OTHER CONDITIONS LIKE ARTHRITIS
These are the same disorders that resemble arthritis.
BURSITIS AND TENDINITIS
Bursitis and Tendinitis result from irritation caused by injuring or overusing a joint. Bursitis affects a small sac that helps muscles more efficiently. Tendinitis affects the tendons that attach muscle to bone.
POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATIC (PMR)
This rheumatic disorder causes muscle pain, aching and stiffness in the neck and shoulders, lower back, thighs and hips. It can last a few months or many years. Most people experience severe stiffness in the morning.
FIBROMYALGIA
People with fibromyalgia feel pain and stiffness in muscles and tendons, especially in the neck and upper back. The pain can last for weeks, months or years. The symptoms may disappear by themselves. This condition often is related to sleep problems, poor conditioning, or an old injury. Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and tenderness in localized areas of the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips called ‘tender points.’ People with this syndrome may also experience sleep disturbances, morning stiffness, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and other symptoms. It primarily occurs in women of childbearing age, but children, the elderly and men may also be affected.
Although the cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, some scientists believe an injury or trauma may cause the syndrome. This injury may affect the central nervous system. Fibromyalgia may be associated with changes in muscle metabolism, such as decreased blood flow, causing fatigue and decreased strength. Others believe an infectious agent, such as a virus in susceptible people, may trigger the syndrome, but no such agent has been identified.
Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose because many symptoms mimic those of other diseases. Per the criteria, a person is considered to have fibromyalgia if they have widespread pain for at least three months in combination with tenderness in at least 11 of 18 specific tender point sites. Treatment of fibromyalgia requires a comprehensive approach. The physician, physiotherapist, and others in the medical support system, as well as the patient, may all play an active role in managing fibromyalgia. Studies have shown that aerobic exercise, such as swimming and walking, improves muscle fitness and reduces muscle pain and tenderness. Heat and massage may also give short-term relief. Anti-depressant medications may help elevate mood, enhance sleep quality and relax muscles. Fibromyalgia patients may benefit from exercise, medication, physical therapy and relaxation.
PAGET’S DISEASE
This is a type of disorder in which the calcium in bones spreads unevenly. The bones most commonly affected are in the lower back, pelvis, tailbone, skull, and long bones of the legs. It is slightly more common in men than in women. It often begins between the ages of 50 and 70. Back pain may be a symptom, but there are often no apparent symptoms. Paget’s disease is usually discovered on an X-ray or bone scan for reasons other than pain.
FOOD POISONING AND REITER’S SYNDROME
Food or water spoiled by salmonella or certain other bacteria can lead to arthritis called Reiter’s Syndrome. People who develop this rare arthritis seem to have a defect in their body’s defence system. This makes them more likely to develop arthritis in response to certain infections.