musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Pain in Multiple Joints
Pathophysiology of Pain in Multiple Joints
Articular sources of pain originate within the joint. Periarticular sources of pain originate in structures surrounding the joint (eg, tendons, ligaments, bursae, muscles). Polyarticular pain caused by articular sources may result from the following: Inflammation (eg, infection, Overview of Crystal-Induced Arthritides , systemic inflammatory disorders such as Mechanical or other noninflammatory disorders (eg, Osteoarthritis (OA) , hypermobility syndromes) The synovium and joint capsule are major sources of pain within a joint. The synovial membrane is the main site affected by inflammation (synovitis). Pain affecting multiple joints in the absence of inflammation may be due to increased joint laxity with excessive trauma, as in benign hypermobility syndrome. Polyarthritis may involve peripheral joints, axial joints (eg, sacroiliac, apophyseal, discovertebral, costovertebral), or both. 