title: Approach to joint pains.
abstract: Aches and pains are common clinical problems. There are many causes of rheumatic pains and a simple classification is given in this article. The approach to the problem should be clinical, and starts with careful history, physical examination and some simple investigations. Most of the common rheumatic problems can be diagnosed easily using the clues to diagnosis given here. Those which are unresolved and problematic can then be referred for further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Alexandra Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*