Rheumatoid Awareness Day, Not Arthritis Day

I was wrong. Tuesday was not Rheumatoid Arthritis Day, it was Rheumatoid Awareness Day. This was started in 2013 by the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation. For 2016, they asked people to select one of their Rheumatoid Disease Facts and blog about it. 

In addition to the fact that I was wrong about Rheumatoid Awareness Day, I was also not aware that rheumatoid arthritis is only one symptom of rheumatic disease. 

So I did a little research. Here is a full list of all the other rheumatic diseases with a brief look below.

• Bursitis. A condition involving inflammation of the bursae (small, fluid-filled sacs that help reduce friction between bones and other moving structures in the joints) that produces pain and tenderness and may limit the movement of nearby joints.
• Fibromyalgia. A chronic disorder characterized by the presence of tender points—points on the body that are painful upon the application of pressure—and widespread muscle pain.
• Gout. A type of arthritis resulting from deposits of needle-like crystals of uric acid in the joints, usually beginning in the big toe. 
• Infectious arthritis. A general term used to describe forms of arthritis that are caused by infectious agents such as bacteria or viruses. 
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The most common form of arthritis in childhood, causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function of the joints. 
• Polymyalgia rheumatica. A condition involving tendons, muscles, ligaments, and tissues around the joint that causes pain, aching, and morning stiffness in the shoulders, hips, neck, and lower back. 
• Polymyositis. A rheumatic disease that causes inflammation and weakness in the muscles. The disease may affect the whole body and cause disability.
• Scleroderma. A condition in which an excessive production of collagen leads to thickening of and damage to the skin, blood vessels, joints, and sometimes internal organs such as the lungs and kidneys.
• Spondyloarthropathies. A group of rheumatic diseases that principally affects the spine. 
• Systemic lupus erythematosus. An autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body's own healthy cells and tissues.
• Tendinitis. Inflammation of tendons that is caused by overuse, injury, or a rheumatic condition and may restrict movement of nearby joints.

Here is the list of the rheumatic diseases that I have:

Arthritis

Bursitis

Fibromyalgia

Tendinitis

But I had no idea that all these other diseases were considered to be rheumatic diseases. But now I have learned and I hope others can learn as well.