How To Know If Rheumatoid Arthritis

The Signs And Symptoms Of Ra

Rheumatoid Arthritis – Signs & Symptoms | Johns Hopkins Medicine

Luckily, the signs and symptoms of early onset RA ARE heavily documented. Experts agree that the most common initial symptoms are as follows:

You begin to experience a general feeling of pain or stiffness in your joints.
Your joints begin to swell or turn red on a regular basis even when youre not engaged in heavily physical activities.
These symptoms extend to four or more of your joints, including those in your hands and fingers.
Your symptoms are symmetrical meaning that they equally affect both the left and right sides of your body.
You experience a general sense of stiffness in your entire body when you wake up in the morning that often lasts for a half hour or more.
Any of the above physical symptoms last for longer than six months in a row.

If you begin to experience any of these initial signs, you should absolutely consult your doctor to schedule a physical examination. Dont continue to ignore your body. Its trying to tell you something is wrong. Outside of the symptoms directly associated with RA, there are a number of indirect signs to be on the lookout for, too. These include, but are not limited to, ones like:

What Is The Safest Drug For Rheumatoid Arthritis

The safest drug for rheumatoid arthritis is one that gives you the most benefit with the least amount of negative side effects. This varies depending on your health history and the severity of your RA symptoms. Your healthcare provider will work with you to develop a treatment program. The drugs your healthcare provider prescribes will match the seriousness of your condition.

Its important to meet with your healthcare provider regularly. Theyll watch for any side effects and change your treatment, if necessary. Your healthcare provider may order tests to determine how effective your treatment is and if you have any side effects.

Difference Between Osteoarthritis And Rheumatoid Arthritis

There are several different types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are two of the most common forms. Although the symptoms of these two types of arthritis can be similar, it’s very important to distinguish between them in order to determine the proper treatment.

At the University of Michigan Health System, our experienced rheumatologists will do appropriate tests to determine which type of arthritis you have. Then we will develop an effective treatment plan and will explain your options.

Osteoarthritis occurs when the smooth cartilage joint surface wears out. Osteoarthritis usually begins in an isolated joint.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means that the immune system malfunctions and attacks the body instead of intruders. In this case, it attacks the synovial membrane that encases and protects the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis often targets several joints at one time. The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:

the symmetrical nature of the disease ,

Have I Been Tracking My Symptoms

As a first step, I start tracking my symptoms so I can have clear communication with my rheumatologist or family physician if I need to see them. Tracking your symptoms can help you determine how long-lasting your symptoms have been and how they are impacting your everyday life.

Find the way you prefer to track your symptoms. Personally, I partnered with Arthritis Research Canada for their OPERAS program, an app designed to track physical activity and symptoms in RA patients. Keeping tabs on my symptoms has taught me so much about my health and how to tackle flares.

There is no right or wrong method to track your symptoms, its just a matter of finding which way gives you the best understanding of your arthritis. You can use ArthritisPower, OPERAS paired with a Fitbit, or you can use pen and paper whatever works best for you and your disease journey.

Oa Treatments Are Largely About Lifestyle And Relieving Pain

Two of the most important treatments for OA are exercise and weight loss, says Soo Kim, M.D., medical director of Johns Hopkins Musculoskeletal Center in Baltimore. By strengthening the muscles surrounding the joint, more stress gets distributed onto those muscles, and less of it lands on the joint, says Dr. Kim.

To manage the pain, acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can help. Topical agents can be applied over the joint. And for severe pain, steroid or hyaluronic acid injections may help, Dr. Kim says.

Also Check: How To Ease Arthritis In Knee

Your Injuries Seem To Take A Long Time To Heal

Its possible to think you have an injurysuch as a sprained ankle that doesnt seem to healwhen the symptoms are actually due to RA.

This is more common in younger people, says Lisa A. Mandl, MD, MPH, assistant attending rheumatologist at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

One day a patient is playing soccer and the next day her knee is swollen, she says. I have seen people who have had two arthroscopic surgeries and extensive physical therapy in their knee and they have rheumatoid arthritis.

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What Types Of Lifestyle Changes Can Help With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Having a lifelong illness like rheumatoid arthritis may make you feel like you dont have much control over your quality of life. While there are aspects of RA that you cant control, there are things you can do to help you feel the best that you can.

Such lifestyle changes include:

Rest

When your joints are inflamed, the risk of injury to your joints and nearby soft tissue structures is high. This is why you need to rest your inflamed joints. But its still important for you to exercise. Maintaining a good range of motion in your joints and good fitness overall are important in coping with RA.

Exercise

Pain and stiffness can slow you down. Some people with rheumatoid arthritis become inactive. But inactivity can lead to a loss of joint motion and loss of muscle strength. These, in turn, decrease joint stability and increase pain and fatigue.

