Some uncomfortable symptoms affecting the joint system are defined as rheumatism.
Almost always characterized by intense pain (only in motion or even from a standstill), stiffness and scarce general functionality, sometimes they radiate to muscle, tendon, ligament, bone and visceral level.
Rheumatism affects different sexes and age groups depending on the cause. In an absolute sense, the elderly are more involved.
Other predisposing factors are: autoimmune diseases, obesity, bone necrosis, fractures, osteomyelitis, etc.
Rheumatism should not be confused with symptoms of completely different pathologies such as: polymyositis, scleroderma, polymyalgia, etc.
Sometimes they are accompanied by redness, swelling and edema.
The remedies are preventive and palliative; it is very difficult for the triggering cause of rheumatism to completely recover.
What to do
- In the presence of overt family history (especially direct relatives), those who suspect they can contract certain diseases responsible for rheumatism (if possible) should adopt specific prevention. This may include:
- Motor activity.
- Diet.
- Early diagnosis: in some cases it is simple (for example in arthrosis), in others it is more complicated. Since rheumatism is fairly general symptoms, the first diagnosis can be wrong and lead to a specific cure.
- Problem resolution: again, it may vary depending on the trigger. Some diseases can be treated or blocked, others only include the control of inflammation and pain. The remedies can be divided into:
- Gym.
- Massages and physiotherapy.
- Natural interventions.
- Drugs.
- Surgical interventions.
What NOT to do
- Ignore the possible inheritance.
- Follow a sedentary lifestyle: mobility promotes lubrication of the joints, the mechanical stimulus of growth / maintenance and muscle support (lightening the joint itself).
- Practicing sports to the limit of reason: let's not forget that over the years the articular cartilages do not regenerate with the same efficiency.
- Do not follow specific therapies for some diseases:
- Diet: for example for diabetes and obesity.
- Drugs: for example for hyperuricemia / gout.
- In the acute phase, perform intense motor activities: they can trigger a more intense inflammatory process and require longer healing times, affecting the trophism of the muscular apparatus.
- Discard the occurrence of perennial treatment a priori.
- Refusing to practice specific gymnastics, massages, rehabilitation or to undergo surgery: the risk is to worsen the general condition and expose the other joints more to rheumatism.
What to eat
There is no diet against rheumatism, although certain metabolic pathologies can be controlled above all with food therapy.
In particular, the diet is necessary in case of:
- Hyperuricemia / gout: in the past we recommended very little purine diets, that is the molecules mainly responsible for the synthesis of uric acid. The latter, accumulating in the joints, gives rise to gout rheumatism. Today we tend to prefer more effective drug therapies and avoid drastic diets by keeping the weight under control.
- Diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2: decompensated diabetes is related to every type of disorder, including rheumatism. It is necessary:
- Take a diet that includes the minimum percentage of carbohydrates tolerated by the body.
- Consume portions with moderate glycemic loads.
- Prefer low-glycemic foods.
- Exclude foods rich in refined carbohydrates and increase the amount of total fiber.
- Obesity: also like diabetes predisposes to rheumatism. It correlates to an increase in inflammation in the blood, to an increase in joint load, to a greater predisposition for various pathologies, etc. It is necessary:
- Undertake a hypocaloric but balanced diet associated with the practice of motor activity.
In all cases, it is also advisable:
- Encourage the intake of essential omega 3 fatty acids: they are responsible for reducing systemic inflammation and fighting any kind of metabolic pathology. Rich in it are the blue fish (sardines, mackerel, bonito, alletterato etc.), the algae, some oil seeds (of flax, kiwi, grapeseed etc.) and related extraction oils.
- Optimize the intake of other anti-inflammatory molecules:
- Vitamins and minerals: vitamin A (vegetables and red-orange fruits, dairy products), vitamin C (sour fruit, peppers, lettuce), vitamin E (cereal germ and oil seeds), zinc and selenium (meat, liver, molluscs, dairy products ).
- Polyphenols: all vegetables, fruits, oilseeds, whole grains and legumes.
What NOT to Eat
There is no list of foods advised against.
