Clinical manifestations
- Pain. Inflamed synovium causes the pain, stretching of the
joint capsule or ligaments, irritation of the nerve endings in
periosteum over osteophytes, trabecular microfracture,
intraosseous, hypertension, bursitis, tendinitis, and muscle
spasm.
- Stiffness. Stiffness, which is mostly experienced in the
morning or upon awakening, usually lasts less than 30 minutes and
decreases with movement.
- Functional impairment. Functional impairment results from pain
on movement and limited motion caused by structural changes in the
joint
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Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include:
- Tender, warm, swollen joints
- Joint stiffness that is usually worse in the mornings and after
inactivity
- Fatigue, fever and loss of appetite
Early rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect your smaller joints
first — particularly the joints that attach your fingers to your
hands and your toes to your feet.
As the disease progresses, symptoms often spread to the wrists,
knees, ankles, elbows, hips and shoulders. In most cases, symptoms
occur in the same joints on both sides of your body.
About 40 percent of the people who have rheumatoid arthritis
also experience signs and symptoms that don't involve the joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis can affect many nonjoint structures,
including:
- Skin
- Eyes
- Lungs
- Heart
- Kidneys
- Salivary glands
- Nerve tissue
- Bone marrow
- Blood vessels
Rheumatoid arthritis signs and symptoms may vary in severity and
may even come and go. Periods of increased disease activity, called
flares, alternate with periods of relative remission — when the
swelling and pain fade or disappear. Over time, rheumatoid
arthritis can cause joints to deform and shift out of place.
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Symptoms of Septic Arthritis
Symptoms of septic arthritis usually come on rapidly with
intense pain, joint swelling, and fever. Septic arthritis symptoms
may include:
- Chills
- Fatigue and generalized weakness
- Fever
- Inability to move the limb with the infected joint
- Severe pain in the affected joint, especially with
movement
- Swelling (increased fluid within the joint)
- Warmth (the joint is red and warm to touch because of increased
blood flow)
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Etilogy
Knee osteoarthritis is classified as either primary (idiopathic)
or secondary. Among the various structures making up the knee
joint, the hyaline joint cartilage is the main target of the
harmful influences that cause osteoarthritis and the structure in
which the disease begins. 95% of hyaline cartilage consists of
extracellular matrix. Otte et al. coined the term “organ of
articulation” to emphasize the common functional purpose of all
structures composing the joint , from its bony components covered
with hyaline cartilage to its capsule, ligaments, and menisci, and
the muscles that move it
Etiologies of secondary osteoarthritis of the knee*1
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Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition, which means
it's caused by the immune system attacking healthy body tissue.
However, it's not yet known what triggers this. Your immune system
normally makes antibodies that attack bacteria and
viruses, helping to fight infection. |
ETIOLOGY:
Septic arthritis, the invasion of the synovial membrane by
microorganisms, usually with extension into the joint space, is
generally secondary to infection elsewhere in the body. In young
adults, the primary infection is generally a genital lesion caused
by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. In all other age groups the most
common agent is Staphylococcus aureus, which spreads from
a cutaneous lesion. Several other agents may cause septic arthritis
but their frequency of infection is low.
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Nursing management
Nursing management of the patient with osteoarthritis includes
both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic approaches.
Nursing Assessment
Nursing assessment for OA focuses mainly on history and physical
assessment.
- Physical assessment. Assessment of the area over the affected
joint may reveal tender and enlarged joints.
- Patient history. The nurse must take note of any past injury to
the joints, as this is a risk factor for OA.
Diagnosis
Based on the assessment data, nursing diagnoses are:
- Acute pain related to inflammation of the synovium and
irritation of the nerve endings.
- Activity intolerance related to joint pain.
- Impaired physical mobility related to joint stiffness.
Nursing Care Planning and Goals
Main Article: 4 Osteoarthritis Nursing Care Plans
After successful management, a patient with osteoarthritis
will:
- Identify negative factors affecting activity intolerance and
eliminate or reduce their effects when possible.
- Use identified techniques to enhance activity intolerance.
- Report measurable increase in activity intolerance.
- Report pain is relieved or controlled.
- Follow prescribed pharmacologic regimen.
- Participate in ADLs and desired activities.
Nursing Interventions
The major goals of the nursing intervention are pain management
and optimal functional ability.
- Weight loss. Weight loss is an important approach to pain and
disability improvement.
- Assistive devices. Canes and other ambulatory devices are very
helpful for ambulation.
- Exercise. Exercises such as walking should begin moderately and
increase gradually.
- Analgesic. Adequate pain management is essential to the success
of an exercise program.
- Physical therapy. A referral for physical therapy for people
with similar problems can be very helpful.
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Nursing Management
Nursing care of the patient with RA should follow a basic plan
of care.
Nursing Assessment
The assessment of a patient with RA can contribute to its
diagnosis.
- History and physical exam. The history and physical examination
address manifestations such as bilateral and symmetric stiffness,
tenderness, swelling, and temperature changes in the joints.
- Extra-articular changes. The patient is also assessed for
extra-articular changes and these include weight loss, sensory
changes, lymph node enlargement, and fatigue.
Nursing Diagnosis
Bases on the assessment data, the major nursing diagnoses
appropriate for the patient are:
- Acute and chronic pain related to inflammation and increased
disease activity, tissue damage, fatigue, or lowered tolerance
level.
