Soft Tissue Rheumatism

What is Soft Tissue Rheumatism

A group of conditions affecting the tendons, ligaments and surrounding soft tissues that can cause pain and inflammation.

Soft Tissue Rheumatism is a condition that relates to swelling, inflammation and pain of the tendons, ligaments, fascia and bursae. This is a common condition that can affect people at any time but it is commonly associated with injury or overuse such as play or work activities. The condition can disappear over time but the condition can become more problematic in others which means that medical intervention is required.

Diagnosing Soft Tissue Rheumatism

Assessment of symptoms, examination and tests to identify inflammation affecting the soft tissues.

The condition can prove difficult to diagnose as the symptoms can be associated with several other conditions. Therefore, it is important to ensure that these conditions are ruled out. Your doctor will begin by asking you certain questions about the problem such as how long it has existed, the severity of the pain and where the area of the pain is located.

After this, they will carry out a physical examination where they will feel the problematic soft tissue and determine the range of movement. You might be asked to have some blood tests to rule out other problems while you could be sent for an MRI scan, X-Ray or an ultrasound scan.

Treating Soft Tissue Rheumatism

Treatment focuses on reducing inflammation, relieving pain and restoring normal movement.

Patients might be told to rest the affected area while additional support aids might be required to help ease the strain and the movement of the affected area. Physiotherapy might be used to help reduce the swelling while also working on exercised to keep the soft tissue active in order to prevent further injury.

Pain killers can be prescribed including Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs to help ease the inflammation. In some cases, patients might be given a corticosteroid in the form of an injection or a tablet as this will help to reduce swelling and improve movement.

Managing Soft Tissue Rheumatism

Home management strategies such as rest, gentle exercises and heat or cold therapy can help ease symptoms.

Patients can also manage the condition at home. To do this, they might be given a number of exercises to complete at home, while also being told to rest when required in order to not overuse the soft tissue.

Hot and cold packs can be used to ease the pain and also reduce the swelling.