Dra. Marie Caroline Ruelle

Rheumatology deals with the locomotor system: the skeleton, muscles, tendons and the nerves that connect them to the brain, through the central nervous system, to produce movement.

There are two broad groups of rheumatological problems. The first is overuse and ageing: injuries caused by excessive load, such as those affecting the tendons, or simply by the passing of time. Everyone ages at a different rate, and having disc disease in the spine does not necessarily mean having pain: many patients with degenerative structures lead a normal life, depending on their age and the kind of work they do. The inactivity of screen-based jobs encourages these disorders, which is why she recommends regular physical activity such as moderate gym work, walking and stretching, which is also good for mental health.

The second group is inflammatory disease, such as gout, caused by excess uric acid, or rheumatoid arthritis, of autoimmune origin, which can appear spontaneously. In these cases she looks into the symptoms, the family history and earlier signs such as rashes or inflammation. Blood tests and other examinations help identify which type of rheumatism is involved, and the response to the first treatment gives information about how effective it is.

Nor does she overlook the patient's emotional state: pain is felt more intensely when there is sadness or pessimism, and mistrust of medication can hinder treatment. Open, honest communication between patient and doctor is therefore key to a successful outcome.