What should I do if I have rheumatism?

Common methods to relieve rheumatic discomfort:

1. General treatment: Patients in the acute phase with fever or internal organ involvement should rest in bed, and may engage in appropriate exercise during recovery. Patients with limited mobility of the spine, thorax, or hip joints should maintain proper sitting and standing postures, and avoid heavy physical labor and strenuous activities.

2. Medication therapy: This forms the basis for treating rheumatic diseases and mainly includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticoids, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and biologic agents. These medications help reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, and control disease progression.

3. Physical therapy: Patients with disuse muscle atrophy, reduced smooth muscle tone, or soft tissue adhesions may benefit from electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, and ultrasound treatments. These therapies can stimulate nerves and muscle tissue, improve blood circulation, prevent adhesions, and provide pain relief.

4. Surgical treatment: When the condition is severe, joints are significantly deformed, and medication proves ineffective, surgical options such as synovectomy or joint replacement surgery may be considered.