Joint Pain
Alternate Names : Arthralgia, Pain - Joints, Stiffness in a Joint
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What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office
Your health care provider will obtain your medical history and will perform a physical examination.
Medical history questions documenting joint pain may include the following:
- Location
- Where is the pain?
- Which joint hurts?
- Is the pain on one side or both sides?
- Time pattern
- How long have you been having this pain?
- Have you had this pain before?
- Did this pain begin suddenly and severely or slowly and mildly?
- Does the pain recur?
- Has the pain become more severe?
- Is the pain constant or does it come and go?
- Aggravating factors
- What started your pain?
- Have you injured your joint?
- Have you had repeated injuries?
- Have you had an illness? Fever?
- What makes the pain worse?
- Does moving the joint make the pain worse?
- Does resting the joint make the pain worse?
- Relieving factors
- Does resting the joint reduce the pain?
- Does moving the joint reduce the pain?
- Are certain positions comfortable?
- Does keeping the joint elevated help?
- Do medications reduce the pain?
- Does massage help?
- Does applying heat help?
- Other
- What other symptoms do you have?
- Is the joint swollen or red or tender to touch?
- Is there any numbness?
- Can you bend and straighten the joint?
- Does the joint feel stiff?
- Does movement cause pain?
- Can you use the joint for normal activities?
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include the following:
Physical therapy for muscle and joint rehabilitation may be recommended.
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