Rheumatism

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Rheumatism

What it is
Rheumatism is a broad term for many conditions that cause chronic or intermittent pain in the joints or the tissues around them. It isn’t one disease but more than 200 different conditions, including arthritis and soft tissue rheumatic disorders.

What it includes
It covers joint problems (arthritis) and pain in soft tissues like muscles, tendons, and ligaments. There is a lot of overlap between soft tissue disorders and rheumatism.

The medical field
The branch of medicine that studies and treats these conditions is rheumatology.

Causes and history
Some rheumatic diseases began after infections (for example, reactive arthritis and rheumatic fever). Others have different causes, and in some cases the cause isn’t known.

How doctors diagnose
In the United States, major rheumatic diseases are grouped into about 10 categories.
Doctors use blood and urine tests to check kidney function and inflammation (creatinine, uric acid, ESR, CRP).
Tests may look at uric acid levels and rheumatoid factor, and a sample of joint fluid may be tested to check for gout.
Often doctors diagnose by ruling out other conditions.

Treatment
There is no single cure for all rheumatic diseases. Treatment focuses on relieving pain and improving function.
Early care usually uses pain relievers such as paracetamol (acetaminophen) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
More severe cases may require steroids and stronger pain medicines. Treatments are tailored to the specific disease.

Origin of the term
Rheumatism comes from Greek and Latin roots related to bodily fluids and suffering. The term has been used since the 1600s.