title: Joint pain.
abstract: This article reviews the approach an internist might take with a patient with joint pain. It emphasizes aspects of the history and physical examination that help yield a diagnosis. The use of simple laboratory tests is reviewed, and common questions are answered. Some general management issues are discussed, although disease-specific therapy is beyond the scope of this article. It is hoped that this article will help an internist successfully diagnose most patients who present with joint pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sorokin
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine