Rheumatism - when the whole body hurts
Rheumatism - when the whole body hurts
When the joints feel warm, swell and the whole body aches, these can be signs of a rheumatic disease. In Germany alone, about 20 million people are affected by rheumatism. And it can affect anyone. Whether young or old, chronic or acute - the painful disease severely affects the everyday life of those affected.
Did you actually know that rheumatism is a disease?
Did you know that despite the most modern therapies, rheumatism is the second most common cause of incapacity to work in Germany? Read on to learn the most important information about the disease and try our helpful rheumatism exercises as well as our delicious, anti-inflammatory recipe.
What is rheumatism
The generic term rheumatism comes from the ancient Greek and translates as "flow". The disease causes wear and tear and painful inflammation in the body. The medically correct generic term "rheumatic diseases" summarises a large number of very different clinical pictures. The relevant specifications are very variable depending on the definition - however, it is assumed that there are more than 100 diseases, which are primarily associated with relapsing pain and functional disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The joints are most commonly affected, but the internal organs can also be subject to rheumatic complaints.
Known symptoms of the widespread disease are, in addition to joint swelling and pain, a lack of strength, weakness and exhaustion. This, in turn, can lead to sleep disturbances and affects everyday life and well-being.
Did you know that you can suffer from this disease?
Did you know that women suffer from rheumatism more often than men? And if you thought that only the older members of society are affected, you are wrong! Around 20,000 children in Germany also suffer from chronic rheumatic diseases.
Types of rheumatism: The many faces of pain
As already mentioned, rheumatism can take the form of numerous different diseases. All of them have different manifestations and strengths of the symptoms. The following are three of the most common types of rheumatism.
- The most common form of rheumatism is so-called rheumatoid arthritis (chronic polyarthritis). Typical symptoms are joint swelling of the fingers and toes. But other joints can also be affected. This type of rheumatism is chronic, inflammatory and affects the whole body.
- Arthrosis refers to the wearing away of a joint whose joint cartilage is worn away and damaged. Bones and cartilage wear each other down during movement. This can go so far that they lie directly on top of each other. The cause of joint wear is often a misalignment of the joints. Usually triggered by accidents, operations or a genetic predisposition. Excessive stress on the joints can also lead to osteoarthritis. The hands, knees, vertebrae and hips are most commonly affected.
- The metabolic disease gout can cause rheumatic complaints . The painful condition is caused by tiny uric acid crystals that are deposited on the joints. The affected joints swell up within a few hours and produce unbearable pain.
Detecting rheumatism - causes and symptoms
With such a variety of forms of the disease comes a many different causes, symptoms and courses. Thus, it is a challenge for many professionals to make an accurate diagnosis and to determine the appropriate treatment.
The variety of causes, symptoms and courses of the disease is very diverse.
It is not very helpful that rheumatism develops insidiously. Before a diagnosis can be pondered, the symptoms have usually already worsened drastically. That is why it is important to be able to recognise typical rheumatism symptoms yourself.
The most characteristic symptoms of rheumatism:
- Exhaustion and fatigue
- Mild fever up to 38.5°C
- Nausea and pain in the limbs
- Morning symmetrical joint stiffness in fingers and toes
- Joint swelling and thickening.
- Limited mobility
- Concentration problems and disturbed sleep
- Limb pain in weather and cold water
Living with rheumatism
As the symptoms of rheumatic diseases often appear suddenly and unpredictably everyday life for rheumatism patients is not always easy. For example, the symptoms can affect sufferers to varying degrees every day. Many people often worry about their private and professional future and fall into a deep hole.
For example, the majority of sufferers suffer from morning pain and stiff joints. Ordinary household tasks such as laundry, cooking and cleaning or otherwise fun leisure activities can quickly become a challenge .
To counteract all this, there are alternative treatments besides the usual medications in this regard to delay the progression of the disease. But of course, as with all illnesses, family support is the best medicine!
Rheumatism diet
Rheumatism sufferers have a different nutritional requirement than healthy people and must pay much stricter attention to a wholesome diet. Eating omega-3 rich fish and light Mediterranean food is particularly recommended. Important nutrients include antioxidants, minerals, especially trace elements, and vitamins.
Since food can complement drug therapy, it is important to discuss the diet plan with an expert and adapt it individually to your own needs. One thing is particularly important for rheumatism:Eat anti-inflammatory foods!
It is important to eat anti-inflammatory foods.
Important: Diet is only one part of rheumatism therapy and cannot replace drug or surgical treatment.
Anti-inflammatory diet: avocado with tomato stuffing
Ingredients for 4 people
- 2 avocados
- 2 tomatoes
- 2 shallots
- 1 clove of garlic
- 1 handful of fresh basil leaves
- 4 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 50 g shaved Parmesan
- 20 g pine nuts
- Tomato seasoning salt
- Pepper
Preparation
Wash and peel the shallots and the garlic clove and chop everything into fine pieces. Then wash the tomatoes and cut them into fine cubes. Then cut the avocados lengthwise and remove the seeds. If you usually spoon the contents of an avocado, you do not need to remove the skin. Then season the avocado halves with the tomato seasoning salt and pepper. Mix the remaining finely chopped vegetables with the basil to make a Mediterranean salad. Put this salad into the hollow of the avocado halves and drizzle everything with the balsamic vinegar to taste.
Finish by toasting the pine nuts without fat in a frying pan. Garnish the stuffed avocados with the pine nuts and the shaved Parmesan.
3 rheumatism exercises for well-being
In addition to a conscious diet, it is enormously important for people with rheumatism to remain physically active, despite chronic pain. Sport and exercise help against rheumatism-related exhaustion and keep fit. Sports that are easy on the joints and moderate movements are particularly recommended for people with rheumatism.
But also physiotherapeutic exercises, physiotherapy and participation in functional training keep the joints fit. Such, often supervised, sports exercises have the goal of moving the patients throughout the body maintaining or increasing.
In the following we present 3 rheumatic exercises for well-being which are particularly popular for rheumatic diseases.
Move your shoulders
You can do this exercise sitting or standing, depending on your ability.
Cross your hands behind your head and extend your elbows outwards. Now move your elbows forward and stretch your hands, which are still clasped, upwards as far as possible. Then slowly but smoothly reverse this movement. Repeat this exercise about 15 times.
Strong hips
Gently lie on your back and stretch your legs out. Bend one leg while the other remains extended. Slowly pull the bent leg towards your abdomen with both hands and as far as possible. Now stretch the bent leg as far as you can into the air. Switch legs and repeat the exercise 20 times per side.
Strong hands and fingers
For this exercise you can stand or sit.
Spread out a towel on the table. Place your palm on the table with the towel. Spread all your fingers and pull them together again. As you do this, part of the towel should come between your fingers as a small resistance. Squeeze the towel as hard as you can while pulling your fingers together. Repeat this exercise 10 times for strong hands and fingers.
Important: If you feel pain while doing these exercises, be sure to talk to your treating doctor or physiotherapist.
Rheumatism Cure
Thanks to major medical advances in research and therapy, inflammatory rheumatic diseases can nowadays be stopped and reduced, but not completely cured. Therefore, for many patients, the cure for rheumatism is a dream of the future and still has a great need for research.