PATIENTS

Conditions

The Edinburgh Rheumatology Practice provides advice and treatment for a wide range of rheumatic conditions. We have provided a list below of the common ailments with introductory information and a link to further information.

Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory condition which affects the joints of the spine. AS is likely to cause pain and stiffness in the low back and buttocks hich is often worse first thing in the morning.
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Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), sometimes called ‘sticky blood syndrome’ may cause blood clots in arteries and veins and is a cause of miscarriages.
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Back Pain
Low back pain is very common and often may settle down by itself. More persistent back pain may require further investigation.
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is caused by pressure on the median nerve at the wrist and causes tingling and numbness in the hand, often worse at night.
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Fibromyalgia
Previously called fibrositis but perhaps better called soft tissue rheumatism. Does not cause structural damage but is nevertheless painful. A number of management strategies may help.
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Gout
A rheumatic disease recognised by the ancient Greeks. One of the most painful rheumatic conditions for which a range of treatments are available.
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Hypermobility
Being ‘double jointed’ or very flexible is very common, particularly in young women. Occasionally it may cause symptoms and specialist advice may be helpful.
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Lupus (SLE)
One of the ‘connective tissue diseases’ that may affect various parts of the body and thus may present with many different symptoms.
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Osteoarthritis
This booklet aims to help people who have osteoarthritis, and their families and friends. It helps you understand osteoarthritis - how it develops, and how to deal with it.
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Osteoporosis
The word 'osteoporosis' means, literally, 'porous bone'. It is a condition where you gradually lose bone material so that your bones become more fragile. As a result, they are more likely to break even after a simple fall. This booklet has been produced for anyone interested in finding out more about osteoporosis.
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Osteomalacia (Soft Bones)
Osteomalacia is a condition which affects the skeleton. It is is often, but not always, caused by lack of vitamin D. The people most often affected are the frail elderly and people of South Asian origin.
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Pain in the Neck
In this booklet we explain how the neck works and the common causes of neck pain and related conditions. We describe simple ways of dealing with neck pain as well as the main medical and complementary treatments.
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Paget's Disease of Bone
This booklet has been produced for anyone suffering from Paget's disease of bone. It explains what the condition is, how it is diagnosed, and how it can be treated.
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Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a condition in which you have many (poly) painful muscles (myalgia). It is common and very treatable with drugs known as corticosteroids (steroids). 
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Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis
'Myositis' means inflammation of the muscles. Polymyositis is a condition which affects mainly the larger muscles of the body, such as those around the shoulders, hips and thighs. This booklet also deals with dermatomyositis which causes a particular skin rash with muscle inflammation that is similar to polymyositis.
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Pseudogout and Calcium Crystal Diseases
This booklet explains how calcium crystals can cause sudden attacks of inflammation. When this happens in joints it is called 'pseudogout'. This literally means 'false-gout', so-called because the attack of inflammation resembles gout. This booklet describes how these short-lived painful attacks are investigated and treated. 
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Psoriatic Arthritis
This is a type of arthritis which causes inflammation in and around the joints, usually in people who already have the skin condition psoriasis. Sometimes, however, the arthritis develops before the psoriasis.
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Raynaud's Phenomenon
If you have Raynaud's phenomenon your hands, and sometimes your feet, change colour when exposed to cold conditions. This is often accompanied by pain, coldness and tingling. Typically the hands go white, then blue, then red as they warm up again.
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Reactive Arthritis
This booklet is for anyone who wants to find out more about reactive arthritis. You may be suffering from the condition yourself, or you may be a friend, relative or partner of someone with reactive arthritis. 
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Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome)
This booklet has been produced for anyone interested in finding out more about reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). Many people now prefer the term 'complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)' to 'RSD'.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis
This booklet aims to help people who have rhematoid arthritis, and their families and friends. It helps you understand rheumatoid arthritis - how it develops, and how to deal with it.
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Scleroderma
The word 'scleroderma' means 'hard skin'. However, many people with scleroderma have problems not only with their skin but with other parts of their bodies as well. The condition is also known as 'systemic sclerosis'.
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Sjögren's Syndrome
The most common symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome are dry eyes or a dry mouth (sometimes both together), and feeling very tired and aching. Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder, meaning that the body's immune system, which usually fights infections, attacks the body's own tissues.
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Shoulder Pain
This booklet explains why people get shoulder pain and discusses the usual conditions which cause problems. Most shoulder problems settle with simple treatments, but more complex treatments, such as arthroscopy and other forms of surgery, are also discussed. 
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Tennis Elbow
This condition, also known as 'lateral epicondylitis' can be caused by a variety of activities, of which is tennis is only one. It usually arises when the tendons coming from the muscle of the forearm become inflamed at the point where they join the elbow. Although it is painful it is not damaging, and there are usually no long-term effects.
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Vasculitis
Vasculitis means inflammation of the blood vessels.
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