Description

Treatment of Rheumatic Diseases

Diseases involving the movement system are called
“Rheumatic Disease” or simply “Rheumatism”. Under this
title, painful diseases affecting our tissues and organs that allow us to
perform all movements related to our daily life such as muscles, tendons, bones,
joint ligaments and spine, especially joints, should be understood. However,
when it comes to rheumatism, joint diseases come to mind first.

Joint rheumatisms are numerous and varied. We can say that there are
about 300 rheumatic diseases. Although the diagnosis and treatment methods
of each of them are different, it is possible to talk about some general
principles that are valid for all of them.

Accordingly, rheumatic diseases

1- Inflammatory rheumatism

2- Dry (Degenerative) rheumatism

It is possible to divide into two large groups.

Inflammatory rheumatisms are diseases that can be seen at any age and are
accompanied by pain, swelling, redness and limitation of movement in the
joints. The most important inflammatory rheumatism is rheumatoid arthritis,
which is seen in women around the age of 30-40 and gradually progresses. This
disease usually starts from the finger joints of the hand and foot, gradually
spreads to other joints and makes daily life difficult. The second
important disease is Ankylosing Spondylitis, which is mostly seen in men and
involves the spine. It occurs around the age of 20-25, its initial
symptoms are similar to a herniated disc, the disease progresses gradually and
causes calcification of the spine in the lumbar-neck region in the following
years.

Regardless of the type of rheumatic disease, it is necessary to diagnose
and start treatment as soon as the first complaints appear. In cases where
treatment is delayed, deformities and movement disorders develop in the joints,
which makes treatment even more difficult. Since the exact cause of these
types of diseases is unknown, there are some difficulties in their treatment. However,
in parallel with the developments in medicine in recent years, very new
treatment methods and drugs have emerged and started to be used. For this
reason, the most important issue is the detailed examination of the patient by
a specialist physician and the determination of the treatment program to be
applied.

Drug treatments are planned in the early stages of the diseases. After
the acute symptoms and symptoms such as pain and swelling are controlled,
physical therapy and rehabilitation should be started.

The Purpose of Physical Therapy

To relieve pain and movement limitations,

Improving joint movements

Strengthen the muscles

Improving the general condition

Improving the quality of life

To ensure that people with high body weight lose weight
and strengthen their muscles

Non-inflammatory rheumatic diseases are more
common. The most common one among middle-aged and elderly patients is a
joint disease called “Osteoarthritis” or “Arthrosis” in
medicine and known as “calcification” among the
people. Arthrosis can occur in large joints such as hips, knees, ankles,
and shoulders, as well as small joints such as fingers. It is more common
in women than in men. The main cause of the disease is the thinning,
erosion and eventual rupture of the joint cartilage over
time. Accordingly, pain and movement difficulties occur. It is more
common in people with obesity and diabetes, those who work in heavy jobs, and
those with systemic illness. Although the most important symptom is pain,
the intensity of the pain is not as intense as in inflammatory rheumatism.

In case of such ailments, the first thing to do is to consult
a specialist physician. After the necessary tests are done, the treatment
is planned. Physical therapy and rehabilitation are more important than
drugs in the treatment of arthrosis. Simple pain relievers can be used to
reduce pain.

These treatments are sufficient to relieve the complaints
in the majority of patients. Recently, injection treatments that are
applied into the joint and strengthen the joint cartilage have also become
widespread. The most important issue in treatment is to avoid straining to
prevent further wear of the joint, to exercise regularly and to walk every day,
to apply the treatment requirements under the supervision of a specialist
physician.