Could it be something dangerous? When should you see your GP?

Rarely anything dangerous
Discomfort from the musculoskeletal system is common at all ages. Over half of the population has one or more episodes of pain each year. The most common are complaints from the lower back, neck and shoulders, but pain in the feet, knees and hands also occurs frequently. Fortunately, pain from muscles, joints and bones is rarely dangerous and usually decreases or disappears over time. However, a few people develop a serious illness. Your GP knows a lot about this.

Here are the most common conditions that require special treatment:

• Rheumatic disease is rare, but can occur at any age. Then there are often signs of inflammation in the joints (pain, swelling and redness) and sometimes considerable morning stiffness in the spine or pelvis.

• Nerve affection. Loss of strength in the arms or legs can be linked to neck or back pain and can be caused by "squeezing nerve roots". The GP can examine your nervous system and assess whether there is reason to carry out other examinations.

• Infections usually occur after injuries, wounds or operations, rarely otherwise. Infection almost always causes swelling and throbbing pain.

• Cancer occurs very rarely in muscles, joints and connective tissue. This applies both as primary tumors and as spread. If you have had cancer once, the risk is somewhat increased.

Red flags

There are some signs of serious illness that can be good to know, we call these "red flags". If you experience such symptoms, see your GP for assessment:

• General feeling of illness, fever and nausea/malaise over time

• Unexplained weakness

• Involuntary weight loss

• Pain that increases without a certain cause and that causes increasing night pain

When should you see your GP?

The GPs have extensive experience with musculoskeletal disorders and are also familiar with most other diseases that can cause pain in the musculoskeletal system. If you are worried or experience symptoms as mentioned above, your GP can examine you in a reassuring way.

Can there be too many examinations and treatment?

If you use your GP, you will be well looked after in the public health system without the risk of inappropriate use of diagnostic imaging, overtreatment and often high costs for examination and treatment.

Choosing wisely is a campaign with a spotlight on exactly overdiagnosis and overtreatment. The Medical Association is responsible for this initiative in Norway. You can read more about this here if you are interested: