Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-10
Ez47uRz Rcz
How to
STOP KILLING
YOURSELF
Rheumatism Is Wostebosket Term
By DR.. PETER J. sTEINcRoHN

Dear DR.. Steincrohn: am q
53-year-old housewife who has
suffered from rheumatism for a
long time. l have aches and
pains all over. When get up
am stiff and it takes quite a
while for the joints to become
fabricated.
Sometimes it's my shoulders
that bother me. At other times
the pain is In my knees and hips,
I am frank to admit that l have
gone to a doctor only once for
advice. / did not return when
he said ! would have to come in
for a series of injections. can't
afford that kind of treatment.
Besides, have heard that
some of the modern treatments
for rheumatism are harmful.
have a friend who was taking
'steroid therapy' and was told
to stop it by stomach specialist.
The doctor said that was what
was causing her stomach ulcer to
bleed.
From what I can observe,
rheumatism seems to have most
doctors backed up against a wall.
In other words, you have done
wonderful work with pneumonia
diabetes, and other such condi-
tons; but rheumatism seems to
have you stumped. l wonder if
you might have some suggestions
something l could take in pill
form-that would help all these
aches and pains that rheuma-
tisnt causes. Thank you.-Mrs
L. L. L."
Answer: For hundreds of years
we doctors have been Jumping all
aches and pains together and
calling them rheumatism. Weare
to blame for your loose thinking
on the subject. In Live Longer
and Enjoy IT." my recently pub
hshed book. I try to dispel such
misconceptions in a chapter
called: Rheumatism Is Vast
basket Term.
Let me quote two sentences
from that chapter. Reading them
may start some of you unfortu-
nate "rheumatics" on the re-
eovery road: If your doctor has
recently made a diagnosis of
rheumatism in your case, it is
not being unfair for you to ask
him, Just which kind of arthri-
tbs have 1 got?' Your improve
ment and comfort will depend
upon correct. specific diagnosis. -
Just what does that mean?
Keep remembering this. Your
doctor cannot treat you efficiently
and effectively unless he is able
to categorize your aches and
pains. When he calls it rheu-
'matism. and let's is 60 at that, he
has fallen far short of the true
diagnosis. 1t is for this reason
that most doctors now try to "di-
agnose" your rheumatism pains
rather than be content with the
sloppy nomenclature of rheuma-
tism.
For example, suppose you go
to a physician complaining of a
knee or wrist that becomes hot,
painful and swollen every few
months. You are apparently well
otherwise. In the old days he
might consign your symptoms to
the wastebasket of rheumatism
and let it go at that. You might
be asked to apply wet dressings
and take aspirin or something
like it. He might not even sug-
gest an X-ray.
What is the modern procedure?
The doctor first makes the gen.
eral. tentative diagnosis of ar
Thrills. But he is not satisfied
with that. He must narrow it
down more. He asks himself
what type of artritiS is it? Is
1t rheumatic fever? Is it osteoar-
Thrills? Is it rheumatoid ar
Thrills? Is it govt?
Then he proceeds to make
various Investigations. In adj
dition to the physical examina-
ton of the affected joints, he
takes a careful history of your
complaints. For instance, in the
case Of your swollen kim or wrist,
he is intrigued that the trouble
lights up" only a few times a
year. In the intervals, you have
no Joint complaints at all. He
becomes suspicious. Rheumatic
fever doesn't act that way.
Neither does rheumatoid ar
Thrills OF osteoarthritis. That
leaves govt as the suspicious
character
But can govt occur in the
knee or wrist? 1t can. The toe,