Muscle & Joint

- At some point in our lives, most of us will experience aches and pains in the body.
- The older we get, the more likely we are to experience pain.
- Here’s some information about what pain feels like, causes of pain and treatments for body pain, so you can find relief.

Knee & Hip Pain - Pain in the knee can have a variety of causes, including sprains, strains, tears and in some cases fractures or arthritis. Symptoms of injury to the knee include:

• Swelling
• Pain
• Joint laxity (feeling of looseness in the joint)
• Inability to straighten the leg
• Pain behind the kneecap

Pain in the hip can also have a variety of causes, including injury and osteoarthritis. 7 Symptoms of hip problems include:

• Pain in the groin area
• Pain in the thigh or knee
• Stiffness or feeling a reduced range of motion
• Weight-bearing pain.

Knee and hip pain should be investigated by your doctor who can identify the cause and recommend appropriate management.

Shoulder & Neck Pain - Shoulder pain is common and appears deep in the joint, in the back or front of the shoulder itself or even in the upper part of the arm. It can come from a range of causes including:

• Injury or sprain
• Problems in other parts of the body which cause referred pain
• Injury from manual labour, sports, or repetitive movement
• Poor posture
• Osteoarthritis
• Lack of use (e.g. after injury)
• The neck supports the head and is a highly mobile part of the body. Common causes of neck pain include poor posture, osteoarthritis and injury.

Back pain - Back pain is a common type of pain – around 1 in every 6 people reported back problems in 2017-18. Common causes of back pain include:

• Lifting injuries
• Awkward movements
• Not being active enough
• Poor posture
• Being overweight
• Muscle tension (which can be caused by stress)

Joint pain caused by osteoarthritis - Osteoarthritis is a chronic (long-term) disease of the joints that may have symptoms that fluctuate or progress over time. Some of the symptoms include:

• Pain that worsens with activity
• Joint stiffness lasting less than 30 minutes in the morning
• Joints that ‘pop’ and ‘crack’ when you move them
• Joints that feel like they ‘give way’

Cold & Flu

- Cold and flu symptoms can be similar, but they are different infections.
- Colds mainly affect the nose and throat.
- Flu symptoms usually start suddenly with a high fever and tend to make the body ache.

If you are experiencing cold and flu symptoms we encourage you to practice good hygiene (washing hands for 20 seconds with warm water, and cleaning between fingers and under nails) and physical distancing to help slow the spread of germs. If you are experiencing symptoms of fever, coughing, sore throat or shortness of breath you should seek medical advice from a doctor (including pathology testing) and stay at home (not go to school or work). Even though the symptoms for colds and flu can be similar, there are some differences.

Signs and symptoms of colds and flu

FLU	COLD
Fever	A blocked or runny nose
Chills	A sore throat
Headaches	Headaches
Body aches	Muscle aches
Dry cough	Cough
A sore throat	Sneezing
A runny nose	A raised temperature (occasionally)
Feeling very weak and tired

If you’re exhibiting symptoms, you should see a doctor. When it comes to colds and flu, healthcare professionals recommend you steer clear of antibiotics, as they do not relieve symptoms, nor speed up recovery. They are only effective against bacterial infections, not viral infections such as colds and flu.

Period Pain

- If you have period pain, you’re not alone!
- Most women have experienced period pain.
- In fact, this is the most commonly reported menstrual problem.

Those who get period pain usually find it starts during their teenage years, soon after they start having menstrual periods. Period pain can impact your ability to carry out normal daily activities, including going to school or work. It’s usually worst when it starts (when the period starts or earlier), and tends to go away over the next 2 to 3 days.

What causes period pain?
Period pain is caused by natural chemicals called prostaglandins that are released in the uterus (womb) during your period. Some women have higher levels of prostaglandins than others (although it’s not clear why) and are more likely to get period pain. Prostaglandins cause the muscles in the wall of the uterus to contract, which can be felt as a cramping pain. The levels are highest just before your period starts, which is also when period pain is most common and at its worst. After a day or two, the levels of prostaglandins fall, and the pain usually subsides.

Is period pain anything to be concerned about?
For most women, having some pain during their period is just a natural part of life, and usually it goes away after a few days. However, you should check with your doctor if your period pain:

• Is interfering with your day-to-day activities.
• Is severe
• Gets worse or lasts longer than normal or if you have unusual symptoms

Fever

- Temperature higher than 38°C is considered a fever
- Fever is a normal response to illnesses
- Controlling the rise in temperature is important

Fever is a common symptom of bacterial and viral infections. Examples include infections that cause colds and flu. In addition to high temperature, fever often causes symptoms like sweating, shivering, chattering teeth, headache, flushed skin, aching muscles, dizziness and general weakness. Sickness isn’t always the reason you get a fever. Fever can also be caused by reactions to medicines or immunisations, or certain medical conditions.

There are practical ways to reduce a fever

Seek urgent medical attention:

• Children under 3 months of age with a fever
• A person of any age with a fever, headache and stiff neck, or has rash that doesn’t blanche (fade) when pressed
• A person of any age with a fever who also experiences unexpected or unusual symptoms like hallucinations, muscle spasms or feels confused or drowsy

Children over 3 months of age, including adults who experience:

• trouble breathing
• drowsiness
• refusing to drink and/or not urinating as often
• stiff neck
• sensitivity to light
• ongoing vomiting or diarrhoea
• looking sicker than before – more pale, lethargic or weak
• any other symptoms that are causing you worry.

Or if you or someone you are caring for:

• still has a fever after three days
• are shivering or shaking uncontrollably
• are hot but not sweating
• are getting sicker instead of feeling better
• have recently travelled overseas.

Teething and Earache

- Most common reported problem in children
- Acetaminophen (paracetamol) the best pain relief option for Teething and Earache

Teething usually begins around 6 months of age. But it is normal for teething to start at any time between 3 months and 12 months of age. It is a process in which the first set of teeth, called primary teeth or milk teeth, erupt and break through the gums. Teething symptoms may begin about 3 to 5 days before a tooth breaks the skin, causing pain and discomfort to the child.

Earache is a common problem, particularly in children. A earache can be sharp and piercing, or dull and aching. There are many possible causes for an earache such as sinus infections, earwax, tonsillitis, and teeth grinding. But the most common ear infection is acute otitis media, or a middle ear infection, and is characterised by swollen and infected portions of the middle ear.