Diagnosis and Management of Acute Joint Pain for the Urgent Care Clinician (Pharmacology CME and Pain Management CME) | Points & Pearls
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Diagnosis and Management of Acute Joint Pain for the Urgent Care Clinician (Pharmacology CME and Pain Management CME)

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  • There are 6 broad categories of arthritis (with some overlap): (1) infectious, (2) degenerative, (3) autoimmune, (4) crystal deposition-related, (5) reactive, and (6) traumatic. See Table 1 for clues to diagnosis in each category.
  • Although joint pain has traditionally been thought of as either monoarticular or polyarticular, do not eliminate a disease based solely on these binary classifications.
  • The number of affected joints, their locations, and symmetry of distribution can help identify the cause of the joint pain. (See Table 3.)
  • There are no disease-modifying treatments for osteoarthritis; symptom relief is the main focus. Topical diclofenac has been shown to be better than placebo for pain relief and is recommended as first-line treatment.78 Acetaminophen is the first-line oral treatment, followed by NSAIDs. Hinged braces and physical therapy may also be helpful. Intra-articular injections of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid can be performed in urgent care if the clinician is skilled in this and the supplies are available.
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Publication Information
Author

Tracey Quail Davidoff, MD, FCUCM

Peer Reviewed By

Amelia Nadler, DNP, FNP-C; Genine Siciliano, MD

Publication Date

December 1, 2023

CME Expiration Date

December 1, 2026    CME Information

CME Credits

4 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. 4 AOA Category 2-B Credits.
4 AAFP Prescribed Credits
Specialty CME Credits: Included as part of the 4 credits, this CME activity is eligible for 1 Pharmacology and 1 Pain Management CME credit

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