on antirheumatic drugs like sulfasalazine or methotrexate. There are possible pulmonary side effects so it is wise to receive chest radiography before beginning these treatments. You will need regular haematological and biochemical monitoring while receiving these treatments. You will need to see a rheumatologist fairly regularly.

The short term use of a low dose oral corticosteroid is often used to treat polyarthralgia. These medications will be administered for anywhere from 6-12 weeks at a time to help relieve and manage symptoms while also slowing the progression of joint deterioration.

After your initial diagnosis or initial round of treatment, arrange for a follow up appointment in about four to six weeks. You will need another clinical assessment, evaluation of your home and social circumstances and a refresh on earlier professional advice.

Polyarthralgia

Polyarthralgia






Polyarthralgia or polyarthritis involves joint pain at 5 or more joints of the body. This type of arthritis is common in aged people and attacks both gender equally. In simple terms, polyarthralgia is multiple joint pain. Oligoarthralgia is the term used to describe joint pain of less than 5 joints in the body and polyarthralgia damages at least 5 joints simultaneously. Muscle stiffness, rigidity and fatigue are the common symptoms of polyarthralgia.

The main cause for polyarthralgia is wear and tear of the joints and cartilages in the body. Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder wherein the body’s own immune system produces antibodies for attacking the joints. Treatment is available in many forms like conservative measures, painkillers, antidepressants and strengthening exercises for joints.

Polyarthralgia and Polymyalgia : Difference

The term “myalgia” indicates muscle pain. Polymyalgia involves muscle weakness and pain in many parts of the body. Polyarthralgia has nothing to do with muscles it is a disease related to joints. The major symptoms of polymyalgia are stiffness and fatigue with pain all over the body but polyarthalgia is marked by inflammation of the joints (multiple joints). There is perhaps only one similarity between these two. People living with polymyalgia are likely to develop polyarthralgia in future.

Symptoms of Polyarthralgia :

The primary symptoms of this disease are inflammation of the joint, stiffness and joint pain. The affected joints develop swelling and causes intense pain. Sometimes the skin becomes hard and thick causing stiffness of joints. Owing to these symptoms it resembles rheumatoid arthritis. The signs are the worst in the morning after resting for long. The joints become stiff and lose flexibility and locks normal movement. After some time the intensity of rigidity reduces and one is able to move his joint.

The highlight of this disease is it involves many joints like hip, knee, ankle, upper limb, shoulder, hands and legs. Quality of life is affected if the swelling of joints is severe and one has to depend on medications to manage the symptoms. Signs of polyarthralgia can become evident in the age group of 30-50. The skin on the hands or fingers may become thick due to swelling causing pain and stiffness.

Causes :

Polyarthralgia is a type of arthritis and is caused by wear and tear of the cartilages of the joint. The slick coating at the ends of the bones gets weaker due to overuse causing pain and stiffness. Any joint injury or sometimes even an infection can trigger this problem. In many cases the disease progresses slowly causing inflammation of many more joints. The soft lining of the synovial membrane gets swollen it induces excruciating pain when two bones meet each other without cushion support.

Obesity is believed to be another cause for polyarthralgia. The joints are continuously bombarded with heavy loads of weight and are under constant pressure. This would eventually cause wear and tear of joints. People with wrong food habits and sedentary lifestyle are likely to develop many kinds of arthritis later.

Diagnosis :

Based on the symptoms, your doctor will carefully examine the affected joints and adjacent areas. He may order for imaging tests like X-rays or MRI scanning to get clear picture of the anatomy of the joints and to detect the intensity of inflammation.

Treatment :

The main goal of treating polyarthralgia is to provide relief from symptoms and to improve quality of life of the patients. Since polyarthralgia involves swelling of multiple joints, combined approach of medications and therapy would be effective. Your doctor would recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications to manage pain initially. If you have disturbance of sleep due to intense pain you may be given antidepressant drugs.

You will be referred to a physiotherapist to learn stretching and strengthening exercises. To begin with it would be very difficult for you to move the fingers or hands affected with inflammation. But gradually your symptoms will improve as you start working on it. Diet restriction and lifestyle changes will help you a lot in getting out of the intense pain and stiffness. If you are obese, you can consult a dietician to make out for Weight Loss plan.

Given with the availability of high tech medical equipments and expert medical advice in your area, it is easy to fight polyarthralgia. The progression of the symptoms of increased swelling of joints in many areas can be prevented by medications as well as exercise regimen. Stick on to the schedule of exercise and be optimistic to overcome the disease. For severe cases your doctor would use corticosteroid injection on the affected joint area to reduce swelling and to control stiffness. One shot of medicine is enough to control pain for many weeks and you will be given repeated injection whenever symptoms are worse.