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Rheumatism is a general term for a very large group of diseases characterized by changes in connective tissue (usually joints). Usually it is considered a disease of the elderly, but it also happens that young people suffer from rheumatism. Unfortunately, rheumatism is incurable, but the progress of medicine provides access to better and better methods of treatment that improve the quality of life of patients.
Rheumatism – definition
Rheumatism does not define any particular disease, it is rather a historical term used to describe a disease of the joints characterized by chronic, recurrent pain. It is said that as many as 200 different disease entities can be hidden under the name. For this reason, doctors diagnose rheumatism less and less often, because it says nothing specific about the patient’s condition.
Rheumatic diseases are classified in many different ways. One of the more famous taxonomists is the one introduced in 1983 by the American Rheumatism Associacion. It breaks down symptoms into 10 major groups, each with even smaller subgroups. A good rheumatologist, on the basis of thorough research, is able to assess which case he is dealing with.
The most common rheumatic diseases are: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, back pain, tendinitis, and neck pain.
It is also worth remembering that rheumatism may hide rarer diseases such as hemophilia, sarcoidosis or multiple myeloma, because they all contribute to the degeneration of connective tissue.
Check if rheumatism is hereditary
Rheumatism – symptoms
It is the characteristic symptoms that put such a large group of ailments into one bag with a common name.
The symptom of rheumatism is primarily pain in the joints.
It can affect individual joints – such as the wrist, or multiple joints – such as a large part of the spine. The ailments are often so severe that the patients cannot function normally when the symptoms of rheumatism worsen.
Formerly, it was believed that the symptoms of rheumatism worsen when it rains or the pressure changes rapidly, but no reliable scientific research confirms this thesis.
In addition to rheumatic pain, swelling and redness may appear in the affected areas. If the symptoms are advanced, the joint function may be impaired – limiting or completely preventing its movement. In some rheumatic diseases – for example rheumatoid arthritis – there is a permanent deformation of the affected areas.
- For pain and swelling, you can use, among others Bay leaf ointment.
Symptoms of rheumatism can be relieved with camphor. Its warming effect helps to increase blood flow at the site of application, which directly contributes to the reduction of pain and swelling. At medonetmarket.pl you can buy, at a very attractive price, Tei-fu ointment with camphor, from Nature’s Sunshine, which is helpful in rheumatic pains. In rheumatic pains, horse ointment and Reumatek Max ointment for muscles and joints will also bring relief.
Rheumatism – causes
Due to such a large variety of rheumatic diseases, there are also a lot of factors that can lead to their development.
- One of the reasons for the occurrence of rheumatism is genetic factors. It has been proven that in families where rheumatism has already appeared, the probability of another illness is much higher. This applies primarily to those types of disease that are associated with senile degeneration of connective tissue.
- One of the causes of rheumatism may also be immune disorders. Lupus and sarcoidosis, for example, are when the body’s immune system attacks its own cells. Experts also postulate that having a serious infection can also make the immune system react too violently and destroy connective tissue.
- Sometimes rheumatism is caused by a cancer, such as the aforementioned multiple myeloma or lymphomas.
In the prevention of rheumatism, it is worth using appropriate supplementation. The Hanoju brand offers a moringa dietary supplement. The plant has an anti-inflammatory effect and is rich in vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin C, which have a positive effect on the joints, helping to counteract the symptoms of rheumatism. You can buy Bio Moringa 500mg at a bargain price on medonetmarket.pl.
Types of rheumatic diseases
1. Osteoarthritis: characterized by severe pain, especially when the affected joint is moved. The greatest pain symptoms appear when starting to move in a joint that has been resting for some time. Joint deformation usually affects one joint of the leg, arm or spine. The symptoms of this disease are headaches, dizziness and sometimes numbness of the hands.
2. RA: is manifested by pain in the hands and feet or pain in the muscles. Patients complain of stiff neck in the morning, and sometimes even unpleasant ailments of the heart, lungs and blood vessels.
