Arthralgia Definition
Arthralgia is the medical term for joint pain – derived from the Greek words arthro, joint, and algos, pain. Most of us experience arthralgia in one form or another within the course of our lives.
Arthralgia is a symptom of an injury, infection, or disease.
Arthralgia Diagnoses
Diagnosing arthralgia involves an interview with a physician. If arthralgia comes with other symptoms – such as rashes, fever, vertigo – then the root cause will be easier to identify. The physician can recommend the viable medical tests to ascertain the specific cause of arthralgia.
Arthralgia General Causes
The root causes of arthralgia range from a local injury to the joint to a systemic disease. The amount of pain and duration of arthralgia also vary greatly.
Note that some causes of arthralgia are common, while others are extremely rare.
Some causes of arthralgia are inevitably genetic, while other causes of arthralgia are due to wholly avoidable situations.
Arthralgia Specific Causes
Here are possible causes of arthralgia. As much as this list is provided to help you understand the possible causes of arthralgia, it should not serve as an alternative to a medical consultation.
- Arthralgia – Non-Inflammatory
- Description
- Without swelling, redness, or heat.
- Without fever, fatigue, or involuntary weight loss.
- Without improvement after physical activity.
- Types
- Osteoarthritis
- Damage to muscles
- Damage to tendons
- Arthralgia Inflammatory
- Description
- With swelling, redness, or heat.
- With fever, fatigue, or involuntary weight loss.
- With improvement after physical activity.
- Types
- Gout
- Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
An athletic mishap, for example, may directly damage the joint or the tendons surrounding the joint; both scenarios can cause arthralgia.
Arthralgia can also be due to a progressive – and entirely preventable – disease such as nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is caused by gadolinium compounds injected into individuals for MRI and MRA scans.
Arthralgia Treatments
The treatments for arthralgia vary. The root cause of the arthralgia must be identified first, then treated.
Antibiotics, immunosuppressants, and even surgery may be necessary, depending on the root cause of the arthralgia.
Pain management for arthralgia may be necessary. Controlled physical activity or prescription medication may also be necessary depending on the specific case of arthralgia.
Arthralgia may be tolerable, however, some degenerative and fatal diseases are linked to joint pain.
Arthralgia and NSF
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is one such degenerative disease, and can lead to arthralgia and death due to the lack of a universal treatment. If you or someone you know has undergone an MRI or MRA scan with gadolinium, you should consult a physician immediately. You may also be entitled to financial compensation if gadolinium has damaged your health. Seek the legal experts at Babbitt-Johnson for a complimentary legal consultation. It is imperative to consult a physician as soon as possible. Babbitt-Johnson attorneys, specializing in aprotinin and Trasylol cases, offer free legal consultations and advice on the best legal recourses.
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