However, it may be useful to avoid:
- Diets rich in preserved or cooked food only
- Monothematic diets.
- Vegan or purely carnivorous diets.
- Excess alcohol.
- Excess saturated fat: frankfurters, hamburgers, fatty cheeses, cream etc.
- Excess hydrogenated fats: sweet snacks, fries, other salty snacks, commercial baked goods etc.
- Excess of sweet foods: packaged and not packaged.
- Excess of omega 6 fatty acids compared to omega 3: they are mainly found in some seeds of dried fruit, which is why it is advisable to selectively increase omega 3 by taking specific fishery products and seeds / oils.
NB . The last four nutrient groups, if present in excess, tend to increase the inflammation parameters.
Natural Cures and Remedies
The natural remedies for rheumatism are of various kinds:
- Supplements: mainly based on omega 3 and gamma linolenic acid (non-essential omega 6). The reasons are the same as described in the "What to Eat" paragraph.
- Phytotherapy: based on the use of extracts or whole plants, it mainly has an anti-inflammatory role. The most used orally are:
- Boswellic acid.
- Curcumin.
- Devil's claw (not without side effects).
- Motor activity: regular, little intense, mixed type (aerobic and strength, weighted in relation to the case). It must be aimed at:
- Maintaining muscle efficiency.
- Joint mobility.
- Massages and physiotherapy: useful especially where motor activity is not well practicable due to: pain, lack of muscle tone, etc.
- Spa treatments and mud treatments: "wet" heat is beneficial for the joints. The medical reason is not clear, but both seem to relieve both inflammation and pain.
Pharmacological care
The pharmacological remedies for rheumatism change according to the pathology that triggers them.
The categories are:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: also called NSAIDs, they serve mainly to reduce inflammation and pain. They are taken orally. Some examples are:
- Paracetamol: for example Acetamol, Tachipirina, Sanipirina, Efferalgan, Normaflu.
- Ibuprofen: for example Brufen, Moment, Subitene.
- Naproxen: for example Aleve, Naprosyn, Prexan, Naprius.
- Indomethacin: for example Difmetre, Indom, Liometacen.
- etc.
- Opioid painkillers: when the pain is too intense. They are taken orally.
- Hydrocodone: for example Vicodin (not sold in Italy).
- Corticosteroids: used mainly in arthritis, they can have different side effects; however, they can slow down joint damage. The same function is not exercised by NSAIDs:
- Prednisone: for example Solprene, Deltamidrina.
- Dexamethasone: for example Soldesam, Decadron.
- etc.
- Immunomodulators and antiartritici: they tend to block the pathological degeneration of arthritis:
- Penicillamine: for example Sufortan.
- Hydroxychloroquine: for example Plaquenil.
- Chloroquine: for example Clorochina, Cloroc FOS FN.
- etc.
- Hyaluronic acid and chondroprotectors: to be taken orally, they should facilitate the maintenance of cartilage.
For application or local infiltration:
- Capsaicin: eg Qutenza. In ointment to be applied locally, it is used to reduce pain.
- Methylprednisolone acetate: for example Medrol, Urbason, Solu-Medrol. It is an infiltration of corticosteroids and is used mainly in the knee.
- Sodium hyaluronate: for example Artz injectable. It is an analgesic infiltration and is also used mainly in the knee.
Prevention
Prevention of rheumatism is rather limited.
The onset depends mainly on the genetic predisposition of the individual.
Nevertheless, both the moment of onset and gravity can differ according to behavioral and environmental variables.
It is necessary:
- Maintain a normal weight.
- Guarantee the overall nutritional status.
- Ensure good musculoskeletal efficiency.
- Monitor any other inflammatory diseases.
Medical treatments
Non-pharmacological medical treatments against rheumatism are specific to the causative agent.
The most used is the surgical one, which may be necessary above all in the presence of:
- Rheumatoid and gouty arthritis: when joint calcifications or uric deposits are such as to definitively prevent movement, and therefore must be removed.
- Osteoarthritis: to insert prostheses that replace the exhaustion of cartilage and / or bone necrosis.
- More rarely in other situations, but borderline cases and exceptions are not lacking.
