Health Conditions Bones and Joints

Polyarthralgia Joint Pain and Fibromyalgia

Polyarthralgia is defined as aches in the joints, joint pains, arthralgia of multiple joints, and multiple joint pain. Polyarthritis is the word usually used to describe pain affecting five or more joints, while a patient with 2 to 4 joints involved would be said to have oligoarticular disease.

What is Polyarthralgia?

Polyarthralgia is defined as aches in the joints, joint pains, arthralgia of multiple joints, and multiple joint pain. Polyarthritis is the word usually used to describe pain affecting five or more joints, while a patient with 2 to 4 joints involved would be said to have oligoarticular disease.

Polyarthralgia is more common in women and even more so with increasing age.

Polyarthralgia: Signs and Symptoms

The initial symptoms, which usually appear in the third to fifth decade of life, include painless swelling or thickening of the skin of the hands and fingers, pain and stiffness of the joints (polyarthralgia), often mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis, and paroxysmal blanching and cyanosis (becoming blue) of the fingers induced by exposure to cold (Raynaud syndrome).

Simple arthralgia - Literally means joint pain, it is a symptom of injury, infection, illnesses (in particular arthritis) or an allergic reaction to medication. Main symptom is pain; no clinical features of inflammation in the joints or morning stiffness; history of intercurrent illness or viral infection.

Rheumatoid arthritis - At least four of these signs or symptoms for six weeks: pain and swelling in at least three joint areas; symmetrical presentation; early morning joint stiffness for more than one hour; involvement of metacarpophalangeal joints, proximal interphalangeal joints, and wrists; subcutaneous nodules; positive rheumatoid factor; radiological evidence of erosions.

Fibromyalgia - People with Fibromyalgia experience pain in their tendons and ligaments, along with tender points throughout their body along with fatigue. Even slight pressure on tender points can cause pain. More women than men have Fibromyalgia, which has been known as, 'chronic muscle pain,' psychogenic rheumatism,' 'tension myalgias,' and, 'fibrositis,' in the past.

Seronegative (non-rheumatoid) arthritis - Linked with psoriasis, bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease), bladder symptoms, and anterior uveitis. May occur after infections (streptococcal throat infection, chlamydial urethritis, or bowel infection with yersinia, salmonella, shigella). Mainly asymmetrical, large joint oligoarticular involvement; possible spinal involvement (sacroiliitis)

Osteoarthritis - Pain is usually in large, weight bearing joints, carpometacarpal joint of thumb, or distal interphalangeal joints of the fingers; presence of Heberden's nodes, crepitus; lifestyle factors such as overweight, sedentary occupation, repetitive use of joints, and history of trauma to affected joints may be relevant.

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