Arthritis

A group of diseases that affect the joints but can also affect other body tissues and organs is called arthritis. If only one joint is affected, it is monoarthritis; in oligoarthritis 2–5 joints are affected, while polyarthritis affects more than 5 joints.

The basic signs that point to the disease are pain, swelling and changes in colour, shape and function. Arthritis can develop spontaneously, or it can be caused by various infectious, metabolic or traumatic changes during a person's life. Primary arthritis has no known cause, while secondary arthritis has a known cause. Based on the examination and a detailed history built on targeted questions, a rheumatologist may suspect the cause at the very first appointment, but usually the diagnostic findings need careful consideration and analysis, and time will show the direction in which the disease is developing. The targeted questions and your answers should not be guided by internet searches or fear, as this makes it harder for your rheumatologist to make an objective decision about further tests and treatment.

The symptoms and signs are numerous and often non-specific, yet they are exactly what helps the rheumatologist detect the disease: morning stiffness, headache, dry mucous membranes, changes in the mucous membranes and/or skin, hair loss, photosensitivity, and problems with the eyes and/or internal organs, digestion, or the respiratory or genitourinary system. The medical history often includes miscarriages and inability to conceive, fever with or without infection, loss of appetite and weight, and night sweats. Besides painful and swollen joints, which may or may not be present, many symptoms in various organ systems can also be a sign of an inflammatory rheumatic disease – arthritis.

See your doctor, or go directly to a rheumatologist, so that after the examination and tests the right treatment can be chosen – physiotherapy, medication or another therapy.