Question

.Includes a summary of the conditions with definition, signs and symptoms and treatment

Musculoskeletal
1. Fractures
2. Arthritis
3. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Answer 1

.Includes a summary of the conditions with definition, signs and symptoms and treatment

Musculoskeletal
1. Fractures
2. Arthritis
3. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

1. FRACTURES

Definition

1.A complete or partial break in a bone, is a condition that changes the shape of the bone.

2.It is a medical condition where the continuity of the bone is broken.

Signs and symptoms

• pain
• swelling
• bruising
• discolored skin around the affected area
• angulation – the affected area may be bent at an unusual angle
• the patient is unable to put weight on the injured area
• the patient cannot move the affected area
• the affected bone or joint may have a grating sensation
• if it is an open fracture, there may be bleeding

When a large bone is affected, such as the pelvis or femur:

• the sufferer may look pale and clammy
• there may be dizziness (feeling faint)
• feelings of sickness and nausea.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to control the pain, promote healing, prevent complications, and restore normal use of the fractured area.

An open fracture (one in which the bone exits and is visible through the skin, or a deep wound that exposes the bone through the skin) is considered an emergency. This needs immediate medical attention.

1.Non-operative (closed) therapy

• Casting
  Closed reduction is done for any fracture that is displaced, shortened, or angulated. Splints and casts made up of fiberglass or plaster of Paris material are used to immobilize the limb.
• Traction
  Traction method is used for the management of fractures and dislocations that cannot be treated by casting. There are two methods of traction namely, skin traction and skeletal traction.

• Splint/cast (immobilizes the injured area to promote bone alignment and healing to protect the injured area from motion or use)
• Medication (to control pain).
• Physical therapy: Exercises such as strengthening and range-of-motion exercises should be started only after the fracture has healed. These are done to strengthen the muscles of the injured area and improve the movement of the joint.

OPERATIVE THERAPY

Surgery

1.Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF)
This is a surgical procedure in which the fracture site is adequately exposed and reduction of fracture is done. Internal fixation is done with devices such as Kirschner wires, plates and screws, and intramedullary nails.

2.External fixation
External fixation is a procedure in which the fracture stabilization is done at a distance from the site of fracture. It helps to maintain bone length and alignment without casting.

2. ARTHRITIS

Definition

Inflammation of one or more joints, causing pain and stiffness that can worsen with age.

types are:

1.Degenerative Arthritis

2.Inflammatory Arthritis

3.Infectious Arthritis

4.Metabolic Arthritis

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of arthritis include pain and limited function of joints. Joint inflammation from arthritis is characterized by joint stiffness, swelling, redness, pain, and warmth.

• Stiffness of the joint can lead to poor function.
• Tenderness of the inflamed joint can be present with or without pain.
• When large joints are involved, such as the knee, there can be loss of cartilage with limitation of motion from the joint damage.
• When arthritis affects the small joints in fingers, there can be bone growth and loss of hand grip and grip strength of the hand associated with stiffness.
• Arthritis of weight-bearing joints can lead to difficulty walking from poor joint function and arthritis pain.
• fever,
• gland swelling (swollen lymph nodes),
• weight loss,
• fatigue,
• feeling unwell, and
• even symptoms from abnormalities of organs such as the lungs, heart, or kidneys.

TREATMENTS

1. . Medication
2. .therapy
3. .surgery
4. lifestyle changes.
5. .alternative mediines

1.Medications

The medications used to treat arthritis vary depending on the type of arthritis. Commonly used arthritis medications include:

• Painkillers. These medications help reduce pain, but have no effect on inflammation.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs reduce both pain and inflammation. Some NSAIDs are available as creams or gels, which can be rubbed on joints.
• Counterirritants.Rubbing these preparations on the skin over your aching joint may interfere with the transmission of pain signals from the joint itself.
• Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). DMARDs slow or stop your immune system from attacking your joint.
• Biologic response modifiers. Typically used in conjunction with DMARDs, biologic response modifiers are genetically engineered drugs that target various protein molecules that are involved in the immune response.
• Corticosteroids. reduces inflammation and suppresses the immune system.

2.Therapy

Physical therapy can be helpful for some types of arthritis. Exercises can improve range of motion and strengthen the muscles surrounding joints. In some cases, splints or braces may be warranted.

3.Surgery

If conservative measures don't help, your doctor may suggest surgery, such as:

• Joint repair. In some instances, joint surfaces can be smoothed or realigned to reduce pain and improve function. These types of procedures can often be performed arthroscopically — through small incisions over the joint.
• Joint replacement. This procedure removes your damaged joint and replaces it with an artificial one. Joints most commonly replaced are hips and knees.
• Joint fusion. This procedure is more often used for smaller joints, such as those in the wrist, ankle and fingers. It removes the ends of the two bones in the joint and then locks those ends together until they heal into one rigid unit.

