Rheumatism: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment Summary: Rheumatism
refers to a chronic inflammation of the body’s joints, muscles,
tendons and bones and leads to perpetual pain and discomfort in
the patient. Rheumatism is basically of three types: local,
regional or general. Tendinitis and bursitis are types of
localized rheumatism while regional rheumatism includes pain in
the chest wall, inflammation of the tempero-mandibular joint and
subsequent pain. Fibromyalgia is the main form of generalized
rheumatism. The main symptoms of rheumatism include swelling and
pain in all or particular joints of the body and stiffness of
limbs that restrict movement. The skin around such stiff joints
may also turn red and the stiffness is usually felt in the
morning after hours of immobility brought about by daily sleep.
The stiff joint also feels warm to the touch. Rheumatismcan be
diagnosed by your family physician or a qualified orthopedic
surgeon who will first ask if there is a history of the disease
in the family. A phys