A group of disorders marked by inflammation or pain in the connective tissue structures of the body. These structures include bone, cartilage, and fat
Symptoms of Rheumatism
The following features are indicative of Rheumatism:
chronic intermittent pain affecting the joints
It is possible that Rheumatism shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.
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Common Causes of Rheumatism
The following are the most common causes of Rheumatism:
Ankylosing spondylitis
relapsing polychondritis
systemic lupus erythematosus
rheumatoid arthritis
gout
juvenile arthritis
Other Causes of Rheumatism
The following are the less common causes of Rheumatism:
Sjögren syndrome
scleroderma
polymyositis
Dermatomyositis
Behçet's disease
Psoriatic arthritis
Risk Factors for Rheumatism
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Rheumatism:
being female
changes in barometric pressure
Prevention of Rheumatism
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Rheumatism. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
exercise program with a strong aerobic component
Occurrence of Rheumatism
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Rheumatism cases seen each year worldwide:
Very common > 10 Million cases
Common Age Group
Rheumatism most commonly occurs in the following age group:
Aged between 18-70 years
Common Gender
Rheumatism can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Rheumatism
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Rheumatism:
Physical examination: To diagnose severe conditions of soft-tissue rheumatism
Complications of Rheumatism if untreated
Yes, Rheumatism causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Rheumatism is left untreated:
cutaneous necrosis
gangrene
Procedures for Treatment of Rheumatism
The following procedures are used to treat Rheumatism:
Joint replacement surgery: Removes the damaged parts of joints
Synovectomy: Surgery to remove inflamed synovium
Surgical joint fusion: To stabilize or realign the joints
Self-care for Rheumatism
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Rheumatism:
Exercise regularly: Gentle exercise can help to strengthen the muscles around joints
Apply heat packs: Helps to ease pain and to relax painful muscles
Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Rheumatism
The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Rheumatism:
Use of bee venom: Have beneficial effects on some types of rheumatism
Use of cod liver oil: To cure the severe condition of rheumatism
Time for Treatment of Rheumatism
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Rheumatism to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
Disease cannot be treated but only maintained or effects reduced