Rheumatic Diseases

There are more than 100 rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic diseases usually affect joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles. Some rheumatic diseases can also affect the organs.

Arthritis and rheumatic diseases

The term arthritis is often used to refer to any disorder that affects the joints.

Over 100 diseases

There are more than 100 rheumatic diseases.

Connective tissue diseases

Rheumatic diseases usually affect joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles. Some rheumatic diseases can also affect the organs and other connective tissues, most often associated with inflammation.

Genes

There are probably many genes that make people more likely to have rheumatic diseases. Research has found some of these genes.

Two hit theory

If you have the disease gene, something in your environment—such as a virus or injury—may trigger the disease.

Symptoms

There are different symptoms, depending upon the disease. In general, people who have arthritis feel pain and stiffness in one or more joints. There may also be tenderness, warmth, redness in a joint, and/or difficulty using or moving a joint normally.

Treatment

There are many treatments that can help relieve pain and help you live with arthritis and rheumatic diseases. You should talk to your doctor about the best treatments for you, which can include:

Medications to relieve pain, slow the disease, and prevent further damage. Surgery to repair joint damage or relieve pain.

Rheumatologists and other providers

Doctors who diagnose and treat arthritis and other rheumatic disease include:

• General practitioners, such as your family doctor.
• Rheumatologists, who specialize in arthritis and other diseases of the bones, joints, and muscles.
• Orthopaedists, who specialize in treatment and surgery for bone and joint diseases.
• Physical therapists, who help improve joint function.
• Occupational therapists, who teach ways to protect joints, minimize pain, perform activities of daily living, and conserve energy.
• Dietitians, who teach about good diets and maintaining a healthy weight.
• Nurse educators, who help you understand your condition and help start treatment plans.
• Rehabilitation specialists, who help you make the most of your physical potential.
• Licensed acupuncture therapists, who reduce pain and improve physical functioning by inserting fine needles into the skin at specific points on the body.
• Psychologists or social workers, who help with social challenges caused by medical conditions.
• Chiropractors, who focus treatment on the relationship between the body's structure—mainly the spine—and its functioning.
• Massage therapists, who press, rub, and otherwise manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of the body.

Types of rheumatic diseases

There are numerous types of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, including:

• Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It damages cartilage (tissue that cushions the ends of bones) and bone.
• Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the body attacks the joint’s lining. The hands and feet are mostly affected.
• Gout is a type of arthritis caused by crystals that form in the joints, usually beginning in the big toe.
• Infectious arthritis is caused by bacteria or viruses.
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common form of arthritis in childhood
• Spondyloarthropathies usually affect the spine. There are a few forms:
  • Ankylosing spondylitis may also affect the hips, shoulders, and knees.
  • Reactive arthritis is caused by urinary tract or bowel infection.
  • Psoriatic arthritis occurs in some patients with the skin disorder, psoriasis.
• Bursitis occurs when small, fluid-filled sacs in the joint become swollen.
• Fibromyalgia causes muscle pain and tender points—areas on the body that are painful when pushed.
• Polymyalgia rheumatica affects many of the structures around the joint.
• Polymyositis causes muscle swelling and weakness.
• Scleroderma causes the skin, blood vessels, and joints to become thicker. The disease sometimes also affects the lungs and kidneys.
• Systemic lupus erythematosus swelling and damage to the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and brain.
• Tendinitis causes swelling of the tissues that connect muscle to bone.

Rheumatologic diseases

Arthritis is often used to refer to any disorder that affects the joints. Rheumatic diseases usually affect joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles. Rheumatologic diseases usually affect joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles.

Connective Tissue Diseases

Rheumatology and	Connective Tissue Diseases
Ankylosing spondylitis	Arthritis
Arthritis and Rheumatic diseases	Autoimmune diseases
Autoinflammatory diseases	Behçet’s disease
Bursitis	Giant cell arteritis
Gout	Juvenile arthritis
Knee problems	Lupus
Osteoarthritis	Polymyalgia rheumatica
Psoriatic arthritis	Reactive arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis	Scleroderma
Sjögren’s syndrome	Systemic lupus erythematosus (Lupus)
Tendinitis	Rheumatologic diseases

Rheumatic Diseases Resources
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