Managing Osteoarthritis in Primary Care

Osteoarthritis is the commonest cause of musculoskeletal disability, affecting five million people in Britain. Incidence increases with age or previous injury and it is the final common pathway of a number of musculoskeletal conditions. By far the majority of cases are managed in the community. A considerable proportion of patients self-medicate, whilst olthers are treated by a GP and the primary health care team. Primary care management involves the use of exercise, physiotherapy, weight loss where necessary, the use of analgesics, particularly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and joint injections. The book provides an overview of the condition, its causes and natural history. Diagnosis of osteoarthritis is also explained including detailed descriptions of the necessary joint examination, monitoring of progression and assessment of disability. The book will advocate a practical approach to osteoarthritis care, the mainstay of which is patient education and symptom management. It will provide advice on both pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain management strategies and consider the psychosocial component of chronic pain. Each chapter can be used as a toolbox by the medical reader, giving the therapist new ways of looking at problems and so promoting ideas to be put into practice for the benefit of the patients as all interventions in education must be individualised to account for special needs, expectations and circumstances for all patients.John Dickson is the author of 'Managing Osteoarthritis in Primary Care', published 2000 under ISBN 9780632053537 and ISBN 0632053534.