Joint and muscle pain is referred to as Musculo-skeletal pain.
Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions affect the joints, bones and muscles, including arthritis, back pain and sports injuries.
More years are lived with musculoskeletal disability than any other long term condition.
There are more than 200 musculoskeletal conditions which:
- affect 1 in 4 of the adult population (many being young and of working age) which is around 9.6 million adults and 12,000 children in the UK
- account for 30% of GP consultations, in England
- 8 million days are lost as a consequence of musculoskeletal conditions
- are associated with a large number of co-morbidities, including diabetes, depression and obesity
- account for over 25% of all surgical interventions in the NHS
- account for £4.76 billion of NHS spending each year
WHO: Anyone! From youngsters with Osgood Schlatters to older people with Arthritis.
CAUSE: They range from those that arise suddenly and are short-lived, such as fractures, sprains and strains, to lifelong conditions associated with ongoing functioning limitations and disability.
Musculoskeletal conditions are typically characterised by pain and limitations in mobility, dexterity and overall level of functioning, reducing people’s ability to work. Musculoskeletal conditions include conditions that affect:
- Joints: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, ankylosing spondylitis.
- Bones: osteoporosis, osteopenia , traumatic fractures;
- Muscles: sprains and strains
- Tendons; Tendonopathies- achillies/patella, tennis/golfers elbow, plantarfasciitis
- Spine: back and neck pain
- Multiple body areas or systems: fibromyalgia, inflammatory diseases
SYMPTOMS: Symptoms and quality of pain can vary depending on the location and cause, and can include:
- stiffness
- soreness
- swelling
- redness
- cracking or popping sound in the joint
- reduced movement
- weakness
- fatigue
- difficulty sleeping
- muscle spasms or twitches
- bruising
Fibromyalgia causes multiple tender spots throughout the body.
Nerve compression pain may feel like tingling, pins and needles, or burning.
DIAGNOSIS: Because musculoskeletal pain can have a variety of causes, we will first take a detailed medical history and ask about your symptoms. Expect to answer questions like these:
- When did the pain start?
- What were you doing at the time (for example, working out or playing sports)?
- What does it feel like – stabbing, burning, aching, tingling?
- Where does it hurt?
- What other symptoms do you have (trouble sleeping, fatigue, etc.)?
- What makes it worse or better?
We would perform a physical examination looking at your movement and strength we may palpate the area to find the exact location of your pain.
We may refer to your GP if we feel further investigations are required.
- blood tests to look for signs of inflammation pathology.
- X-rays or CT scans to find problems with the bones
- MRI to find problems with soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments, and tendons
Although scans are often not required after a thorough examination – this will be discussed during your sessions.
TREATMENT:
The treatment you receive is based on what’s causing your pain but may include:
- Medication – as advised by a GP or Pharmacist
- Hands on therapy – mobilisations/ manipulations/ massage
- Pain management – TENS, acupuncture
- Exercise – rehabilitation, strengthening, stretching, loading programmes
- Electrotherapy – ultrasound, shockwave
- Aids – splints, supports, taping, braces
MORE INFO:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/musculoskeletal-conditions