Regular exercise can help prevent and reverse these effects. You might want to start by seeing a physical or occupational therapist for advice about how to exercise safely. Beneficial workouts include:

Range-of-motion exercises to preserve and restore joint motion.
Exercises to increase strength.
Exercises to increase endurance .

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How Ra Affects Feet

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition. When you have RA, your immune system tries to destroy the lining of your joints, called synovium. It also attacks the fluid in your joints, called synovial fluid. It does this because it mistakes these parts of your body for disease-causing invaders.

RA causes damage and inflammation that makes your joints swell and feel warm. The small joints, like those in the feet, are the most common targets of these attacks.

Eventually, long-term inflammation thickens the synovium. This causes cartilage and bone to wear away. In the feet and toes, the joints may become deformed. This leads to poor range of motion and considerable pain. Walking, standing, and even wearing shoes can become difficult.

Proper treatment may help reduce the damage and inflammation to your foot joints. It may also prevent or delay deformities and other problems.

Accessed On 6th July 2016 Http: //wwweularorg/myuploaddata/files/ra%20class%20slides%20acr: Webpdf

How do I know whether my Hand pains are Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Ill make the point that the information I present here is obviously not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

But Im hoping to help lead people who may have the disease to an earlier diagnosis and suitable treatment.

By the way, Ive written many more posts on Rheumatoid Arthritis. Please have a read at this link.

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Take this test: Do you have Rheumatoid Arthritis?

The 2010 Acr/eular Classification Criteria Guidelines

Sometimes people who have been diagnosed with RA take part in studies or clinical trials perhaps to try a promising drug or study ways to improve quality of life.

To identify RA patients with typical features of RA who are suitable for these important studies, scientists use a set of guidelines created by the American College of Rheumatology and the European League Against Rheumatism. These are called the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criteria.

For classification purposes to be considered for enrollment into studies, patients must first have at least one inflamed joint that cant be explained by another condition. Then theyre evaluated for classification based on the following:

Joint involvement. Which joints are swollen? How many are affected? Are they large or small?
Serology test results. What are the results of RF and/or ACPA tests?
Acute-phase reactant test results. Are the results of CRP and/or ESR tests normal or abnormal?
Duration of symptoms. Have symptoms been around more or less than six weeks?

Others who may be eligible for studies include long-time RA patients whose past symptoms fulfill the criteria, those with joint damage very characteristic of RA, and those with new RA who are receiving treatment.

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What Are The Diagnostic Criteria For Rheumatoid Arthritis

Diagnostic criteria are a set of signs, symptoms and test results your provider looks for before telling you that youve got rheumatoid arthritis. Theyre based on years of research and clinical practice. Some people with RA dont have all the criteria. Generally, though, the diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis include:

Inflammatory arthritis in two or more large joints .
Inflammatory arthritis in smaller joints.
Positive biomarker tests like rheumatoid factor or CCP antibodies.
Elevated levels of CRP or an elevated sed rate.
Your symptoms have lasted more than six weeks.

Also Check: How Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Affect The Hands

When To See A Doctor

RA can become worse the longer its left untreated. Its important to visit your doctor if youve been living with some of these symptoms for more than a few weeks, especially if youve been noticing joint stiffness that takes a while to loosen up in the mornings.

Even if its not RA, persistent fatigue and a general sense of illness can be the precursor to many inflammation-related issues, so the sooner youre seen by a physician, the better.

Theres no single test that can reveal an RA diagnosis. Instead, youll most likely be diagnosed through blood tests, joint and organ examinations, and X-ray or ultrasound images.

If a positive rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis is found, youll probably be referred to a rheumatologist, a doctor whos had extra training around the treatment of diseases that affect the muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons.

When Should I See My Doctor

If you notice symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, or you are concerned that you may have rheumatoid arthritis, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor may refer you to a rheumatologist who is a doctor that specialises in joints. It is important to act quickly. The sooner you start treatment, the less likely you are to experience permanent joint damage and deformity.

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Complications Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Because RA damages joints over time, it causes some disability. It can cause pain and movement problems. You may be less able to do your normal daily activities and tasks. This can also lead to problems such as depression and anxiety.

RA can also affect many nonjoint parts of the body, such as the lungs, heart, skin, nerves, muscles, blood vessels, and kidneys. These complications can lead to severe illness and even death.

Corticosteroids: Uses And Side Effects

Corticosteroids are the strongest drugs available for reducing inflammation in the body. They are useful in any condition in which inflammation occurs, including rheumatoid arthritis and other connective tissue disorders, multiple sclerosis, and in emergencies such as brain swelling due to cancer, asthma attacks, and severe allergic reactions. When inflammation is severe, use of these drugs is often lifesaving.

