Soft-tissue rheumatism

Soft-tissue rheumatism is a disease that many people struggle with and is difficult to diagnose. A high sensitivity to pain, exhaustion and a number of concomitant symptoms make everyday life of those affected extremely difficult. We at the Saxon State Spas give you an overview of the disease and explain the symptoms and causes. You learn about the positive effects radon can have as a natural remedy in the treatment of soft-tissue rheumatism. We also show you ways in which you do not need to give anything up, despite your disease.  

 

[Translate to english:] Was ist Weichteilrheuma

What is soft-tissue rheumatism?

Soft-tissue rheumatism is often used as a collective term for problems and complaints of soft, i.e. non-bony, structures of the locomotor system. Muscles, tendons, tendon sheaths and attachments, ligaments, bursae, fatty and connective tissue, nerves and vessels are affected. The disease is chronic and breaks out either suddenly or slowly and inconspicuously. Initially, symptoms of soft-tissue rheumatism appear sporadically, only with time does a holistic clinical picture emerge. A distinction is made between generalised and localised soft-tissue rheumatism:

  • In the generalised syndrome, pain in the soft-tissues occurs in almost the entire body. This is also known as chronic pain or fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).
  • As soon as the pain is limited to a certain part of the body, we speak of regional or localised soft-tissue rheumatism.

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a rheumatic disease. For this reason, it is also treated with a focus on rheumatology. Both soft-tissue rheumatism and fibromyalgia syndrome will be discussed below, as there is a strong overlap in terms of therapy and symptoms.

[Translate to english:] Symptome bei Weichteilrheuma

What are the symptoms of soft-tissue rheumatism?

The list of symptoms is long. There are over 100 known complaints. We show which ones there are.

Many of the symptoms listed also occur in similar diseases, which is why it is difficult in most cases to distinguish between them. For this reason, soft-tissue rheumatism must be detected via the tender points already mentioned.

Distinctive symptoms

The symptoms of soft-tissue rheumatism are very similar to the somewhat better-known fibromyalgia (fibre-muscle pain). Typical complaints are pain at certain pressure points, which are often described as burning, cutting, dull or even drilling. In technical terminology they are known as “triggers or tender points”. These are usually located close to the joints at the transition points between different muscles and tendons - for example in the neck and shoulder muscles. If pressure is exerted on these areas, the patient has to struggle with severe pain. If the patient reacts to less than 11 painful pressure points, there is no fibromyalgia, but general soft-tissue rheumatism.

Other symptoms of soft-tissue rheumatism are mainly exhaustion, muscle weakness, tiredness and sleep disorders. The lack of sleep results in a constant lack of concentration. Severe headaches and even migraines are also side effects. Heart pain is also not an atypical complaint. One consequence and accompanying factor of the constant pain is mental stress. Whether it is increased anxiety, severe mood swings or depression - the range is very pronounced.

Accompanying symptoms

In addition to characteristic symptoms, there are also a number of accompanying symptoms that frequently occur in patients. This includes, among other things, a disturbance of the vegetative nervous system, which manifests itself through increased sweating and hand trembling. The affected people often complain of sensitivity to cold, dizziness and other circulatory problems.

Gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhoea and nausea are also often diagnosed in conjunction with soft-tissue rheumatism. Women have to cope with increased menstrual pain. A disturbance of the cardiovascular system such as palpitations and shortness of breath is also not uncommon.

 

[Translate to english:] Ursachen von Weichteilrheuma

Causes of soft-tissue rheumatism

Research into the causes of soft-tissue rheumatism and fibromyalgia has increased greatly in recent years. However, there are still no clear conclusions regarding certain causes associated with the development of soft-tissue rheumatism. Scientists believe that various factors influence the development of the disease.

But why is it that triggers are difficult to research? The reason for this is that many people suffer not only from soft-tissue rheumatism or fibromyalgia but also from other painful diseases and psychological stress. As a result, symptoms are often not clearly traceable.

The causes of this complex disease are, for example, overstraining of the musculoskeletal system and over-stimulation of the nervous system. Infectious diseases (often influenza), excessive stress situations and genetic factors are also on the list of possible causes. However, hormonal changes and an imbalance in the hormone balance can also lead to characteristic soft-tissue rheumatic pain.

This is supplemented by an incorrect diet, disorders of the immune system and metabolism, psychological trauma and damage to small nerve fibres.

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Treatment of soft-tissue rheumatism with radon

Stellen Sie Symptome von Weichteilrheuma fest?

Radon – Das natürliche Heilmittel hilft!

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Drinking treatments with radon

During the drinking treatment, the radon mineral healing water enters the body through the gastrointestinal tract and thus unfolds its naturally gentle effect. The healing water is drunk regularly over a longer period of time for therapeutic purposes. The duration, amount and time of drinking is determined by the spa doctor. Especially the “Wettinquelle” with approx. 24,000 Bq/l radon is considered the strongest radon spring in the world.

