Rheumatism Symptoms

The inflammation of one or more joints in the body is known as arthritis. Arthritis is also referred to as rheumatism, a general term to describe any type of pain or aches that affect the bones, muscles or joints. Rheumatism is a term that is used to describe disease that cannot be described by any specific arthritis or musculoskeletal disease. Let us know more about the various rheumatism symptoms.

Arthritis and Rheumatism Symptoms
We have seen what is arthritis and rheumatism pain. The arthritis and rheumatism symptoms depend on the type of arthritis or rheumatism that affects an individual. The following common arthritis and rheumatism symptoms indicate the presence of the disease:

• Swelling in one or more joints of the body.
• There is stiffness around the joints.
• The joints look red and are warm when touched.
• There is constant and recurring pain experienced without any possible cause.
• There is sudden difficulty in moving or using a joint.

Palindromic Rheumatism Symptoms
The palindromic rheumatism (PR) is also known as Hench-Rosenberg Syndrome or Hench’s Syndrome. Palindromic rheumatism is a chronic auto-immune disease and is an abortive form of rheumatoid arthritis. It causes extreme pain and frequent disability to the patient. There are no known causes for palindromic rheumatism and can affect both men and women between 20 to 50 years of age. The signs and symptoms of palindromic rheumatism symptoms are:

• One or more joints can be affected at any one time and is usually seen in joints of the hands wrists elbows and knees.
• Palindromic rheumatism symptoms mostly affects one side of the body at a time. It is sometimes seen affecting both sides.
• The pain and inflammation, known as 'flare ups' of the affected joint last for about 4 to 5 days. Then it can stay normal for a few minutes to several weeks.
• There are some flare ups, with only pain and no inflammation and some are both.
• The flare ups can travel around the body and even jump around in the body like a pin ball.
• As the disease progresses, it may cause pain, stiffness and swelling.
• This is an autoimmune disease, thus many symptoms differ from individual to individual.
• There is permanent damage to the joints affected in rheumatoid arthritis, and joints return to normal in palindromic rheumatism, making it the main difference between the two diseases.

Muscular Rheumatism Symptoms
Muscular rheumatism is an inflammation of the fibrous or connective tissues of the body. It is also known as fibromyalgia or rheumatism. It is also called as fibrositis or fibromyositis by doctors. The muscular rheumatism symptoms are as follows:

• The onset of acute rheumatism is characterized by fever and a rapid pulse rate.
• There is intense soreness and pain in the affected part.
• The tissues become sensitive and even the weight of a bed cover may increase the pain.
• The acute muscular rheumatism symptom is extreme pain with no permanent damage.
• There is swelling in the liver.
• The chronic muscular rheumatism is characterized by chronic pain and stiffness in the affected muscles.
• The pain aggravates with the movement of the muscles.

Soft Tissue Rheumatism Symptoms
The pain and inflammation of the muscles, tendons and ligaments or areas outside the joints is known as soft tissue rheumatism. The two forms of soft tissues inflammation syndrome are bursitis and tendinitis. Soft tissue rheumatism symptoms are as follows:

• The main symptom of soft tissue rheumatism is pain.
• The bursitis soft tissue rheumatism symptoms include localized tenderness, warmth and swelling near the body surface.
• Erythema and pain, when local pressure is applied.
• There may be pain due to movement.
• The tendinitis soft tissue rheumatism symptoms include pain with movement and especially when movement against resistance.
• There may be severe pain at night.
• The pain is mostly localized

These were a few of the rheumatism symptoms. Any joint in your body can be affected with rheumatism. In case of rheumatoid arthritis, you may experience fever, loss of appetite and energy. If your joints are hurting you without any possible known cause, consult your doctor immediately. It is always better to control the rheumatism symptoms then to suffer severe pains.