RΗEUMATOLOGY CENTER limassol

If the pains are not serious and insufferable and are only of a few days duration then it is safe to assume that this is something transient . What happens though if the pain don’t pass and keep coming back?

Consult a rheumatologist if:

•  pain persists

•  the pain reappears in a few weeks

•  the pain prevents you from doing every day functions

•  If  one or more joints are swollen

 Before consulting a rheumatologist it would be good to note      down  some characteristics of the pain, such as:

•  when the problem started to and how much did it preoccupy you

•  whas there anything that made it worse or better( rest- exercise)

• if the pattern of pain changes during the day(ex worse in the      morning

•  if  pain killer s relief the pain or not

•  if anyone in the family has a similar problem

People with rheumatic disorders are those that have the most chronic burden of all. 14% of all the population of the E.U is affected by some kind of rheumatism or other  (103 million european citizens and 1.400.000 greek cit.).

The most common rheumatism(≥ 10%) is back pain and osteoarthritis. Less common disorders  (5%-9,9%) is osteoporosis, tendinitis and bursitis. Even less common (1%-4,9%) is gout, fibromyalgia and disc herniation . Rare diseases   (≤1%)  are rheumatoid arthritis, juvenille arthritis, and connective tissue disorders such as lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis vasculitis e.t.c.   The frequency of each disorder depends on age and gender.

The term rheumatology originates from the Greek word rheuma, meaning “that which flows as a river or stream,” and the suffix -ology, meaning “the study of.” Rheumatology can be considered a sub-specialty in internal medicine and pediatrics, devoted to the diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic diseases are diseases of inflammation and auto-immunity, such as arthritis, gout, lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, and Lyme disease.  Clnicians who specialize in rheumatology are called rheumatologists. Rheumatology has been a rapidly growing field owing much of its advancements to new scientific discoveries in immunology and genealogy of these disorders. Because the pathogenisis of many rheumatological diseases can be described by immunology, the major disorders are best explained as autoimmune. Correspondingly, most treatments and research in rheumotology are based on clinical research in immunology and of course the advancements in the understanding of genetics basis to rheumatological disorders. These advancements in rheumatology help patients with rheumatism lead a normal life. Rheumatism, a term referring to rhuematological ailments, is a non-specific term used to describe any painful disorder affecting the loco-motor system including joints, muscles, connective tissues, soft tissues around the joints and bones.  Rheumatology is an important clinical specialty recognized all over the world with specific clinician, “rheumatologists” as a more commonly established term.