Rheumatic diseases encompass many conditions affecting your joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and bones, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and gout. You might experience stiff, swollen, painful joints; warmth and redness around the affected joint; systemic symptoms like fatigue; and pain in the muscles, tendons, bones, and ligaments. Treatment options vary based on the diagnosis, cause, and severity, often involving medications, physical therapy, lifestyle modifications, and surgery. Early diagnosis and management are crucial for preventing long-term damage and improving quality of life.
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FAQ
What are the common symptoms of rheumatic diseases?
Common symptoms of rheumatic diseases include pain, swelling, stiffness, warmth, redness, and limited movement in and around an affected joint. Some rheumatic diseases have specific symptoms, like skin rash accompanying the joint pain, fatigue, and inflammation with lupus.
How are rheumatic diseases diagnosed?
Diagnosing rheumatic diseases involves physical exams in which a doctor examines the joints, blood tests to identify specific inflammation markers and antibodies, and imaging scans to show fluid build-up, inflammation, or joint damage. Some, like lupus, are challenging to diagnose.
What are the treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis?
Treatments for rheumatic diseases include medications like disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), corticosteroids, pain relief medications and creams, and physical, occupational, and hot and cold therapy. Assistive devices or surgery may be necessary, and certain conditions require a combination of treatments.
The cause of most rheumatic diseases involves many factors or is sometimes unclear. Some have genetic or family history components, but environmental factors, trauma, lifestyle, and wear and tear may also play a role.
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Beth Biggee, MD, is owner and practitioner of Lifestyle and Integrative Rheumatology, a holistic direct specialty care practice in North Andover, Massachusetts. She offers whole-pe...
Alexa Meara, MD, is an assistant professor of immunology and rheumatology at The Ohio State University. She maintains a multidisciplinary vasculitis clinic and supervises a longitu...
Samir Dalvi, MD, is a board-certified rheumatologist. He has over 14 years of experience in caring for patients with rheumatologic diseases, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid ar...
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Resources
About Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases. Johns Hopkins.
