One of the common diseases we encounter when our patients apply to us due to their pain in the internal medicine outpatient clinic of our hospital is rheumatic diseases.

What Are Rheumatic Diseases?

The most common rheumatic disease in society is arthritis. There are three types of arthritis: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and spondyloarthritis. Other rheumatic diseases are connective tissue diseases and gout. These diseases greatly affect a person's life functions.

Osteoarthritis is the deterioration of bone tissues under the cartilage. It is known as "calcification" among the people. Pain, tenderness and sound may occur in the calcified joint. It can progress slowly in the beginning and lead to movement limitation and stiffness in the later stages. It may cause deterioration in cartilage and remodeling of bones. In addition, symptoms may include a feeling of stiffness in the joint, joint deformity or enlargement and swelling.

Rheumatoid arthritisis popularly known as inflammatory joint rheumatism and is an autoimmune disease seen in adults. It is more common in women than in men. It disrupts the individual's routines and is an irreversible disease if not treated. Symptoms may appear as fatigue, morning stiffness, pain in the joints, swelling and limitation of movement.

Spondyloarthritis may not disrupt the patient's posture and may therefore be confused with more common herniated disc or other types of spinal problems, so this disease can progress sneakily. Spondyloarthritis can also adversely affect other systems of the body and the patient may experience loss of function. Dermatological problems such as redness of the eyes and psoriasis, hard and reddened skin may also be among the negativities brought about by this disease. Especially in the morning, low back pain, limitation of movement, fever, fatigue and weight loss are the symptoms of the disease.

Fibromyalgia, also known as soft tissue disease, can reduce an individual's quality of life and even their commitment to life, because there is a situation where you wake up tired every morning and have difficulty waking up.

Childhood traumas and stress are common causes of this disease. It is more common in women and perfectionist people. Fibromyalgia brings with it depression, memory and concentration problems. Difficulty breathing, tinnitus, occasional constipation, pain, tenderness and fatigue are among the symptoms of the disease.

Behçet's disease is a life-threatening disease with ulcers in the mouth and genital area, eye infection, skin problems, and sometimes vascular and brain involvement.

Gout is both a metabolic and rheumatic disease and occurs with the accumulation of uric acid in the tissues as a result of increased uric acid production in the body. Swelling in the joints, increased pain at night and kidney involvement and stone can be seen in individuals as symptoms of gout.

What Are The Treatments of Rheumatic Diseases?

Osteoarthritis treatment, whose diagnoses are based on clinical and radiological findings, aims to make a person's life easier. This can be achieved with weight loss and exercise. As pain relief methods, hot or cold applications, medications, joint injections and surgical procedures can be performed in more advanced cases.

Rheumat oid arthritis treatment, just like osteroidatritis, is aimed at reducing pain and regulating the individual's life functions. Non-cortisone painkillers, infection relievers and modifying drugs are administered as treatment. Treatments for spondyloarthritis are gels and creams for dermatological problems, biological and antirheumatic drugs, injection into the joints, anti-inflammatory drugs and surgical interventions in advanced dimensions.

Since it is a disease that affects all life and activities, fibromyalgia treatment is aimed at controlling pain and improving the quality of life of the individual.

Exercise is also recommended for this disease, and physical therapy, spas, massage and a healthy diet can be therapeutic. Although there are natural and herbal treatment methods, painkillers and antidepressants are used. Therapist help can be obtained so that stress does not trigger the disease.

Behçet's disease may require a cooperative treatment method with other units such as obstetrics, urology, dermatology due to the diseases it causes. It is intended to prevent organ damage. Colchicine, azathioprine, cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide and various biological drugs are used.

Since gout disease occurs due to uric acid, the first treatment application should be in the form of reducing nutrients such as uric acid-triggering alcohol, coffee, red meat and some legumes.

Our internal medicine specialist will help you by diagnosing your disease with correct diagnostic methods, determining the most appropriate treatment method for your disease, and by talking to the specialists of our other units, if necessary.