Corticosteroids can be

Directly applied to the inflamed area
Injected into a muscle
Injected into a joint

Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Less commonly, rheumatoid arthritis affects more than just the joints, especially in more progressive forms of the disease. People with RA may experience various other issues depending on where their inflammation is located.

Eye pain and vision problems from inflammation in the eye
Dry eyes and dry mouth from Sjogrens syndrome, an inflammatory condition of the tear and saliva glands that affects 10 to 15 percent of people with RA
Pericarditis, or painful breathing and chest pain from inflammation of the tissue lining the chest cavity and surrounding the heart
Pleurisy, an inflammation of the lining of the lung causing pain and shortness of breath
Tingling, pain, numbness, or burning sensation in hands and feet from an inflammation affecting the nerves
Fatigue, muscle pain, kidney problems, rash, weight loss, and other issues from vasculitis

What Is The Root Cause Of Arthritis

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis? | Johns Hopkins Rheumatology

Normal wear and tear causes OA, one of the most common forms of arthritis. An infection or injury to the joints can exacerbate this natural breakdown of cartilage tissue.

How do you pray for rheumatoid arthritis?

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference.

What is the root cause of rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition, which means its caused by the immune system attacking healthy body tissue. However, its not yet known what triggers this. Your immune system normally makes antibodies that attack bacteria and viruses, helping to fight infection.

Can RA be treated without drugs?

Youll need to keep up with your usual medical care, but some natural remedies might help relieve pain and stiffness from rheumatoid arthritis . Many of them are simple, like using heat and ice packs. Others, like acupuncture, need a trained pro.

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Symptoms Of Rheumatoid Arthritis You Need To Know

Quincy AdamArthritis Learn

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may occur at any ageincluding childhood. The disease may progress over months or years. Although RA can affect anyone, it occurs more often in women.

Medications and other treatment options are available, so if you think you might be suffering from RA, discuss your symptoms with a doctor to get a diagnosis. In the meantime, you can review these symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis to see if you have any of them.

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Stick To Your Ra Treatment Plan

This is key to ease symptoms and reduce the risk of deformity, says Dr. Sachs. Depending on the severity of your symptoms and how long youve had rheumatoid arthritis, your rheumatologist may prescribe a combination of medications. The goal of RA treatment is to stop systemic inflammation so you can achieve low disease activity or remission, which can prevent symptoms like pain and fatigue, as well as long-term joint and organ damage. Commonly prescribed medications include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve pain and reduce inflammation, steroids to reduce inflammation and slow joint damage, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs to slow the progression of RA, or biologics, which are more complex, targeted DMARDs that act on certain immune system pathways that trigger inflammation.

How Is Ra Diagnosed

RA is diagnosed by reviewing symptoms, conducting a physical examination, and doing X-rays and lab tests. Its best to diagnose RA earlywithin 6 months of the onset of symptomsso that people with the disease can begin treatment to slow or stop disease progression . Diagnosis and effective treatments, particularly treatment to suppress or control inflammation, can help reduce the damaging effects of RA.

What Are The Risk Factors For Ra

Researchers have studied a number of genetic and environmental factors to determine if they change persons risk of developing RA.

Characteristics that increase risk

Age. RA can begin at any age, but the likelihood increases with age. The onset of RA is highest among adults in their sixties.
Sex. New cases of RA are typically two-to-three times higher in women than men.
Genetics/inherited traits. People born with specific genes are more likely to develop RA. These genes, called HLA class II genotypes, can also make your arthritis worse. The risk of RA may be highest when people with these genes are exposed to environmental factors like smoking or when a person is obese.
Smoking. Multiple studies show that cigarette smoking increases a persons risk of developing RA and can make the disease worse.
History of live births. Women who have never given birth may be at greater risk of developing RA.
Early Life Exposures. Some early life exposures may increase risk of developing RA in adulthood. For example, one study found that children whose mothers smoked had double the risk of developing RA as adults. Children of lower income parents are at increased risk of developing RA as adults.
Obesity. Being obese can increase the risk of developing RA. Studies examining the role of obesity also found that the more overweight a person was, the higher his or her risk of developing RA became.

Characteristics that can decrease risk

Rheumatoid Factor And Anti

Specific blood tests can help to diagnosis rheumatoid arthritis, but are not accurate in every person. About half of all people with rheumatoid arthritis have a positive rheumatoid factor present in their blood when the disease starts, but about one in every 20 people without rheumatoid arthritis also tests positive for this.

Another antibody test known as anti-CCP is also available. People who test positive for anti-CCP are very likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis, but not everybody found to have rheumatoid arthritis has this antibody.

Those who test positive for both rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP may be more likely to have severe rheumatoid arthritis requiring higher levels of treatment.