Three Common Denominators for Arthritis and Rheumatism. 

Swelling, joints and pain characterize both conditions.  But these are the points where the similarities of the two conditions stop.  Arthritis, as the etymology of the word connotes,  (i.e., from the Greek word, “árthron “) means,  “joint”.  Rheumatism, on the other hand, hails from the Greek word for swelling,  “rheuma”.  Arthritis is a condition that is medically limited to chronic pain from swelling and stiffness of joints while Rheumatism refers to chronic pain from swelling of muscles, ligaments, joints and also internal organs like the heart, kidneys, lungs and skin.  So, the basic difference between arthritis and rheumatism is that arthritis is limited to the chronic pain and swelling of the joints whereas rheumatism covers organs on top of the joints, muscles and bones.  Rheumatism is an old medical term.  The modern medical term used is Rheumatic Disease.  Arthritis and its many forms fall under the bigger umbrella of Rheumatic Disease.  Rheumatic Disease often involves loss of function of the affected anatomy while Arthritis involves only joint pain, stiffness and/or damage.

The 2 most common conditions of arthritis are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.  Osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage cushioning the joints thin down causing the bones in the joints to rub together.  In Rheumatoid Arthritis, the synovial membrane that wraps the bones in the joint is often swollen with some occurrences of bone erosion.  Chronic pain in varying degrees is common to both forms of arthritis.  There are studies that show that arthritis could be acquired from either the genetic make up of the individual, a lifestyle that harbors a lot of stress, or some incidents of hormonal imbalances (as in the case of menopause among women), and infections. 

Arthritis cure is patient specific.  While there could be a variety of approaches to arthritis cures as there are as many forms of arthritis, the best specialists to consult would be either a rheumatologist or an orthopedic doctor to design the management cure of arthritis.  Cures for arthritis often include a plan that covers a prescription of painkillers, eating a healthy diet for weight management, and a program to ensure regular exercise and movement of the body.  With the prevailing concerns on side effects on the arthritis patient’s over being brought about by ingestion of chemical drugs, there is a growing trend towards exploring alternative and natural arthritis cures like acupuncture and massage therapy for arthritis pain management.

Arthritis is a degenerative disease and the over all objective is to find a cure for arthritis that would enable the patient to manage the pain, control the progression of the disease and minimize functional disability.