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jmendoza14@gmail.com - 19 Feb 2007 20:49 GMT

Are arthritis & rheumatism similar?
I am 90 and never had either until now.
I have pain in my ankles my thumb & one knee.
Thanks JM

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Harvey R. Stone - 20 Feb 2007 04:22 GMT

> Are arthritis & rheumatism similar?
> I am 90 and never had either until now.
> I have pain in my ankles my thumb & one knee.
> Thanks JM

And you are not too old to go to the doctor to get some good answers that
you can do something with,,,, like,,,, get better.

Harv

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spodosaurus - 20 Feb 2007 18:01 GMT

>> Are arthritis & rheumatism similar?
>> I am 90 and never had either until now.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Harv

Sound advice, but perhaps it could have been presented better. To JM,
yes, they can be similar. As Diane pointed out, there are quite a number
of different forms of arthritis. Given your age, many different forms
were probably lumped together as 'rheumatism' when you were in your
20's. Now there are a variety of treatments and ways to find out which
of the 170+ different types of arthritis may be affecting you, in order
to get the right treatment for you. You should see your general practice
doctor soon, and get a referral to a specialist called a rheumatologist.
Rheumatologists deal with arthritis, and you've probably noticed that
rheumatism and rheumatologist are similar words :-)

Regards,

Ari

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Diane - 20 Feb 2007 17:43 GMT

congratulations on reaching 90!

there are many, many different types of arthritis. to the best of my
knowledge, the word "rheumatism" is an old catch-all term that isn't
used much any more. the big distinction is between osteoarthritis and
rheumatoid arthritis.

osteoarthritis is mainly due to using the joint and often comes as
people age.

rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease that can strike at any age.
it usual involves bilateral joints (two ankles, two wrists, for
example). it can also affect other organs in the body.

then there are many other types of arthritis you could have, but (i am
NOT a doctor), at 90 i'm guessing you have the osteo version. your
doctor should be able to help you figure that out and prescribe the
right treatment. Osteoarthritis is usually treated with pain control
medication, but Rheumatoid arthritis requires a disease-modifying
medication as well.

Hope that helps,

diane

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Fire Chief - 20 Feb 2007 22:56 GMT

> Are arthritis & rheumatism similar?
> I am 90 and never had either until now.

RHEUMATISM [Gr. rheumatismos] A general, but somewhat archaic term
for acute and chronic conditions marked by inflammation, muscle
soreness
and stiffness, and pain in joints and associated structures.
It INCLUDES inflammatory arthritis (infectious, rheumatoid, gouty),
arthritis
due to rheumatic fever or trauma, degenerative joint disease,
neurogenic
arthropathy, myositis, bursitis, fibromyalgia, and many other
conditions.
SEE: arthritis; theumatic fever

acute articular r. Rheumatic fever
chronic r......
gonorrheal r......
inflammatory r.....
muscular r......
palindromic r.......
psychogenic r. An out-ofl-date and discredited term for
fibromyalgia.
soft tissue r........tennis elbor, Tietze's disease, tendinitis.....

... FIXATION: a gas station that still repairs cars.

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Janice Bolick - 21 Feb 2007 04:55 GMT

you are so lucky to have not been bothered by either for so long. take care
and i hope you can stay pain free
janice

> Are arthritis & rheumatism similar?
> I am 90 and never had either until now.
> I have pain in my ankles my thumb & one knee.
> Thanks JM

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