Differential Diagnosis for Severe Body Pain Involving Joints
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Fibromyalgia: This condition is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory, and mood issues. It's a common cause of severe body pain involving joints and is often considered when other diagnoses are ruled out.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): An autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation and pain in the joints. It's a common condition that fits the description of severe body pain involving joints, especially if the pain is symmetric and involves the hands and feet.
- Osteoarthritis (OA): The most common type of arthritis, characterized by wear and tear on a joint, leading to pain and stiffness. While it typically affects one joint at a time, it can become widespread, causing severe body pain.
- Lupus: A chronic autoimmune disease that can affect various parts of the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, brain, and other organs. Joint pain and swelling are common symptoms.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Septic Arthritis: A medical emergency where a joint becomes infected, leading to severe pain, swelling, and potential destruction of the joint if not promptly treated.
- Cancer (e.g., Multiple Myeloma, Metastatic Bone Disease): Certain types of cancer can cause severe body pain involving joints due to bone metastasis or direct involvement of the joints.
- Acute Rheumatic Fever: A complication of untreated streptococcal infection, which can cause severe joint pain and has significant long-term cardiac implications if not treated.
Rare Diagnoses
- Relapsing Polychondritis: A rare autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation of cartilage and connective tissue, leading to joint pain among other symptoms.
- Sarcoidosis: A disease characterized by the growth of tiny collections of inflammatory cells (granulomas) in any part of the body, which can cause joint pain and swelling, though it's less common.
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: A group of disorders that affect connective tissues supporting the skin, bones, blood vessels, and many other organs and tissues, which can lead to joint hypermobility and pain.