Reiter’s disease
Reiter’s disease is a form of arthritis with urethritis. The infection of the urethra may not necessarily originate in sexual activity as cases following outbreaks of dysentery have been recorded. The manifestations of Reiter’s disease can occur in several ways though not necessarily all occurring in any particular patient. In many cases dysentery occurs and also lesions of the skins with a fever condition. The eyes are j sometimes affected as is the genito-urinary tract. This disease is more common in men than in women and is still of unknown cause. Probably the majority of cases do occur as a form of venereal disease but definitely not all. It is mentioned here to give an example of a form of arthritis which might not be recognized as such by many of us.
Ankylosing spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is the term used to denote an inflammatory arthritic condition of the spine. The causes of ankylosing spondylitis are not known but it is not restricted to the human animal. It would appear once again that this condition is more prominent in men than in women. A simple description of ankylosing spondylitis would be the seizing up of the lower spinal column due to a kind of fusion of the segments of the column. Although this condition does not seem to be as frequently mentioned as rheumatoid or osteoarthritis, it is in fact relatively common as a cause of back trouble in men. It is probably the most common cause of persistent back trouble in young men in their late teens and early twenties.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is characterized by pain, usually in the first three fingers of the hand, together with paresis (a form of paralysis), with the symptoms being worse at night. It is created by compression and pressure on the median nerve passing through the carpal tunnel beneath a strong ligament. The carpal tunnel runs through the bones in front of the wrist through which the finger tendons and the median nerve pass. There is not much room to spare in the tunnel and if inflammation and swelling of the lining occurs, pressure bears on the nerve. The paralysis of the fingers occurs as a result of this interference with the nerve.
Fibrositis
Fibrositis is the name generally used in relation to non-articular rheumatism of the strong spinal muscles of the back known as lumbago. The name lumbago originates from the fact that the muscles involved are the lumbar muscles. This condition is very common, particularly in men, and is quite distressing in nature as it often has psychological side-effects. Sufferers often feel frustrated and possibly even inadequate in that they are unable to carry out reasonably simple and] normal functions due to pain and stiffness in the back. They do not, however, manifest any outward physical symptoms. Such psychological stress factors are undesirable in any condition but perhaps much more so in arthritic conditions as will be discussed later in the book in more detail. Fibrositis is aggravated by cold and damp and also by sudden changes in conditions such as family worries, pre-examination nerves or change of employment. It is also influenced by the usual factors such as stress circumstances and physical position.
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