Rheumatism
Natural Solutions in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch
Got a question about
Rheumatism?
Learn about the causes of Rheumatism & find a practitioner in Auckland, Hamilton, Bay of
Plenty, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin to help you overcome Rheumatism within New
Zealand.
Therapies which may benefit Rheumatism
Rheumatism is used to describe any type of pain or inflammation in or
around the bones, muscles, joints & tendons. It can also involve
internal organs such as the heart, skin, kidneys & lungs. A large
number of traditional herbal remedies have been recommended for
'rheumatism'. Modern medicine, both conventional & complementary
realise that there are many causes for the different rheumatic
disorders & have different triggers, most of them have multiple
causes & require different treatments.
Causes of rheumatism
Rheumatism is an umbrella term for inflammation and pain of the joints,
bones and muscles. There are three groups of rheumatic diseases:
- Osteoarthritis
- Inflammatory arthritis
- Soft tissue rheumatism
Osteoarthritis
usually occurs as the body ages when the cartilage between the bones in
the joints becomes brittle and rough. Cartilage breaks away causing the
bones of the joint to rub together. The bone then attempts to
compensate by creating knobbly bone spurs (known as osteophytes).
Also,
the lubrication fluid (known as synovial membrane) within the tough
layer of tissue that surrounds the bones becomes thicker reducing the
amount of space inside the joint. All these abnormalities cause the
joint to change shape resulting in pain, inflammation and loss of
mobility.
Inflammatory arthritis is the most common type of
rheumatism and occurs due to a swelling inside the protective capsule
that surrounds the joint. The lubrication fluid inside this capsule can
become inflamed preventing the joint from functioning correctly.
Inflammation can also damage the bone and cartilage.
Rheumatoid
arthritis is caused by the body's defence mechanism for fighting
infection. When the body is infected, inflammation occurs due to a
flood of chemicals to the affected area. Rheumatoid arthritis is a
malfunction of this mechanism whereby healthy soft tissue is attacked
in the joints.
Symptoms of rheumatism
Each group of rheumatoid diseases can have differing symptoms but all share a common set of problems such as:
- Pain
- Inflammation
- Joint stiffness
- Loss of mobility
Rheumatism
usually develops over a long period of time and symptoms can vary in
severity. In some cases, rheumatoid disease can occur rapidly with
little warning.
Diagnosis of rheumatism
You should first visit your GP if you are suffering with pain and
inflammation of the joints. The GP will perform a physical examination
of the affected area and may refer you for blood tests and X-rays to
confirm a diagnosis of rheumatism.
Radiographs may also be used to track the progression and severity of the damage to your joints.
*Source: GoToSee.co.uk
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