About Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases

What’s the distinction between arthritis and different rheumatic illnesses?

Arthritis is a gaggle of greater than 100 totally different illnesses. It’s additionally a sort of rheumatic illness. Rheumatic illnesses could trigger ache, stiffness, and swelling within the joints. They’ll additionally trigger ache in different physique constructions. These embody muscle mass, tendons, ligaments, and bones. Rheumatic illnesses may also have an effect on different areas of the physique, reminiscent of inner organs. Some rheumatic illnesses have an effect on connective tissues. Others could also be attributable to an autoimmune dysfunction. This implies the physique’s immune system assaults its personal wholesome cells and tissues.

Who treats arthritis and different rheumatic illnesses?

Your physician or different healthcare suppliers could deal with arthritis and different rheumatic illnesses. A number of medical doctors from totally different medical specialties may go collectively on your remedy. This group method is particularly essential to assist handle the signs of a rheumatic illness. Many signs are long-term (power) and alter in severity over time.

A number of the extra widespread healthcare suppliers that assist deal with arthritis and different rheumatic illnesses are listed beneath.

Major care physician

A major care physician is the healthcare supplier you see for basic healthcare. This physician has particular coaching typically inner medication, household follow, or one other first-level-of-care space. Major care medical doctors provide:

Routine healthcare, together with annual bodily exams and vaccines

Remedy for short-term (acute) well being situations

Look after situations which will grow to be extra severe or power later

Your major care physician could diagnose or deal with a illness. Or they’re going to refer you to a specialist if wanted.

Rheumatologist

A rheumatologist is a physician with particular coaching to deal with arthritis and different rheumatic illnesses. Most rheumatologists have a background in inner medication or pediatrics. They’re educated to seek out many varieties of rheumatic illnesses of their earliest levels. These embody:

A rheumatologist has completed 4 years of medical faculty and three years of coaching in inner medication or pediatrics. Additionally they have had 2 to three extra years of particular coaching in rheumatology. They could even be board licensed by the American Board of Inside Drugs.

Orthopedic surgeon

An orthopedic surgeon or orthopedist is a physician with particular coaching in orthopedic surgical procedure. An orthopedist is educated to know how the musculoskeletal system works. This implies they’ll diagnose a situation or dysfunction. The orthopedist may also discover and deal with an damage and provides rehabilitation to an affected space. This supplier will help you stop additional injury.

The orthopedist could have accomplished as much as 14 years of coaching. The orthopedic surgeon may grow to be board licensed by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgical procedure.

Many orthopedic surgeons follow basic orthopedics. Others focus on sure areas of the physique. This is perhaps the foot, shoulder, or backbone. And others concentrate on sure areas of care, reminiscent of sports activities medication. Some orthopedists could concentrate on a number of areas. They could additionally work with different specialists, reminiscent of neurosurgeons, rheumatologists, or physiatrists.

Bodily therapist

A bodily therapist (PT) is a healthcare supplier who focuses on physique movement and performance. They work on these methods: nervous system, muscle mass and bones, and coronary heart and lungs.

PTs are essential members of the healthcare group. They consider and provides remedy for folks with well being issues attributable to damage, illness, or overuse of muscle mass or tendons.

PTs have a diploma in bodily remedy. Many even have a grasp’s or doctoral diploma. All graduates should be licensed by their state by passing a nationwide certification take a look at.

PTs could follow in lots of locations. These embody:

Hospitals

Rehabilitation facilities

Residence well being companies

Faculties

Sports activities services

Group well being facilities

Non-public follow

PTs show you how to dwell with arthritis and different rheumatic illnesses. They:

Make it simpler so that you can transfer

Enhance your stability and gait

Assist you transfer muscle mass and different mushy tissues

Train you the best way to higher use your physique

Assist you use casts or splints

Train you the best way to use a wheelchair safely

Assist you recuperate after a nerve damage

Assist you arrange an train program

Train your loved ones how that can assist you get higher

Assist you handle ache

Train you the best way to stroll safely

Occupational therapist

An occupational therapist (OT) is a healthcare supplier who helps folks return to their every day duties after a illness or an damage. An OT typically does the next work that can assist you recuperate:

Helps plan remedy actions

Helps each youngsters and adults develop mentally, socially, and bodily

Helps youngsters and adults learn to do every day duties

Leads group or particular person remedy to assist youngsters and adults in a psychological well being middle study to deal with every day actions

Advises adjustments in format and design of the house or faculty to offer youngsters and adults with accidents or disabilities extra entry and safer mobility

OTs work many locations. These embody:

Hospitals

Rehabilitation facilities

Faculties

Residence care companies

Non-public follow

Authorities companies

Podiatrist

A podiatrist is a physician with particular coaching to deal with foot and ankle issues. They’ll prescribe medication and do surgical procedure. For example, individuals who have arthritis within the toes may even see a podiatrist for particular supportive footwear.

Nurses

Nurses with particular coaching in rheumatic illnesses could assist your physician in assessing your loved ones’s and your wants. They could additionally assist by offering, coordinating, and monitoring your remedy plan and care. These nurses additionally could assist educate and reply questions on your particular remedy plan.

Who’s affected by arthritis and different rheumatic illnesses?

Arthritis and rheumatic illnesses can have an effect on anybody at any age or any race. However some illnesses are extra widespread in sure teams:

Osteoarthritis is extra widespread in older adults.

The incidence of rheumatoid arthritis is 2 to three occasions greater in girls than males.

Fibromyalgia impacts about 4 million adults within the U.S., extra generally in girls.

Gout is extra widespread in males.

Scleroderma is extra widespread in girls.

Lupus impacts girls about 8 to 10 occasions extra typically than it impacts males.

Ankylosing spondylitis is extra widespread in males.

What causes arthritis and different rheumatic illnesses?

Specialists do not know what causes most varieties of rheumatic illness. In lots of circumstances, the trigger relies upon on the kind of rheumatic illness. However researchers imagine that some or all of these items could play a job:

What are the signs of arthritis and different rheumatic illnesses?

Folks with arthritis or different rheumatic illnesses could every have barely totally different signs. Additionally, several types of rheumatic illnesses have totally different signs. However the most typical signs embody:

Joint ache

Joint swelling

Joint stiffness that lasts for a minimum of 1 hour within the early morning

Persistent joint ache or soreness

Heat and redness within the joint space

Restricted motion within the affected joint

Tiredness (fatigue)

The signs of arthritis and different rheumatic illnesses could seem like different well being situations. At all times see your healthcare supplier for a analysis.