PMID: 6982292Nov 1, 1982Paper

Diagnosis and management of rheumatic diseases in older patients

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
G E Ehrlich

Abstract

The young and the old move differently, yet there are standards of normality for each. Chronic diseases of the joints, with their concomitant stiffness and pain, cause more fear of an impending crippling disability and loss of life space and content than actual pain and stiffness. Thus, a prime goal of physicians who treat patients who have chronic musculoskeletal diseases is to allay this fear by correcting misconceptions about arthritic diseases. Drug therapy can relieve the pain and stiffness and control the inflammation that causes these symptoms. Important aspects of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and polymyalgia rheumatica, a closely related disorder, are emphasized to point out the difficulty of the differential diagnosis of these diseases in older patients and the need for realistic therapeutic goals. A combination-drug regimen, with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug for alleviation of pain and control of inflammation and an analgesic drug for relief of residual pain, is the drug therapy of choice within the context of a total management program. By addressing both the physiologic and the psychologic aspects of musculoskeletal disease, physicians can help patients lead more active and useful lives.

References

Jul 7, 1978·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·L D Miller, M B Stevens
Nov 1, 1976·Hospital Practice·A L Kolodny, A R Klipper
Sep 1, 1973·Arthritis and Rheumatism·A RubinA S Ridolfo
Nov 1, 1971·Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases·H JulkunenK Pyörälä
Feb 1, 1980·Journal of Gerontological Nursing·S C Slaninka
Mar 1, 1981·Arthritis and Rheumatism·R F MeenanW V Epstein
Aug 1, 1963·The American Journal of Medicine·R HEIMERE RUDD

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

May 1, 1986·Journal of the American Geriatrics Society·P P Lamy
May 1, 1989·The Journal of International Medical Research·V Fossaluzza, G Montagnani

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.