Rheumatic diseases remain those that affect the locomotor system. They include more than two hundred different diseases that affect one in four people over 20 years of age in Spain. We speak of rheumatism or rheumatism to refer to the set of pain or discomfort related to the locomotor system.
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Among the more than two hundred types of rheumatic diseases, the following stand out as the most common:
- Arthritis: psoriatic, juvenile idiopathic, rheumatoid
- Osteoarthritis
- Dermatomyositis
- Behçet’s disease
- Systemic sclerosis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Fibromyalgia
- Familial Mediterranean fever
- Gout
- Systematic lupus erythematosus
- Myopathies
- Osteoporosis
- Recurrent Polychondritis
- Polymyalgia rheumatica
- Sarcoidosis
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Uveitis
- Vasculitis
Table of Contents
Prognosis of the Disease
Though, The prognosis of rheumatic diseases, which are incredibly prevalent, varies greatly depending on the specific pathology. In any case, the forecast tends to improve in most of them if the patient complies with the rehabilitation standards constantly. It is helpful for both the most severe rheumatisms and the milder ones since if the minor ones remain not treated in time, they can become chronic and limit the patient’s life.
Symptoms of Rheumatic Diseases
The symptoms vary according to the person and pathology. However, the most common symptoms are:
- Pain, often turning into chronic pain. Joint pain is one of the main symptoms and can stand accompanied by inflammation or deformity.
- Swelling, redness, and warmth in the joints, especially in the case of rheumatoid arthritis.
- Morning stiffness of the joints.
- Fatigue, tiredness, feeling weak and lack of vitality.
- Night sleep disturbances.
- General malaise.
- Muscle contractures.
- Tingling and burning near the joint.
- Loss of function of one or extra joints.
- Limited mobility.
In addition, certain rheumatic diseases can cause other symptoms in various organs or systems, such as the skin (spots or wounds), the kidneys (blood in the urine), the eyes (loss of vision), the lungs or the heart (pain in the chest or feeling short of breath).
Medical Tests for Rheumatic Diseases
For the diagnosis of these diseases, a questioning and a thorough physical examination remain carried out. In addition, the characteristics of the pain and the affected joints will be evaluated and evaluated. A blood test can be helpful to the doctor.
Other tests such as X-rays, ultrasounds, or MRIs can also remain used to confirm the diagnosis.
What are the causes of Rheumatic Diseases?
There may remain a combination of factors that cause rheumatic diseases. They usually respond to specific causes:
- Degenerative, the most common of which is osteoarthritis.
- Metabolic, such as gout.
- Inflammatory, with no clear known cause, but causing inflammation of the joints, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
- Genetic, as in joint hypermobility syndrome.
- Infectious, as in rheumatic fever.
Can it be Prevented?
Although rheumatic diseases cannot currently remain prevented, some of the associated problems can stay avoided. Thus, it remains recommended to protect the joints from excessive efforts and repetitive movements. Still, it is also important to control body weight, leading healthy lifestyle habits (balanced Mediterranean diet and moderate physical exercise).
On the other hand, early diagnosis is essential, preventing symptoms from worsening, even reaching remission.
Treatments for Rheumatic Diseases
Likewise, The treatment of rheumatic diseases includes a combination of relaxation, moderate exercise, an appropriate diet, water therapies, mild mobilization therapies, hot and cold therapy, medications, special instruments to make the day to day of the patient more comfortable. Moreover, Patient (devices to help open cans and cans, zippers, splints or orthopaedic devices and surgery to restore the function of a joint or relieve pain.
The indicated medication is the most varied, always focused on reducing symptoms, since today there is no cure. Thus, they remain situated advised:
- Pain relievers or local pain relievers.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain.
- Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs: They cause the immune system to decrease or stop attacking the joints.
- Modifiers of the biological response.
- Hyaluronic acid substitutes.
What Specialist Treats it?
In fact, A specialist in Rheumatology must treat rheumatic diseases. With his experience and training, he is the best prepared to deal with any condition related to the locomotor system.
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