4.Life style modifications

In many cases, arthritis symptoms can be reduced with the following measures:

• Weight loss. If you're obese, losing weight will reduce the stress on your weight-bearing joints. This may increase your mobility and limit future joint injury.
• Exercise. Regular exercise can help keep your joints flexible. Swimming and water aerobics may be good choices because the buoyancy of the water reduces stress on weight-bearing joints.
• Heat and cold. Heating pads or ice packs may help relieve arthritis pain.
• Assistive devices. Using canes, shoe inserts, walkers, raised toilet seats and other assistive devices can help protect your joints and improve your ability to perform daily tasks.

5.Alternative medicine

Many people use alternative remedies for arthritis, but there is little reliable evidence to support the use of many of these products. The most promising alternative remedies for arthritis include:

• Acupuncture. This therapy uses fine needles inserted at specific points on the skin to reduce many types of pain, including that caused by some types of arthritis.
• Glucosamine. Although study results have been mixed, some studies have found that glucosamine works no better than placebo. However, glucosamine and the placebo both relieved arthritis pain better than taking nothing, particularly in people who have moderate to severe pain from knee osteoarthritis.
• Chondroitin. Chondroitin may provide modest pain relief from osteoarthritis, although study results are mixed.
• Yoga and tai chi. The slow, stretching movements associated with yoga and tai chi may help improve joint flexibility and range of motion in people with some types of arthritis.
• Massage. Light stroking and kneading of muscles may increase blood flow and warm affected joints, temporarily relieving pain. Make sure your massage therapist knows which joints are affected by arthritis.

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Definitions

1.According to WHO

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic systemic disease that affects the joints, connective tissues, muscle, tendons, and fibrous tissue. It tends to strike during the most productive years of adulthood, between the ages of 20 and 40, and is a chronic disabling condition often causing pain and deformity.

2.According to CDC

Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, which means that your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake, causing inflammation (painful swelling) in the affected parts of the body.

Signs and symptoms

• Pain or aching in more than one joint
• Stiffness in more than one joint
• Tenderness and swelling in more than one joint
• The same symptoms on both sides of the body (such as in both hands or both knees)
• Weight loss
• Fever
• Fatigue or tiredness
• Weakness

Treatment

1. medications
2. alternative or home remedies
3. dietary changes
4. specific types of exercise

1.Rheumatoid arthritis medications

There are many types of medication for RA. Some of these medications help to reduce the pain and inflammation of RA. Some help to reduce flares and limit the damage that RA does to your joints.

The following over-the-counter medications help reduce the pain and inflammation during RA flares:

• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

• corticosteroids

• acetaminophen

The following drugs work to slow the damage that RA can cause to your body:

• Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). DMARDs work by blocking your body’s immune system response. This helps to slow down the progression of RA.

• Biologics. These new generation biologic DMARDs provide a targetedresponse to inflammation rather than blocking your body’s entire immune system response.

• Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor. use to help prevent inflammation and stop damage to your joints when DMARDs and biologic DMARDs don’t work for you.

2.Home remedies for rheumatoid arthritis

Certain home remedies and lifestyle adjustments may help to improve your quality of life when living with RA. This includes exercise, rest, and assistive devices.

Get enough rest

You may need more rest during flare-ups and less during remission. Getting enough sleep will help to reduce inflammation and pain as well as fatigue.

Apply heat or cold

Ice packs or cold compresses can help to reduce inflammation and pain. They may also be effective against muscle spasms.

You can alternate cold with hot treatments such as warm showers and hot compresses. This may help to reduce stiffness.

Try assistive devices

Certain devices such as splints and braces can hold your joints in a resting position. This may help to reduce inflammation.

Canes and crutches can help you maintain mobility, even during flares. You can also install household devices, such as grab bars and handrails in bathrooms and along staircases.

Shop home remedies

• ice packs
• canes
• grab bars
• handrails
• NSAIDs

3.Rheumatoid arthritis diet

Your healthcare provider or dietitian may recommend an anti-inflammatory diet.

Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids include:

• fatty fish like salmon, tuna, herring, and mackerel
• chia seeds
• flax seeds
• walnuts

Antioxidants, such as vitamins A, C, and E, and selenium, may also help reduce inflammation. Foods high in antioxidants include:

• berries, such as blueberries, cranberries, goji berries, and strawberries
• dark chocolate
• spinach
• kidney beans
• pecans
• artichokes
• fiber rich foods.( Choose whole grain foods, fresh vegetables, and fresh fruit. Strawberries may be particularly beneficial.)

Foods containing flavonoids can also help to counter inflammation in the body. They include:

• soy products, such as tofu and miso
• berries
• green tea
• broccoli
• grapes

4.excercise

Low-impact exercises can help to improve the range of motion in your joints and increase your mobility. Exercise can also strengthen muscles, which can help to relieve some of the pressure from your joints.

You may also want to try gentle yoga which can help you regain strength and flexibility.