“Arthritis” which means joint inflammation. The term arthritis is often used to refer to any disorder that affects the joints. These disorders fall into the category of rheumatic diseases. More than 100 diseases are classified as rheumatic diseases, including many types of arthritis. Arthritic conditions includes red, swollen joints and inflamed connective tissues such as cartilage, synovial tissue, and tendons.
In people who are genetically susceptible, factors in the environment may trigger the Rheumatic disease.
Here are some of the more common rheumatic diseases:
Fibromyalgia, Infectious arthritis, Polymyalgia rheumatic, Scleroderma, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Bursitis, Gout, Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Polymyositis, Spondyloarthropathies, Tendinitis.
Rheumatic diseases affect an estimated 46 million people in the United States of all ages and races, including an estimated 294,000 children. Some rheumatic diseases are more common among certain populations.
Different types of rheumatic diseases have different signs and symptoms. In general, people who have arthritis feel pain and stiffness in one or more joints. Pain and stiffness may be accompanied by tenderness, warmth, redness in a joint, and/or difficulty using or moving a joint normally.
Diagnosis is made with reasonable certainty based on the history and clinical examination. However, some of the tests like Joint aspiration, X-ray, MRI may help to confirm it. Samples of blood, urine, or synovial fluid (lubricating fluid found in the joint) may be needed for the lab tests.
Treatments for arthritis and rheumatic diseases vary depending on the specific disease or condition; however, treatment generally includes Exercise, Diet, Medications, Heat and cold therapies, Relaxation therapy, Splints and braces, Assistive devices, Surgery.
While all rheumatic diseases differ from each other in some small ways, they share one important characteristic: If you get diagnosed early in the disease, you and your doctor can devise a treatment plan that will help preserve your mobility and reduce pain.