Rheumatism: Early detection is particularly important in cases of joint inflammation

rheumatism does not represent a uniform clinical picture. “Rather, there are about 400 individual diseases that belong to the Diseases of the rheumatic spectrum. 'Rheumatism' is generally understood to mean complaints of the musculoskeletal system that are accompanied by flowing, tearing or pulling pain and are often associated with functional limitations," explains Dr. Reinhold Lunow.

"Early detection plays a major role in many rheumatic diseases in order to stop the progression of inflammatory processes in good time. But even after the symptoms have appeared and the rheumatic disease has been confirmed,Diagnosis The care of those affected belongs in competent specialist hands. In our practice clinic Bornheim Rheumatism patients are in good hands,” recommends the internist and medical director of the Bornheim practice clinic near Cologne and Bonn.

Rheumatism does not only affect older people

The best known group is probably the group of wear-related or age-related (degenerative) rheumatic diseases (=arthrosis), which is why rheumatism is often mistakenly thought to be a disease that primarily affects older people. However, this is not the case, because autoimmune-related, inflammatory rheumatic diseases in particular often appear in young adulthood.

There is also rheumatism also in children and toddlers. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), for example, which affects around 800.000 people in Germany, including 600.000 women, the first symptoms usually appear between the ages of 30 and 50. However, adolescents and children can also suffer from this disease. Disease develop.

Medications often help best in the early stages

Even if most sufferers are unaware of their disease in the early stages, it is particularly important to detect RA as early as possible and treat it effectively. This increases the chances of stopping the disease and preventing damage to the joints.

"Rheumatoid arthritis should therefore not be confused with pure wear and tear of the joints (osteoarthritis). After all, patients with RA respond particularly well to modern and effective medications, especially in the early stages, which intervene to correct the misdirected immune system. In this respect, early therapy can stop the inflammatory process before joints are seriously and irreversibly damaged," explains Dr. Lunow.

Arthritis is not the same as joint wear

The first step in differential diagnosis to distinguish between joint wear (osteoarthritis) and joint inflammation (RA) is to take the patient's medical history (anamnesis) and determine the type of joint pain.

"In degenerative rheumatic diseases, the pain is dependent on the strain and subsides after physical exertion. In contrast, autoimmune-related rheumatic diseases are characterized by what is known as resting pain. This occurs primarily without strain, i.e. during rest periods such as at night, and then increases in intensity towards the morning - or after a long period of lack of exercise," says Dr. Lunow.

Comprehensive diagnostics & therapy in the Bornheim practice clinic

Another important pillar of rheumatological diagnostics are laboratory tests that can be used to determine the distribution pattern of joint inflammation. "Autoantibody detection (e.g. rheumatoid factors, antinuclear antibodies and anti-CCP antibodies) plays a major role in the differential diagnosis of joint complaints," reports Dr. Lunow. "In order to assess the disease activity of a rheumatic disease, certain inflammatory parameters (such as CRP, ESR or complement factors) are also determined. We carry out all of this in our practice as part of a early diagnosis of rheumatism through."

We would be happy to advise you in our practice clinic about your individual concerns and impairments, such as the relief of joint pain, recommends Dr. Lunow.

Image source: www.rheumatologen-im-netz.de