The treatment of rheumatism depends on the underlying disease that causes it. The diagnosis is determined through a physical exploration, different blood analyses and radiographies. Also it can be useful the Computed Axial Tomography (CAT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The major part of the cases of non-articular rheumatism improves by themselves or before the obliged rest that keeps because of the pain.
The articular forms of rheumatism usually result more serious and extended than non-articular forms. To treat them it’s necessary a long term therapy and rest. In some cases are used injections of cortisone and analgesics in the affected joint, combined with an appropriate physiotherapy.

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS:
You have to avoid the overweight and keep inside your ideal weight because the overweight and/or the obesity are factors that predispose and definitively aggravate this condition. To greater corporal weight, major effort in your spine that can be ill-fated; therefore you have to avoid the excess of weight and if it’s necessary to follow a slimness regime.
Avoid overweight to not bother the joints
Don’t force the joints in sports of competition; don’t mistreat the joints (shoes with high heel); don’t keep them in situations of fatigue (bad postures) or much extended rest. For its maintenance, practice a complete sport as walking, ride in bicycle, swim; the simple fact of running during 10 or 15 minutes, for example, it has a beneficial effect for the joints of the knees; the joint cartilage acquires firmness, it’s better irrigated and, therefore, better fed. And, if a bad day you suffer an accident, you will have more possibilities to recovery.
Avoid strong exercises that mistreat the joints
Take hot baths of steam in the joints and all the body. In the night you can use a cold compress on the abdomen and the kidneys. Also you can take sun baths with a lot of frequency, if not you can do baths with infra-red lamps. Take baths of immersion in a tub of hot water, with infusions of pine, rosemary and camomile daily and half hour, preferable before sleeping or in fast. It’s advisable the thermal baths.

It’s good to take steam baths to relieve rheumatic

pains
From the point of view technical, with the electrotherapy, the thermal cures, you can get a real relief, as well as fight better against the evolution of the disease, if it has stayed all the life passive and sedentary. For the articular pains that causes the “rheumatism” is a disease of the movement; the physical inactivity can translate in a sclerosis of the ligaments or in a diminution of the muscular tone (hypotonia). You have to keep a balance between the phases of activity and inactivity combining harmoniously the rest and the physical exercise.

To do daily exercises appropriate to relax the

muscles
You have to keep in good shape your muscles and ligaments doing sport and/or gymnastics of flexibility. Exercise yourself because physical activity protects the joints when you fortify the muscles that round them. Strong muscles will avoid that joints have too much friction between them wearing the joint cartilage. It’s important that you don’t try to exercise in a violent or extended way only weekends, because the benefit of the exercise is for the constancy with itself more than the intensity with which it practices. There isn’t any study that demonstrates that an athlete of high performance has better health than a person who exercises frequently and moderately. Always that you realizes a new physical activity, do it gradually to avoid injuries. When you exercise, use the necessary equipment of protection. It’s not good to be in uncomfortable postures; neither raises excessive weights, nor stays during a lot of time in the same position. You must have a good posture. Sitting right will take off pressure to the joints of the neck, back, hip and knees.
Use your biggest joints for the movements that require major strength or effort. When you raise or carry objects, try to use the big joints (knees) that do the effort and not the little joints (vertebras) that do the exercise.
Rest, relax in an appropriate way. The alternating periods of great effort with appropriate periods of rest will decrease the wear that can cause the osteoarthritis.
Ask for help. It isn’t worth to acquire an injury simple for not asking for help. Something helpful is in occasions the difference between a well-done work and a badly done work; between an injury and between keeping the health; between an accident and a labor done with security.
Cleaning of intestines with hot water enema: In the case of acute rheumatism, the intestines should be cleaned daily with a hot water enema during the first three or four days of fast of juice.
Apply heat and hot clothes to the affected pieces: Other beneficial methods in the treatment of the rheumatism are use of heat and hot clothes to the affected pieces, a hot bath, a steam bath, dry friction and a bath with a sponge.
Hot bath of Epsom salts: The hot baths of Epsom salts are also beneficial and you should take them twice a week during three months in case of chronic rheumatism and one weekly after that. The affected pieces should also bath twice a day in the hot water that contains the Epsom salts, after it you must apply a little of olive oil.
Exposition to fresh air and light exercises in the open air: The fresh air, deep breathing, and the light exercises in open air are also beneficial. Avoid humidity and cold.
Use copper bracelet: From very ancient times, from the Egyptians, it’s used the copper bracelet, obtaining good results to relieve the arthritis.
The cat: Put the cat on the affected zone and you will relieve of your rheumatic pains.