|
Joint pain
or arthritis is experienced by 95% of people with lupus
at some time during the course of their disease. In fact,
joint pain is usually the first symptom of lupus. Unlike
rheumatoid arthritis, the arthritis of lupus tends to
be temporary. It is also less damaging to the joints.
The joints most commonly involved are those of the fingers,
wrists, and knees. Elbows, ankles, and shoulders are not
affected as often. When a particular joint is affected
on one side of the body, the same joint on the other side
of the body is usually affected as well.
Arthralgia:
Arthralgia means joint pain. Morning stiffness, swelling,
or heat in the joints can also occur.
Myalgia
or myositis: Myalgia means pain in the muscles
; myositis means inflammation of the muscle. These
may include overall muscle pain and tenderness, especially
in the upper arms and upper legs. They are common in 40
80% of people with lupus, especially during a flare.
Other
joint complications: Several types of joint
complications occur rarely in lupus. They include osteonecrosis
(damage to the hip joint that leads to severe arthritis),
development of nodules in the small joints of the hands,
tendinitis, tendon rupture, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Your doctor or nurse can give you more information about
these problems.
Taking
Care of Your Joints
If you have joint or muscle problems, the first goal
is to keep pain at a tolerable level. You can do this
in several ways:
- Apply heat
or cold to the affected joints.
- Support
the affected joints with pillows, blankets, or splints
(if ordered by your doctor).
- Rest the
affected joints as much as possible and keep them elevated
to help reduce swelling.
- Follow your
doctor s plan for managing pain and using anti-inflammation
medication.
Your second
goal is to maintain joint function and increase muscle
strength. You can do this by using the following techniques:
- Take warm
showers or baths to lessen stiffness.
- Don t put
any weight on an acutely inflamed joint. Sit or lie
down. Avoid strenuous activity and avoid any activity
that causes increased pain, swelling, tenderness, or
heat to the affected joint.
- Ask a physical
therapist or trained family member or friend to gently
move the inflamed joint in all the directions it can
be moved (this is called passive range of motion [ROM]).This
will help prevent stiffness. Your doctor can let you
know when and how often this should be done.
- Gently move
the affected joint yourself when the acute inflammation
is over.
- Talk with
your doctor or nurse about physical or occupational
therapy if you are having trouble regaining joint strength
and motion or if activities of daily living (cooking,
cleaning, bathing, etc.) are still difficult.
- Hire a housekeeper
or someone to help care for yourself or your children
until you feel better.
When you are
feeling better and your physical condition has improved,
your doctor will probably recommend an exercise program
tailored to your needs. Although rest and protecting joint
function are extremely important, exercise is also necessary
to keep muscles, bones, joints, and tendons strong and
healthy. A well-planned exercise program combined with
other aspects of your care will help you maintain joint
function and improve your overall fitness.
|
|
.gif)
