Section 1 General Aspects.- 1 Introduction.- Importance of rheumatology in practice.- Classification of rheumatic disorders.- Frequency of rheumatic disorders in family practice.- The outcome and prognosis of rheumatic diseases.- 2 Some illustrative problems.- Ankylosing spondylitis.- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.- Pain and paraesthesiae in arms.- The acute back.- The painful foot.- A gouty attack.- The painful hip.- A knee effusion.- Laboratory investigations.- The acute neck.- Helpful organizations.- Polymyalgia rheumatic.- Early rheumatoid arthritis.- The painful shoulder.- Tennis elbow.- 3 Diagnosis and assessment of rheumatic disorders.- Symptoms, signs and their diagnostic significance.- X-rays and laboratory investigations.- Early diagnosis: indications for referral for further opinion.- 4 Effect of the psyche on rheumatism.- Assessment of the ‘psychological overlay’.- Psychological and emotional disturbance: their manifestations in rheumatology.- pure — psychogenic rheumatism.- 5 Basic management of arthritis and rheumatism.- Pain relief.- Disease activity and its reduction.- Improvement of mobility and function.- Analgesics.- Anti-inflammatory drugs.- Practical procedures in family practice.- Physiotherapy.- Occupational therapy and rehabilitation.- Section 2 The Common Rheumatic Disorders.- 6 Soft-tissue (non-articular) rheumatism.- Classification.- Clinical varieties and treatment.- 7 Osteoarthritis.- Aetiology and pathology.- Clinical varieties.- Management in family practice.- Management in hospital.- 8 Rheumatoid arthritis.- Early recognition.- Complications.- Differential diagnosis.- Management of the early case in practice.- Hospital management.- Rheumatoid arthritis in children and the elderly.- 9 Ankylosing spondylitis and seronegative spondarthritis.- Concept of seronegative spondarthritis.- Ankylosing spondylitis.- Clinical features.- Management in practice.- 10 Gout and crystal deposition arthritis.- Crystal deposition arthritis: clinical varieties.- Gout: investigation of patients.- Treatment of gout.- Investigation and treatment of chondrocalcinosis.- Section 3 Regional Pain Syndromes.- 11 Pain in the neck and back.- Common causes of pain.- Investigation of neck pain syndromes.- Treatment of neck pain syndromes.- Investigation of low back pain.- Treatment of low back pain.- 12 Pain syndromes of the upper limb.- Causes of pain.- Diagnosis and treatment of pain.- 13 Pain syndromes of the lower limb.- Causes of pain.- Diagnosis and treatment of pain.- Causes of painful feet.- Section 4 Appendix.- Glossary of rheumatic disorders.- Further reading.
