Rheumatic disease can develop in people of any age, sex or race. There are several different forms of rheumatic disease and some people are more susceptible to some than others. Some contributing factors to the disease includes genetics, environmental factors, gender and age.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of rheumatic disease vary depending on the type, but generally, people with arthritis experience pain and stiffness in the joints. Early detection and treatment is the key to helping prevent further joint damage and manage symptoms.

Types of Rheumatic Disease

• Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Bursitis
• Crohn’s Disease
• Gout
• Infectious Arthritis
• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)
• Polymyositis
• Psoriatic Arthritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
• Scleroderma
• Sjogren’s Syndrome
• Spondyloarthropathies
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
• Tendinitis

Ankylosing Spondylitis

A chronic, or long-lasting, disease that primarily affects the spine and may lead to stiffness of the back. The joints and ligaments that normally permit the back to move become inflamed. The joints and bones may grow (fuse) together.

Bursitis

This is a condition that causes pain and tenderness in the location of bursae, which are small fluid-filled sacs that reduce the friction between the bones and the moving structures.

Crohn’s Disease

Inflammation of the colon or small intestines.

Gout

More than 2 million Americans have gout, which is a type of arthritis where microscopic crystals of uric acid develop on the joints and cause inflammation, swelling and pain. This often occurs in the big toe.

Infectious Arthritis

This general term is used to classify forms of arthritis that develop as a result of an infection. Parvovirus arthritis and Lyme disease are examples of types of arthritis that occur as a result of either a bacterial or viral infection. Early detection is the key to minimizing potential joint damage.

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

This is the most common form of arthritis in children. Common symptoms include pain, stiffness, swelling and loss of function in the joints. It can also be accompanied with fevers or rashes on various parts of the body as well.

Osteoarthritis

OA is the most common type of arthritis that affects about 27 million adults in the United States alone. This chronic condition is characterized by the breakdown of the joint’s cartilage. Cartilage is the part of the joint that cushions the ends of the bones and allows easy movement of joints. The breakdown of cartilage causes the bones to rub against each other, causing stiffness, pain and loss of movement in the joint.  Patients who have been diagnosed with OA are generally cared for by an Orthopedic Specialist.

Osteoporosis

A condition that is characterized by a decrease in bone mass and density, causing bones to become fragile.

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

A condition that causes aching, severe muscle stiffness and pain in the tendons, muscles, ligaments and tissues around the joints in the shoulders, hips, neck and lower back. This can be the first indication of giant cell arteritis, which is a disease of the arteries.

Polymyositis

This rheumatic disease can affect the whole body causing inflammation and muscle weakness, ultimately causing disability.

Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation of the skin (psoriasis) and joints (arthritis). This often affects the joints at the end of the toes and fingers and can be accompanied by changes in the toenails and fingernails.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

RA is a chronic disease that affects about 1.3 million people in the United State. It is mainly characterized by inflammation of the lining, or synovium, of the joints. It can lead to long-term joint damage, resulting in chronic pain, loss of function and disability. RA most often affects the joints of the hands and feet and tend to occur equally on both sides of the body. This is a distinguishing factor from other forms of the disease.

Scleroderma

Also referred to as systemic sclerosis, this disease literally means “hard skin”. Scleroderma occurs when there is an abnormal and overproduction of collagen in the skin. It can affect the skin, blood vessels, joint and possibly internal organs, like the lungs and kidneys.

Sjogren’s Syndrome

An autoimmune disease that causes dry eyes and a dry mouth.

Spondyloarthropathies

This is a group of rheumatic disease that mainly affects the spine, but certain forms can also affect the hips, shoulders and knees. When the tendons and ligaments become inflamed, stiffness and pain occur. There are different forms of spondyloarthropathies that affect people at different ages and may be associated with other underlying conditions such as eye problems, skin rashes and mouth sores.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

SLE is a chronic (long-lasting) rheumatic disease which affects joints, muscles and other parts of the body. Lupus involves inflammation (the immune system’s response to kill foreign agents, virus, bacteria). More than a quarter of a million people are affected by lupus.

Tendonitis

Tendonitis is a condition where inflammation is present in the tendons that connect muscles to bone. It usually develops when these tendons are overused, injured or if there is a preexisting rheumatic condition. Symptoms usually include pain, tenderness and restricted movement.