Bursitis, Tendinitis, and Other Soft Tissue Rheumatic Syndromes.
Last updated Thursday, February 10, 2005
SymptomsAnatomy Soft tissue rheumatic syndromes may affect the areas around the joints
of the shoulders, chest elbows, wrists fingers, hips, back, knees,
ankles, and feet.Initial symptoms Pain is the main symptom of soft tissue rheumatic syndromes. Because
the structures affected are located near the joint, moving the joint
can be extremely painful and may be extremely difficult. Some
conditions may cause redness, warmth, or swelling in the affected area.
If fever, chills, persistent redness, or swelling occur in a person
with soft tissue rheumatic syndrome, the person should see a doctor
immediately to rule out infection. Specific symptoms and causes depend
on which areas are affected.Diagnosis A doctor can make a diagnosis of a soft tissue rheumatic syndrome based
on a physical exam and a medical history. A doctor will want to know
when the pain was first felt, how intense the pain was, where it was
located, and if any new physical activities had been started recently.Progression Most of these conditions occur suddenly, may last for days, weeks,
or longer, and then go away. They can occur again in the same place or
in other parts of the body. Many of the syndromes go away on their own
time.
Conditions with similar symptoms Because the structures affected by soft tissue rheumatic syndromes
are near joints, pain in these areas may be mistaken for arthritis. The
difference is that arthritis means inflammation in the joint itself,
not in the structures around the joint.
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