Rheumatology
Rheumatic diseases (Rheumatic diseases) is a group of diseases affecting the joints, muscles and tissues responsible for connecting and supporting organs and internal body parts. The number of rheumatic diseases has exceeded one hundred, perhaps the most common:
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Gout.
- Degenerative joint inflammation or osteoarthritis.
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus).
- Ankylosing spondylitis.
- Sjogren’s syndrome.
- It is worth mentioning that many rheumatic diseases are immune diseases, that is, the immune system in the body responsible for attacking diseases, bacteria and viruses attacking itself, and other diseases such as gout caused by crystals, as in the case of gout caused by crystals of uric acid.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an immune disease, unrelated to age, and the symptoms caused by the disease are as follows:
- Pain and swelling in the joints. This disease affects more than one joint, often the same joint on both sides of the body. For example, the wrist joint affects the right hand, the left hand, or the ankle joint in the right foot and left foot.
- Feeling of detailed bites, especially the morning after waking up.
- Feeling tired overall.
- The sensation of a lump or contract, called rheumatoid nodules.
- The disease can be accompanied by problems in other organs, such as eyes, lungs, blood vessels and skin.
- This disease can cause permanent damage to the joints.
- Diagnosis of the disease by knowing the symptoms experienced by the patient, in addition to the possibility of requesting blood tests, and the image of rays, and taking a sample of liquid surrounding the joint.
Gout
Gout is caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals in the tissues of the body, leading to a very painful inflammation in the joint. Gout often affects the large toe, but it can affect the other joints of the body. Symptoms that can appear on the patient acute pain in the joint and swelling and redness, in addition to the sensation of heat in the location of the joint, and the accumulation of crystals of uric acid can lead to a decline in kidney function, and if not treated gout can form a contract known as Tuf ( Tophi).
Degenerative joint inflammation or osteoarthritis
The osteoarthritis causes damage to the cartilage at the end of the bone, which acts as a cushion. As it is eroded, the patient experiences joint pain and difficulty moving. Muscle weakness causes joint instability, making it difficult to do routine tasks such as difficulty holding objects, walking or combing hair. Wear clothes and even sit down.
Osteoarthritis usually affects the knee, pelvis, foot, fingers and lower back. The symptoms that may appear on the patient are joint stiffness and pain. The joints can become inflamed, and the joint area is warm when touched. The doctor may ask for blood tests, a sample of liquid surrounding the injured joint, and a radiograph, and in certain cases magnetic resonance imaging is required.
Systemic lupus erythema
It is an immune disease that affects several members of the body, usually affecting women younger than males. Symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus may include:
- The diagnosis is made by knowing the symptoms of the patient and the clinical examination. Diagnosis is also done by taking a urine sample and blood tests, including the examination of antibodies to the nucleus (ANA-antinuclear antibodies). The result of this test is positive in The majority of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Spondylitis
Infectious spondylitis, which links the spine with the pelvis, causes pain in the lower back. The pain gradually increases. Spondylitis is more common in men than in women, especially between adolescence and age 30. Symptoms Which may suffer from the patient as follows:
- Pain in the lower back and buttocks area, where these pains get worse with time, stretching up the spine.
- Feeling pain between the shoulder blades, can also feel pain in the neck.
- The feeling of pain and stiffness in the back, and this pain worsens during rest or recovery from lying down, and improves when the patient moves.
- Ten to fifteen years after the disease, it is possible to feel pain in the middle of the back, moving to the top of the back and neck.
- When the condition worsens, the patient can suffer from stiffness in the spine, making it difficult to bend the trunk and practice daily activities.
- The diagnosis is made by knowing the patient’s medical history and performing a clinical examination. It is possible to request an X-ray to see the condition of the sacral sacral joint and to examine a specific protein in the blood called HLA-B27 which helps confirm the diagnosis.