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Rheumatism or Rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the heart
Heart

The heart is a muscle organ in all vertebrates responsible for pumping blood through the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions, or a similar structure in annelids, mollusks, and arthropods....
, bone
Bone

Bones are rigid organ that form part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They function to move, support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red blood cell and white blood cells and store minerals....
s, joint
Joint

A joint is the location at which two or more bones make contact. They are constructed to allow movement and provide mechanical support, and are classified structurally and functionally....
s, kidney
Kidney

The kidneys are Organ that have numerous biological roles. Their primary role is to maintain the homeostasis balance of bodily fluids by filtering and secreting Metabolomics#Metabolitess and minerals from the blood and excreting them, along with water , as urine....
, skin
Skin

The skin is the outer covering of the body, also known as the epidermis. It is the largest organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of epithelial biological tissue, and guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments and organ s....
 and lung
Lung

The lung is the essential respiration organ in air-breathing animals, including most tetrapods, a few fish and a few snails. In mammals and the more complex life forms, the two lungs are located in the chest on either side of the heart....
. The study of, and therapeutic interventions in, such disorders is called rheumatology
Rheumatology

Rheumatology is a sub-specialty in internal medicine and pediatrics, devoted to the diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic diseases. Rheumatologists mainly deal with clinical problems involving joints, soft tissues and allied conditions of connective tissues....
.

term "rheumatism" is still used in colloquial speech and historical contexts, but is no longer frequently used in medical or technical literature; there is no longer any recognized disorder simply called "rheumatism." Some countries use the word Rheumatism to describe fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia , meaning muscle and connective tissue pain , is a disorder classified by the presence of chronic widespread pain and a heightened and painful response to gentle Somatosensory system ....
 syndrome.






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Rheumatism or Rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the heart
Heart

The heart is a muscle organ in all vertebrates responsible for pumping blood through the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions, or a similar structure in annelids, mollusks, and arthropods....
, bone
Bone

Bones are rigid organ that form part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They function to move, support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red blood cell and white blood cells and store minerals....
s, joint
Joint

A joint is the location at which two or more bones make contact. They are constructed to allow movement and provide mechanical support, and are classified structurally and functionally....
s, kidney
Kidney

The kidneys are Organ that have numerous biological roles. Their primary role is to maintain the homeostasis balance of bodily fluids by filtering and secreting Metabolomics#Metabolitess and minerals from the blood and excreting them, along with water , as urine....
, skin
Skin

The skin is the outer covering of the body, also known as the epidermis. It is the largest organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of epithelial biological tissue, and guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments and organ s....
 and lung
Lung

The lung is the essential respiration organ in air-breathing animals, including most tetrapods, a few fish and a few snails. In mammals and the more complex life forms, the two lungs are located in the chest on either side of the heart....
. The study of, and therapeutic interventions in, such disorders is called rheumatology
Rheumatology

Rheumatology is a sub-specialty in internal medicine and pediatrics, devoted to the diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic diseases. Rheumatologists mainly deal with clinical problems involving joints, soft tissues and allied conditions of connective tissues....
.

Terminology

The term "rheumatism" is still used in colloquial speech and historical contexts, but is no longer frequently used in medical or technical literature; there is no longer any recognized disorder simply called "rheumatism." Some countries use the word Rheumatism to describe fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia , meaning muscle and connective tissue pain , is a disorder classified by the presence of chronic widespread pain and a heightened and painful response to gentle Somatosensory system ....
 syndrome. The traditional term covers such a range of different problems that to ascribe symptoms to "rheumatism" is not to say very much. Nevertheless, sources dealing with rheumatism tend to focus on arthritis
Arthritis

Arthritis is a group of conditions involving damage to the joints of the body. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in people older than fifty-five years....
. However, "non-articular rheumatism", also known as "regional pain syndrome" or "soft tissue rheumatism" can cause significant discomfort and difficulty. Furthermore, arthritis and rheumatism between them cover at least 200 different conditions.

The term "Rheumatic Diseases" is used in MeSH
Mesh

Mesh consists of semi-permeable barrier made of connected strands of metal, fiber, or other flexible/ductile material. Mesh is similar to spider web or Net in that it has many attached or woven strands....
 to refer to connective tissue
Connective tissue

Connective tissue is a form of fibrous biological tissue.It is one of the four types of tissue in traditional classifications .Collagen is the main protein of connective tissue in animals and the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% of the total protein content....
 disorders.

Palindromic rheumatism
Palindromic rheumatism

Palindromic Rheumatism consists of sudden and rapidly developing attacks of arthritis. There is acute pain, redness, swelling, and disability of one or multiple joints....
 has been theorized to be a form of rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic disease inflammation that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks the joints producing a inflammatory synovitis that often progresses to destruction of the articular cartilage and ankylosis of the joints....
.

