M05.22: Rheumatoid vasculitis Upper arm

You have a rheumatic disorder that is causing inflammation in your elbow joint.

3 bones meet at the elbow. These are the humerus and the two bones in the forearm. These are called the ulna and the radius. In the elbow there are several joints between these 3 bones. This is how we are not only able to bend and stretch the arm, but also able to twist the forearm, for example when driving in a screw.

An inflammation in the joints can cause various symptoms. Typical is a swollen, painful joint. The skin above the joint may also be red. It may also no longer be possible to move the joint as usual.

The joint inflammation has been caused by a rheumatic disease. A rheumatic disease can affect the entire body. There may be inflammation in the bones, the connective tissue, and the joints. The symptoms can be more and less severe. It is thought that rheumatic diseases are caused by a person’s immune system producing antibodies against their own body. These antibodies attack the body’s own tissue. The tissue can get inflamed and damaged as a result.

As a result of the rheumatism your blood vessels have also become inflamed. As a result, the blood vessels in your heart or brain can be damaged.