What is rheumatology?

rheumatology is a medicine that concerns arthritic complaints, especially rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis. From the Greek word rheum , which means that the type of water accumulation, rheumatoid arthritis, once commonly called rheumatism, was once considered to be caused by the accumulation of fluid in the joints, the so -called "water on the joints". This was probably due to the fact that the inflamed joints swell and the old men attributed it to the accumulation of fluids. Now any discipline that studies cartilage disease and dysfunction falls into the general category of rheumatology. Osteo-arthritis is characterized by a general disintegration of joint cartilage over time. This causes inflammation and pain in the joint that is treated with anti -inflammatory.

rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic, painful swelling in all or most joints at once. As a joint used throughout the day, symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis decrease when the joints of "heating" while the symptoms of osteo-arthritis increase whenThey use affected joints. If you have symptoms in one knee, but not on the other, for example, you probably suffer from osteo-arthritis and not rheumatoid arthritis.

Special concern to doctors who practice rheumatology is the loss of muscle mass and mobility associated with arthritis. It is natural only if the movement hurts to prevent this movement from repetition. Unfortunately, it can create a vicious cycle and specific movement can soon become impossible because the patient loses muscles and solidifies the joint by abuse. Physiotherapy, especially limb manipulation, is useful for maintaining or re -obtaining the extent of movement.

rheumatological treatment includes analgesics for pain, anti -inflammatory benefits for swelling and possible steroids such as Cortisone Shots in severe cases. To date, managing symptoms is the best that rheumatology can offer; The drug for arthritis seems to be as far as always.