The 7 Symptoms of Rheumatism That Many Ignore!

The 7 Symptoms of Rheumatism That Many Ignore are simple to notice but everyone should be aware. In addition, Rheumatism  is an old medical term, which has been out of medical dictionaries for many decades, but which is still widely used by the lay population. Rheumatism  is usually used in cases of diseases of the   muscular and osteoarticular systems of non-traumatic origin, which, in practice, ends up encompassing hundreds of diseases  of different origins.

Despite being a broad term, it is very common to hear the word Rheumatism  being used more specifically, as if it were synonymous with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. The term Rheumatism  is also widely used when the patient has arthritis (inflammation of a joint). It is good to remember that there are a huge number of diseases that can cause arthritis, from infections to diseases  of immunological origin.

Although there are hundreds of diseases  whose symptoms can be labeled as Rheumatism , in most cases, when someone says they are rheumatic, osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis is usually the real reason.

It is also relatively common to hear the expression “ Rheumatism  in the blood” as a way of describing  rheumatic fever , a completely different disease  that usually affects children with untreated bacterial tonsillitis. Rheumatism  in the blood is also not a medical expression, not being used in any scientific environment.

Currently, the word Rheumatism  has been replaced by the term “  rheumatological diseases ”. It is no longer said that the patient has Rheumatism , but rather that he has a rheumatologic disease. But, more important than saying that the patient has a rheumatological disease  is identifying which one is the cause, since the origin, symptoms and treatments of each are usually completely different. The area of ​​medicine that studies rheumatological diseases  is Rheumatology, and the specialist physician is the rheumatologist.

Although Rheumatism  is an obsolete term, the majority of the population still uses it, and in Internet search engines such as Google, the word “ Rheumatism ” is still much more searched than the term “  rheumatological disease ”. Therefore, as this text is aimed at the lay population, and so that people can find the information they are looking for more easily, I will continue to use the word Rheumatism , despite having already made it clear that the correct term is rheumatologic disease ( or arthritis, when the clinical picture is limited to joint inflammation).

The myth that  rheumatism  is a “thing” for the elderly may be linked to one of the  most frequent rheumatic diseases , osteoarthritis, or osteoarthritis. It is a loss of cartilage, which is the tissue of the joint. And it is normal for this loss to come with age, which can lead to Rheumatism . After age 50, almost everyone has osteoarthritis.

Types of Rheumatism:  There are between 100/150 varieties of rheumatic disease and the term Rheumatism  is a lay term describing pain and stiffness in joints and not specifically rheumatic diseases . For example, most traditional descriptions of Rheumatism  point to joint afflictions and pain  as the person ages. Many of these cases were actually osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is not included in the inflammatory joint diseases called rheumatic diseases. However, when describing the diseases  of Rheumatism , inflammatory and non-inflammatory forms can be included.

Inflammatory and Non-Inflammatory Diseases: Rheumatism or  rheumatic diseases  have two forms:

• Non-inflammatory diseases, including osteoarthritis.
• Inflammatory diseases affecting joints, muscles and bones. These are classified as articular or non-articular. A joint or affecting joints which usually includes rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gout, spondylitis, among others. Non-articular, or those that affect soft tissue, muscles, and lead to pain syndromes .

For this reason, we cannot say that Rheumatism  has no cure, since its term encompasses several diseases , some that have no cure and others that the cure can be total.

Causes of Rheumatism:  The main cause of Rheumatism  is old age, but it can also arise due to bacterial or viral infections, autoimmune diseases, RSI and other diseases that affect muscles, bones and tendons and wear down the joints.

There is also the genetic factor that can influence the onset of Rheumatism . People whose close family members have a rheumatologic disease  may be more likely to develop it. The act of smoking and contracting infection by some specific bacteria in the intestine  can also influence the emergence of Rheumatism .

Symptoms of Rheumatism That Many Ignore:  Although rheumatism  can last a lifetime, the symptoms are intermittent, meaning they come and go and can progress over time. When symptoms of Rheumatism  appear, the disease  is said to be active, and in this period the patient may exhibit some of The 7 Symptoms of Rheumatism That Many Ignore :

• Pain and swelling in the joints (feet, hands and knees).
• Fatigue.
• Loss of appetite.
• Stiffness in the inflamed area.
• Fever.
• Rheumatoid nodules.
• Elevated temperature in the affected region.

Even at the onset of  rheumatism  there may be deformation of the joints, which may or may not be accompanied by all of the above symptoms.

Treatment of Rheumatism:  The use of medications such as analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs help in the fight against pain . Physiotherapy is a practice adopted to physically re-educate the body  and to help with the return of movement.

Hydrotherapies are also very indicated, as they help in muscle relaxation and promote muscle strengthening. Ice packs, massages, stretching and joint mobilizations are other measures that can be taken in order to reduce the discomfort of Rheumatism .

The treatment of Rheumatism  is basically symptomatic, as the causes of Rheumatism  are often unknown. It is important that all people with pain  seek medical help. The condition of the injury can get much worse when it does not receive treatment or medical follow-up.

Through simple measures many of the annoyances can be remedied and the individual returns to a normal life. So be sure to ask for help. In addition, it is essential to be aware of any signals that your body  may be sending you. Something seemingly simple can be a symptom of a much bigger problem.