Wednesday, March 11, 2009


Arthritis and Rheumatism - what's the difference?

Arthritis means inflammation of a joint. Rheumatism is a general term used to describe any pain in the
musculoskeletal system.

There are more than 100 different forms of Arthritis - all the different types of musculoskeletal diseases and conditions come under the classification of Rheumatic Disease.

What are the common types of arthritis?

There are three main categories of arthritis...
1. Degenerative (eg, Osteoarthritis)
2. Inflammatory (eg, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis)
3. Crystal arthritis (eg, gout)

Not all-musculoskeletal pain is caused by arthritis. Pain can arise from irritation of tissues around joints, such
as ligaments and tendons (often referred to as ‘soft tissues’).

Minor injury or overuse can cause localised pain, which often lasts only for a short period. Tennis elbow and housemaid’s knee are examples. In addition, more generalised pain can develop in muscles or joints in situations where there is no arthritis, e.g. fibromyalgia

How does it affect you?

Arthritis and musculoskeletal pain can affect different people in different ways. Everyone gets aches and pains in their muscles and joints from time to time particularly if they take part in strenuous physical activities. Such pain is often short lived. However the different types of arthritis require medical assessment and intervention, the aim of which is to induce remission, relieve pain and improve function. Effective treatment will help to reduce the risk of disability and pain even in the most severe cases.

Persistent and recurring pain and stiffness in or around joints, which has no obvious cause, could be due to arthritis. Other symptoms of arthritis can include tiredness, a general feeling of being unwell, loss of
weight, mild fevers or night sweats, and skin rashes. These symptoms are not specific to arthritis, however, and can be caused by other illnesses...

...If in doubt, consult your doctor!

How is it diagnosed?

Each year a large number of people visit their General Practitioner (GP) with symptoms such as back pain, neck pain, muscle pain or swollen and painful joints. Often, these symptoms are not severe and may last just
a few days, in which case the GP will provide advice or treatment and allow the problem to resolve. But, if the pain persists or is severe, your GP may decide to refer you to a specialist in musculoskeletal diseases.

If you have any of the symptoms previously mentioned it is important to see your GP as soon as possible. Your GP will take a history and do a medical examination. Additional investigations such as blood tests, X rays and scans may also be required.

What treatment is there for arthritis?

There is as yet no single cure for arthritis, however many forms of arthritis can be effectively controlled and the symptoms managed to give you a better quality of life.

Currently international and national research continues at great pace providing hope for the development of new treatments in the future.

Because arthritis affects people differently the management of your arthritis needs to be tailored accordingly. For this reason it is very important that you develop an effective partnership with your Doctor and healthcare team so they can assist you to manage your pain and any other problems that you encounter.

As well as your GP and Rheumatologist other members of the health care team could include a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, pharmacist, podiatrist, registered nurse, social worker, psychologist and nutritionist.

What Alternative Treatment For Arthritis.

You may try homeopathic medicine and also Acupuncture.
Both the treatment are very good in treating arthritis.

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