Treatment of rheumatism

Rheumatism

Rheumatism is a disease of the immune system that affects various parts of the human body, where chronic inflammation occurs in the joints and connective tissue causing swelling and severe pain of the patient.

Rheumatism occurs because of a defect in the immune system. Instead of protecting the body from bacteria or viruses that attack the body, the immune system attacks the connective tissue within the joints and other organs of the human body such as the lungs, skin, eyes, heart, and blood vessels. In bone and joint deformities, and in severe cases, rheumatism causes physical and functional disability of the patient.

Types of rheumatism

Rheumatism is divided into two types:

Type I : Non-inflammatory diseases, where joint corrosion occurs without inflammation of the surrounding tissues, including degenerative bone disease and osteoporosis.
Type II : Inflammatory diseases affect the bones, joints, and muscles, and are divided into two types:
- Non-articular inflammatory diseases: It affects the connective tissues and muscles, such as scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, Schugren’s syndrome, and other diseases.
- Infectious inflammatory diseases: affecting the surrounding joints and tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, chorionic, rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease, systemic spondylitis, Cushing’s syndrome, and other diseases.

Rheumatic fever

Is a type of inflammatory rheumatism occurs suddenly after tonsillitis, caused by streptococcus spherical spherical bacteria, and is accompanied by some symptoms, including:

General weakness and loss of appetite.
It causes inflammation of the surrounding membrane of the heart and is the most dangerous, as it may lead to rheumatic heart or heart failure.
The size of the joint is usually larger, swollen, red, and painful to the patient. The most affected joints are the knees, wrists, elbows, and ankles.
Inflammation affects the nervous system, leading to Sydenham’s chorea, where rapid involuntary, irregular, and unstable involuntary movements occur, affecting the muscles of the arms, legs, and face. The patient experiences poor performance Some tasks, such as controlling the pen hold when typing, and the ability to speak correctly.
Sometimes a red rash occurs two to four weeks after streptococcal bacteria.

Causes of rheumatism

Rheumatism occurs because of the attack of the immune system of the tissues surrounding the joints, and so far scientists could not determine the cause of this defect in the immune system, but found that there are factors that increase the risk of the disease of rheumatism, including:

Sex: It was found that the incidence of infection in females is higher than that of males.
Age: Although rheumatism may occur at any age, it is more common to occur in the 40-60 age group.
Genetic history: The presence of a person with rheumatism increases the likelihood of injury to relatives.
Smoking.
Obesity.
Infection of a bacterial or viral infection as in rheumatic fever.
Continuous exposure to cold and humidity.

There is no definitive treatment for rheumatism of all kinds. The symptoms of the disease are alleviated and the development of the disease is reduced by using different drugs such as painkillers and cortisone, as well as teaching the patient new ways of doing his daily activities and the use of auxiliary devices to reduce stress and pressure on joints and bones.

In the case of rheumatic fever, the treatment is concentrated in full bed rest during the active stage of the disease. The patient remains in bed until the heat is softened and the inflammation of the joints and heart is reduced. The patient is gradually advised to move gradually, in addition to medication.

Drug therapy

Penicillin or antibiotics : It is used to eliminate the bacteria causing inflammation, as in the case of fever rheumatism, where the treatment of the remnants of bacteria Streptococcus, and uses phenoxyethyl penicillin, and given orally 250 mg every 6 hours a day, or 500 milligrams every 12 hours for ten days. In the case of penicillin allergy, anti-erythromycin or tetracycline is used.
Aspirin The rheumatoid patient is given 3 grams / day divided by several doses. The rheumatic fever patient is given 80 mg / kg / day in four equal doses and not more than 6.5 g daily, and after one to two weeks the dose is reduced to 60-70 mg / kg / Day, aspirin is considered to be very effective in treating this disease.
Cortisone : Reduces inflammation and pain, and delays the deterioration of the condition of joints and tissues, where the patient is given 60-120 milligrams per day divided into four doses to reduce the symptoms of the disease, and the rate of red blood cell deposition to normal, and then do not stop the dose suddenly, but is Gradually reduced over a period of two weeks.
Antihypertensive anti – rheumatism : These drugs are given to slow the development of the disease and protect the joints from permanent deformity, such as methotrexate (English: methotrexate), and hydroxychloroquine (in English: hydroxychloroquine).
Sildenham disease in patients with rheumatic fever It is the most difficult treatment, because of the involuntary movements that interfere with the performance of the patient for his daily functions. The patient should first be placed in a calm environment and use tranquilizers, the most commonly known as haloperidol (haloperidol), and carbamazepine, which is used in the treatment of convulsions, is effective in treating the disease.

Herbal Therapy

There are other ways to treat rheumatism with herbs, but the effectiveness of these herbs has not yet been proven to relieve symptoms of rheumatism, so the patient should consult with the doctor before using them to avoid any complications, including:

Ginger : Ginger works on the treatment of inflammation associated with rheumatism.
Willow leaves : It is possible to take the leaves directly by chewing, or use it dry and grated, and add a teaspoon or two tablespoons to boiling water and drink daily in the morning and evening, and is used to relieve joint pain.
Grapefruit juice : It is used in the relief of arthritis, where it is recommended to drink one cup a day.
Cactus : Its therapeutic properties are used to relieve joint pain.
eucalyptus oil : To relieve joint pain, a large spoon of ground camphor is mixed with a hot cup and not a coconut oil, and the painful area.
Cinnamon : Cinnamon contains anti-rheumatic substances.
black seed oil : Black bean oil capsules can be taken twice a day to relieve swelling of the joints and the period of morning wear.