关节痛不一定是风湿

Patients with rheumatic pain do not necessarily have arthritis, but if they wake up in the morning with extreme pain, feel joint stiffness and swelling throughout the day, and even affect their daily activities, they may be suffering from arthritis. If the joint pain occurs every day and lasts for more than two weeks or if you have to take painkillers frequently, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible and do not endure the pain.

Lianhe Zaobao (16 October 2022)

Q When the weather starts to rain and the temperature is lower than usual, my husband (in his 60s) starts to suffer from joint pain. He thought it was rheumatism, and he would definitely have this problem when he was older, so he refused to see a doctor. But is it possible that it's not rheumatism, but rheumatoid arthritis?

What is the difference between the two? When should I seek medical attention? 　　

If my husband refuses to seek medical attention, can paracetamol be used as a countermeasure? Besides taking painkillers, is there any way to relieve pain? Can he continue to exercise?

Answer Rheumatism is a common term for pain and soreness that can be caused by a variety of physical conditions and may or may not be joint-related (such as arthritis). Nonarthritic problems are also called soft tissue musculoskeletal disorders or soft tissue r heumatism. Doctors Diagnose the cause based on individual symptoms.

There are several types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is not easy to distinguish joint and non-joint diseases by yourself, because musculoskeletal soft tissue disorders may cause pain in the vulnerability of the joints , and patients may think that the problem lies in the joints.

Unlike arthritis, the pain of non-joint diseases may be concentrated in one of the joints rather than affecting the entire joint; it is often painful only when making a certain movement or posing a certain posture; will well . Non-joint diseases are often "self-limiting" (self-limiting), which means that it can heal on its own; in addition, the pain may be relieved by rest or temporary painkillers alone.

Distinguish between rheumatism and arthritis

Patients with rheumatic pain do not necessarily have arthritis and therefore do not necessarily need treatment. However, if the pain is particularly painful in the morning and you feel stiffness throughout the day, along with redness and swelling in your joints, or if the pain is severe enough to interfere with daily activities, you may have arthritis and must be identified.

OSTEOATHRITIS, The MOST Common Form of Arthritis, is a degenerateive because of jobt wear and usually afflicable. Mmune Disease, Meaning that the body's own Immune System, which is support to fight innfection, insterad "Attacks" the joints, resulting in inflammation of the joints. People with rheumatoid arthritis can come from all age groups.

In Patients with OSTEOARITIS, The Larger Jills Are usually affected first, Such as the Hip or Knee, and may be more serious on one size; TIS usually starts from the jobs of the fingers, wrists and feet, and usually affirms both left and right sides.

The most common form of arthritis I see in my clinic is osteoarthritis, and causes include age, obesity, old joint injuries, or frequent squatting or kneeling, or genetics. Symptoms of patients often include: pain upon movement (such as continuous walking or standing ; getting up from a seat; climbing stairs, especially walking down stairs); improving after rest; feeling joint stiffness in the morning, usually relieved within 30 minutes, but if Stiffness returns after prolonged sitting; ; friction or crepitus when the joint is moved.

Doctors base the diagnosis on joint symptoms and a physical exam. Blood tests and X-rays can also help differentiate osteoarthritis from rheumatoid arthritis.

Other types of arthritis include gouty arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.

Seek medical attention if pain persists for more than two weeks

For mild joint pain, patients may wish to start with pain relievers, such as topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or oral pain relievers such as paracetamol.

However, if joint pain occurs every day and lasts for more than two weeks, or if you often have to take painkillers, you should seek medical advice. The doctor will check and diagnose whether it is a non-joint problem or whether it is osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Caused by joint disease.

Physical therapy can often help relieve pain and discomfort, and stretching can improve joint mobility and flexibility. In addition, strength training is recommended in order to strengthen the muscles.

If you are overweight, you can try to lose weight, which may help relieve pain. For some patients, cold or hot compresses also help.

Exercise can help improve joint range of motion and flexibility, relieve joint stiffness and pain, and increase muscle strength and firmness. No matter what kind of arthritis you suffer from, you can benefit from exercise. However, when the joint is acutely inflamed, you Should rest first, and start exercising after the inflammation subsides.

If arthritis affects the feet (such as the hips and knees), avoid high-impact and weight-bearing activities (such as running) in favor of walking, cycling, tai chi, swimming, and other water exercises. If you've had a hip replacement, you should talk to your doctor about any exercises you shouldn't be doing.