Used broadly, rheumatism is a term meant to describe subjective sensations and not a specific disease, such as chronic joint inflammation, osteo- or rheumatoid arthritis...almost any chronic dull ache associated with the aging process... rheumatism
any aching pain in the muscles and joints. Commonly the symptoms are due to *fibrositis; wear and tear of the joints (*osteoarthritis); or to inflammation of the muscles associated with abnormal immune reactions (*polymyalgia rheumatica). Generalized muscle pain with specific tender points and fatigue is called *fibromyalgia.... muscular rheumatism