- Fatigue related to increased disease activity, pain, inadequate
sleep/rest, deconditioning, inadequate nutrition, and emotional
stress/depression
- Impaired physical mobility related to decreased range of
motion, muscle weakness, pain on movement, limited endurance, lack
or improper use of ambulatory devices.
- Self-care deficit related to contractures, fatigue, or loss of
motion.
- Disturbed body image related to physical and psychological
changes and dependency imposed by chronic illness.
- Ineffective coping related to actual or perceived lifestyle or
role changes.
Nursing Care Planning & Goals
The major goals for a patient with RA are:
- Improvement in comfort level.
- Incorporation of pain management techniques into daily
life.
- Incorporation of strategies necessary to modify fatigue as part
of the daily activities.
- Attain and maintain optimal functional mobility.
- Adapt to physical and psychological changes imposed by the
rheumatic disease.
- Use of effective coping behaviors for dealing with actual or
perceived limitations and role changes.
Nursing Interventions
The patient with RA needs information about the disease to make
self-management decisions and to cope with having a chronic
disease.
Relieving Pain and Discomfort
- Provide a variety of comfort measures (eg, application of heat
or cold; massage, position changes, rest; foam mattress, supportive
pillow, splints; relaxation techniques, diversional
activities).
- Administer anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and slow-acting
antirheumatic medications as prescribed.
- Individualize medication schedule to meet patient’s need for
pain management.
- Encourage verbalization of feelings about pain and chronicity
of disease.
- Teach pathophysiology of pain and rheumatic disease, and assist
patient to recognize that pain often leads to unproven treatment
methods.
- Assist in identification of pain that leads to use of unproven
methods of treatment.
- Assess for subjective changes in pain.
Reducing Fatigue
- Provide instruction about fatigue: Describe relationship of
disease activity to fatigue; describe comfort measures while
providing them; develop and encourage a sleep routine (warm bath
and relaxation techniques that promote sleep); explain importance
of rest for relieving systematic, articular,
- and emotional stress.
- Explain how to use energy conservation techniques (pacing,
delegating, setting priorities).
- Identify physical and emotional factors that can cause
fatigue.
- Facilitate development of appropriate activity/rest
schedule.
- Encourage adherence to the treatment program.
- Refer to and encourage a conditioning program.
- Encourage adequate nutrition, including source of iron from
food and supplements.
Increasing Mobility
- Encourage verbalization regarding limitations in mobility.
- Assess need for occupational or physical therapy consultation:
Emphasize range of motion of affected joints; promote use of
assistive ambulatory devices; explain use of safe footwear; use
individual appropriate positioning/posture.
- Assist to identify environmental barriers.
- Encourage independence in mobility and assist as needed: Allow
ample time for activity; provide rest period after activity;
reinforce principles of joint protection and work
simplification.
- Initiate referral to community health agency.
Facilitating Self Care
- Assist patient to identify self-caredeficits and factors that
interfere with ability to perform self-care activities.
- Develop a plan based on the patient’s perceptions and
priorities on how to establish and achieve goals to meet self-care
needs, incorporating joint protection, energy conservation, and
work simplification concepts: Provide appropriate assistive
devices; reinforce correct and safe use of assistive devices; allow
patient to control timing of self-care activities; explore with the
patient different ways to perform difficult tasks or ways to enlist
the help of someone else.
- Consult with community health care agencies when individuals
have attained a maximum level ofself-care yet still have some
deficits, especially regarding safety.
Improving Body Image and Coping Skills
- Help patient identify elements of control over disease symptoms
and treatment.
- Encourage patient’s verbalization of feelings, perceptions, and
fears.
- Identify areas of life affected by disease. Answer questions
and dispel possible myths.
- Develop plan for managing symptoms and enlisting support of
family and friends to promote daily function.
Monitoring and Managing Potential Complications
- Help patient recognize and deal with side effects from
medications.
- Monitor for medication side effects, including GI tract
bleeding or irritation, bone marrow suppression, kidneyor liver
toxicity, increased incidence of infection, mouth sores, rashes,
and changes in vision. Other signs and symptoms include bruising,
breathing problems, dizziness, jaundice, dark urine, black or
bloody stools, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and headaches.
- Monitor closely for systemic and local infections, which often
can be masked by high doses of corticosteroids.
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The nursing care plan for clients with sepsis involves
eliminating infection, maintaining adequate tissue perfusion or
circulatory volume, preventing complications, and providing
information about disease process, prognosis, and treatment
needs.
Here are six (6) nursing care plans (NCP) and nursing diagnosis
for patients with sepsis and septicemia:
- Risk For Infection
- Risk For Shock
- Risk For Impaired Gas Exchange
- Risk For Deficient Fluid Volume
- Hyperthermia
- Deficient Knowledge regarding self management
- Compromised immune system.
Failure to recognize or treat infection and/or exercise proper
preventive measuresI
Interventions
- Teach the client about infection prevention measures
- Ask the client to take water more
- Ask the client to report the physician if temperature high
- Wear infection control measures when going to outside
- Take immunity increasing food items
- Follow medications
- Take follow up care
- Give emotional support
- Give health education regarding self management
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