Rheumatic Pain

Excerpt

Rheumatic symptoms (or rheumatism) are distinguished by the following seven characteristics: (1) pain or discomfort, usually perceived in the vicinity of one or more joints (including the spine); (2) pain on motion of the affected area(s); (3) soreness (to the touch) of the affected region(s); (4) stiffness of the affected part(s), especially after a period of immobility; (5) symptomatic improvement after mild exercise, but worsening after vigorous exercise; (6) symptomatic worsening in response to climatic factors, especially falling barometric pressure and rising humidity; and (7) symptomatic improvement in response to warming the affected area(s). Not all rheumatic pain syndromes have all seven characteristics, but most will at least have the first four.