3. Soft tissue rheumatism: this disease is accompanied by pain in the shoulders and elbows, probably the cause of rheumatism is overstraining the muscles for many years, carrying heavy objects, repeating the same movements every day that cause micro-injuries.
Take care of your bones and order Shark Cartilage today – YANGO dietary supplement available at a promotional price on Medonet Market. We also recommend MSM YANGO – Organic Sulfur extracted from DMSO, which soothes rheumatic ailments.
Diagnosis of rheumatism
Although rheumatism is relatively easy to diagnose, it is not always certain whether this is what we are dealing with. In the diagnosis of rheumatism, laboratory tests and imaging analyzes are performed, which are helpful in the final diagnosis.
The rheumatism is indicated by:
- high OB level,
- high concentration of acute phase protein,
- anemia and high white blood cell counts.
In the diagnosis of rheumatism, X-ray examinations are also used, which are useful in finding changes in the joints and periarticular tissues. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging also facilitate the diagnosis of any abnormalities at an early stage of the disease. Doctors sometimes perform histopathological examinations – the areas affected by rheumatism are biopsied to exclude neoplastic changes.
You can buy a package of tests that will help you assess the rheumatological basis of health problems on Medonet Market.
Rheumatism – treatment
So far, no effective method of treating rheumatism has been developed. Degenerative changes in conditions are irreversible, so it is only possible to slow down the progress of the disease and treat it symptomatically. The treatment of rheumatism obviously depends on which disease the patient suffers from. In most cases, however, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used first to relieve rheumatic pain, and sometimes stronger analgesics.
It is also extremely important in rheumatism physiotherapythanks to which you can stop the progression of the disease and sometimes even restore some motor functions of damaged joints. In addition to physiotherapy, it is sometimes performed plasmapheresis (plasma exchange).
There is a belief that the treatment of rheumatism can be carried out using alternative methods. One of them is exposure to bee venom. However, we recommend caution in the use of any untested therapies and regular consultations with a specialized rheumatologist.
Some herbs are also beneficial for rheumatic pains. Use, for example, Birch Leaves, which not only reduce pain, but also prevent rheumatoid arthritis. You can also try the Herb Horsetail in the form of organic tea. It is also worth drinking Lumbago regularly – EKO anti-rheumatic tea, which contains the herb seven-scallop, bird knotweed, oats, goldenrod, thistle, ground elder, tavulas, birch leaf, nettle; ash and willow bark. We recommend additionally For rheumatism and joint diseases – a herbal mixture consisting of: willow, birch, nettle, bird knotweed, meadowsweet.
In the treatment of rheumatism, heat therapy will also help, e.g. with the VITAMMY Heat Electric Heating Pad.
Rheumatism – treatments that help to stop the development of the disease and regain fitness
Even if rheumatism has caused irreversible changes in your body, it is worth doing everything so that the disease does not progress and that the former efficiency returns.
1. Kinesiotherapy – these are active and passive exercises that are designed to improve the functioning of diseased joints. You need a specialist for this type of exercise. Some of the exercises can be done independently.
2. Classic massage – reduces muscle tension and stiffness, improves local circulation and blood supply to tissues. This massage consists of kneading, patting and rubbing, it can be performed by yourself (certain elements) or by a masseur. During the massage, it is worth using hemp milk, which reduces joint pain while caring for the skin.
3. Water massage – selected areas of the body are poured with a fairly strong stream of water. In this massage, the temperature of the water and its chemical composition as well as the force with which we pour over the sick areas are of great importance.
4. Spa – a very popular type of prophylaxis. Many patients are currently staying in health resorts in Poland, they use, among others, mud treatments, during which the body is covered with peat.
5. Thermotherapy – causes tissue congestion. This method is designed to relieve pain and relax the muscles.
6. Diathermy – this is a therapy in which a harmless electromagnetic field is used. This treatment improves the blood supply to the tissues.
It is worth supporting your joints now, even before the first problems appear. As a prophylaxis, we recommend ON JOINTS – a herbal set from Herbapol in Krakow, which you can buy at Medonet Market.