Things to Know About Arthritis Care (Part 2)
Here are some of the rheumatic diseases commonly seen in primary care practice. Soft tissue or non-articular problem is the most common, and is usually “benign”.
Among the articular conditions that are most common include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout,
The rest of the diseases, though less common, may be considered important diseases seen in primary care practice, because they can be potentially disabling or can cause death.
There are three categories worth considering in primary care:
• Arthritis-rash syndromes
• Chronic rheumatic diseases
• Serious rheumatic diseases
The following diseases – soft tissue rheumatism, osteoarthritis, gout – are primarily considered under “ambulatory rheumotology”, since these are either localized/non-systemic, self-limiting.
Soft tissue rheumatism, or non-articular/peri-articular syndromes, are structure(s) around the joint.
The causes of soft tissue rheumatism include:
• Overuse or injury
• Incorrect posture
• Structural abnormalities
• Associated with arthritides
• An infection
• Unknown reasons
There are several causes of soft tissue rheumatism. Knowing the exact cause usually comes after treatment decisions.