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Spa treatments with radon

Natural healing water is created by the slow infiltration of rain water through different geological layers of rock. During this process it is cleaned, filtered and enriched with minerals and trace elements. In this enriched deep water, carbon dioxide is released by solidified magma from past volcanic activity. The noble gas radon is formed from the radium contained everywhere in the earth’s crust. The Bad Brambach mineral springs receive their health-promoting radon content from the Fichtelgebirge granite. All sources are strictly checked according to the Medicines Act.

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Diagnosis: soft-tissue rheumatism

As complaints and signs of disease are very varied, it is not easy to detect soft-tissue rheumatism or even fibromyalgia. It usually takes several years before the pain of the affected person finally gets a name. For this reason, there is no routine diagnosis. Each case of disease can manifest itself differently.

Overview of manifestations of soft tissue rheumatism

The shoulder is the most flexible joint in the human body, but also the most unstable. This can be attributed to the poor fit of the two bony parts of the joint. During a movement, the large, spherical head of the humerus meets the smaller, flat sockets of the shoulder joint. Typical manifestations include rotator cuff lesion, impingement syndrome and frozen shoulder.

Soft tissue pain around the hip joint can have various causes, such as mechanical overload, injury, inflammation or a metabolic disorder. The complaints are known under the collective term periarthropathia coxae, which can indicate incipient arthrosis of the hip joint. Both men and women of all ages can be affected.

People who suffer from soft tissue rheumatism often also have problems with their hands and elbows. The symptoms can be tennis elbow, snap finger or tendonitis on the thumb side of the wrist.

The knee has various functions. It functions as hinge, lever and shock absorber. Due to its versatile functions, there are also numerous soft tissue rheumatic knee problems. These include: Jumper’s knee, iliotibial ligament syndrome, anterior knee pain syndrome, shin splints, heel spur and problems with the Achilles tendon.

Diagnosemöglichkeiten

The first contact person is usually the family doctor. However, he can refer the patient to a specialist if various causes of the disease have to be excluded. These are usually rheumatologists, orthopaedists or psychiatrists.

First, the examining doctor looks into the patient’s previous medical and family history. He asks about pain-sensitive areas of the body and how much the health problems affect everyday life. The doctor also asks about taking current medication.

This is followed by physical examinations. Rheumatologists follow the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). In Germany, the criteria catalogues of Müller and Lautenschläger are used as a reference. Both guidelines consider 18 defined pressure points, the so-called tender points. The doctor presses with his fingers on the areas around the muscles and tendons.

In addition, a series of blood tests and, if necessary, X-rays will be carried out. However, these only help to rule out other diseases that have similar symptoms. These include above all inflammatory and degenerative rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or arthrosis, bacterial or virus infections and thyroid diseases.

Risk factors of soft-tissue rheumatism

Genetic factors are also likely to play a role in the development of the disease. So if one parent or first-degree relative suffers from fibromyalgia syndrome or soft-tissue rheumatism, there is an increased risk of becoming ill themselves. However, a specific gene responsible for the hereditary transmission has not yet been identified. There are also a number of indicators such as biological and psychosocial factors that explain a disease.

The clinical picture can be influenced by a variety of external factors. Some can be influenced, others cannot.

  • weather change, humid-cold weather
  • psychological stress - caused by conflicts in the family, at work or through death
  • physical and sexual abuse in early childhood and adulthood
  • depressions
  • lack of sleep
  • physical overload
  • injuries
  • overweight
  • unhealthy lifestyle such as increased cigarette consumption
  • severe previous diseases
  • incorrect posture
  • weakened ligaments in the joints

Questions around soft-tissue rheumatism

Complaints can occur in different parts of the body. Typical diagnoses are for example: Impingement syndrome, periarthropathia coxae, snap finger, tenosynovitis, iliotibial band syndrome and heel spur.

In principle: Your diet should fit your lifestyle - and above all taste good. Have a balanced nutrition so that your body receives all the important nutrients. Your diet should include plenty of fruit and vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids.

In addition to the radon therapy, other specific treatments can be performed. These include:

  • manual techniques such as trigger point therapy = pressing and stretching of painful areas in the muscles
  • local infiltrations = injection of liquid drugs into the affected tissue
  • extracorporeal shock wave therapy = aligned pressure waves destroy painful joint deposits
  • autologous blood Injectio

On average, women are nine times more likely to suffer from soft tissue rheumatism than men.

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact number of people affected, as many cases have not been diagnosed or have not yet been diagnosed. In 2018, there were about 1.5 million people in Germany who will have to live with the disease. This corresponds to about two percent of the population.

The number of unreported cases is certainly much higher. Soft tissue rheumatism is considered relatively unknown in society.

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