Types

The major rheumatic disorders currently recognised include:
  • Ankylosing spondylitis
    Ankylosing spondylitis

    Ankylosing spondylitis It is a member of the group of the spondyloarthropathy with a strong genetic predisposition. Complete fusion results in a complete rigidity of the spine, a condition known as bamboo spine....
  • Back pain
    Back pain

    Back pain is pain felt in the Human back that usually originates from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the Vertebral column....
  • Bursitis
    Bursitis

    Bursitis is the inflammation of one or more Bursa of synovial fluid in the body. The bursae rest at the points where internal functionaries, such as muscles and tendons, slide across bone....
    / Tendinitis, Shoulder pain, wrist, biceps, leg, knee (patellar), ankle, hip, and Achilles
  • Capsulitis
  • Fibromyalgia
    Fibromyalgia

    Fibromyalgia , meaning muscle and connective tissue pain , is a disorder classified by the presence of chronic widespread pain and a heightened and painful response to gentle Somatosensory system ....
  • Neck pain
    Neck pain

    Neck pain is a common problem, with two-thirds of the population having neck pain at some point in their lives.Neck pain, although felt in the neck, can be caused by numerous other spinal issues....
  • Osteoarthritis
    Osteoarthritis

    Osteoarthritis , is a group of diseases and mechanical abnormalities entailing degradation of joints, including articular cartilage and the subchondral bone next to it....
  • Psoriatic arthritis
    Psoriatic arthritis

    Psoriatic arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis that, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation, affects around 10-30% of people suffering from the chronic skin condition psoriasis....
  • Rheumatic fever
    Rheumatic fever

    Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease disease which may develop two to three weeks after a Group A streptococcal infection . It is believed to be caused by antibody cross-reactivity and can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain....
  • Rheumatic heart disease (a long-term complication of Rheumatic fever
    Rheumatic fever

    Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease disease which may develop two to three weeks after a Group A streptococcal infection . It is believed to be caused by antibody cross-reactivity and can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain....
    )
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
    Rheumatoid arthritis

    Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic disease inflammation that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks the joints producing a inflammatory synovitis that often progresses to destruction of the articular cartilage and ankylosis of the joints....
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
    Lupus erythematosus

    Lupus erythematosus is a connective tissue disease....
  • Temporal arteritis
    Temporal arteritis

    Giant cell arteritis is an inflammation disease of blood vessels . It a form of vasculitis.The name reflects the type of inflammatory cell that is involved ....
     and Polymyalgia rheumatica
    Polymyalgia rheumatica

    Polymyalgia rheumatica , abbreviated as PMR, is an inflammatory condition of the muscles, which causes pain or stiffness, usually in the neck, shoulders, and Hip ....
  • Tenosynovitis
    Tenosynovitis

    Tenosynovitis is the inflammation of the fluid-filled sheath that surrounds a tendon. Symptoms of tenosynovitis include pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the particular joint where the inflammation occurs....
    .


Although these disorders probably have little in common in terms of their epidemiology
Epidemiology

Epidemiology is the study of factors affecting the health and illness of populations, and serves as the foundation and logic of interventions made in the interest of public health and preventive medicine....
, they do share two characteristics: they cause chronic (though often intermittent) pain, and they are difficult to treat. They are also, collectively, very common.

Treatment

A vast number of traditional herbal
Herbalism

Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, and phytotherapy....
 remedies were recommended for "rheumatism". Modern medicine, both conventional and complementary, recognises that the different rheumatic disorders have different causes (and several of them have multiple causes) and require different kinds of treatment.

Nevertheless, initial therapy of the major rheumatological diseases is with analgesics, such as paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, usually abbreviated to NSAIDs or NAIDs, are Medications with analgesic, antipyretic and, in higher doses, with anti-inflammatory effects ....
s (NSAIDs), members of which are ibuprofen
Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug originally marketed as Brufen, and since then under various other trademarks , most notably Nurofen, Advil and Motrin....
 and diclofenac
Diclofenac

Diclofenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug taken to reduce inflammation and as an analgesic reducing pain in conditions such as arthritis or acute injury....
. Often, stronger analgesics are required.

"Rheumatism" and weather

There has long been said to be a link between "rheumatic" pain and the weather. There appears to be no firm evidence in favour or against; a 1995 questionnaire given to 557 people by A. Naser and others at the Brigham and Women's Hospital's Pain Management Center concludes that "changes in barometric pressure are the main link between weather and pain. Low pressure is generally associated with cold, wet weather and an increase in pain. Clear, dry conditions signal high pressure and a decrease in pain".

Miscellany

A Trod
Trod

A Trod in the west of England is a straight line or fairy path in the grass of a field with a different shade of green from the rest. Great danger was associated with using these paths when a supernatural procession was using them....
 in the west of England is a straight line or fairy path in the grass of a field with a different shade of green to the rest. People with rheumatism sought relief by walking along these tracks, though animals were thought to avoid them.

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