• Home
• Columnist
• Videos
• Artist
  • Musicians
  • Actors
  • Comedians
• Notable Nigerians
• Legend Dies
• Articles
  • Nigeria Articles
• Photos
• Submit Article

The difference between the two is only a thin line. Here is how you can tell

Mary Akpan, 41, a petty trader, who resides at the Ipaja area of Lagos State, has never slept well since the beginning of this year’s rainy season.  The pains she experiences in her kneel and other joints have been a source of worry for her. Even though it has become a yearly occurrence, all her efforts to figure out the real problem have so far not yielded positive results. “During the rainy season, the pains become more severe. It even becomes worse whenever I sit down for a long time, coupled with the fact that I don’t indulge in any form of exercise,” Akpan told Newswatch.

  Unknown to Akpan and others with similar experience, they are suffering from rheumatism.  According to health experts, the disease is a chronic and painful disorder that affects the joints, arms and legs, leaving them swollen and inflamed.  It afflicts sufferers mostly during the rainy season.  Its symptoms include swollen legs and extremely painful body aches, which are rampant during cold and rainy seasons. 

  Most sufferers of rheumatism mistake their ailment to be arthritis and in the process administer wrong drugs.

While arthritis applies to a large number of diseases which affect the joints, rheumatism is the general name given to diseases which cause pain and stiffness of joints, bones, tendons or ligaments. Rheumatism does not necessarily affect the joints. For example, a form of rheumatism commonly called fibrositis, is an illness usually involving the muscles. Bursitis, another form of rheumatism, is an inflammation of a small sac between the tendon and bone or between the muscles.

Arthritis, on the other hand, includes at least 25 different diseases. The most common forms are osteoarthritis (sometimes called degenerative joint disease), rheumatoid arthritis and gout. In addition to attacking joints, these illnesses may also strike neighbouring structures such as muscles or even distant parts of the body such as heart, kidneys, lungs and liver.

Osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease is the form which often affects older people. As one gets older, the joints just wear out. This often happens along with some softening of the bones. This softening of the bones is called osteoporosis and it often affects older women. Children also may suffer from rheumatic diseases. 

Emmanuel Aliu, a doctor with the Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Niger State, explained that the stiffness going on in the body during this period is due to Reynaud phenomenon, which comes as a result of decrease in blood vessels caused by cold and emotional stress. “Reynaud phenomenon is a disorder that causes discolouration of the fingers, toes, and occasionally, other areas of the body.  But the case with arthritis is different because it is prone to climatic conditions like rainy or dry season. It only comes with old age and family history,” he said

  Aliu explained that patients with rheumatism experience stiffness of joints on the affected part mostly in the morning and this is often aggravated by cold. Aliu advised persons with rheumatism or arthritis to visit the hospital regularly take their medication often and wear heavy clothing like cardigan constantly, to protect their body.

   But is there a common cure for rheumatism and arthritis? Medical experts believe that the two diseases cannot be cured, but the heart and blood vessels of sufferers could be protected if diagnosed early and treated on time. Most drugs like disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, used in treating rheumatism and arthritis inhibit inflammation all over the body and do not only relieve damage and pain in the joints, but also prevent the possibility of cardiovascular diseases.

  In order to avoid aggravating rheumatoid attacks, experts advise household items like chairs and shelves arranged properly to reduce the risk of falling. People with fragile bone fracture, especially those above 50 years are advised to get bone density test, and also eat healthy foods with high level of calcium which can be found in milk, green vegetables, soya beans, yogurt, cheese and fortified orange juice.

 Exercise is also crucial. Children and teenagers are advised to exercise for at least one hour daily to build strong bones, while adults should walk or climb stair cases for at least 30 minutes daily, to strengthen their bones. People are also advised to take periodic breaks when involved in manual labour, and avoid twisting, gripping or clenching their hands repeatedly. They should also drink tea that helps in the treatment of bone disease caused by rheumatism and arthritis which are available over the counter.