Origin: Greek suffix -ism
Rheumatism has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
any painful disorder of the joints or muscles or connective tissues
a chronic autoimmune disease with inflammation of the joints and marked deformities; something (possibly a virus) triggers an attack on the synovium by the immune system, which releases cytokines that stimulate an inflammatory reaction that can lead to the destruction of all components of the joint
Any disorder of the muscles, tendons, joints, bones, nerves, characterized by pain, discomfort and disability.