Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are a result of a chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect a variety of organs and tissues. The principal attack point is the synovial joints. The disease often causes the destruction of cartilage and alkalosis of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis may also cause inflammation of the lungs, pleura, pericardium and sclera. Rheumatoid arthritis is classified as an autoimmune disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include loss of appetite, morning stiffness that lasts more than a few hours, fatigue, and weakness and wide spread achy muscles. Joint pain will appear when not used in a while and joints will eventually become stiff, warm and tender. The lining of the joint can become inflamed, developing fluid that causes the joint to swell. Joint pain may affect wrist, fingers and elbows, shoulders, hips and knees and ankles, toes and neck.

There are additional rheumatoid arthritis symptoms that include burning and itchy eye often accompanied by discharge, anemia due to bone marrow failing to produce sufficient red blood cells, feet and hand deformities, low grade fever, limited range of motion, pleurisy, nodules forming under the skin, tingling or numbness, paleness of the skin, skin redness due to joint inflammation and swollen glands. Joint destruction will usually occur within a year or two after the onset of the disease.

Early rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect smaller joints first such as fingers and toes. As the disease progresses it moves onto knees, elbows, ankles shoulders and hips. In most cases, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms occur in the same joints on both sides of the body.

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and signs may come and go and with flares, which are periods of increased disease activity, may alternate with periods of remission, when the pain and swelling seem to fade. Over time rheumatoid arthritis can cause joints to become deformed and actually shift out of place.

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms can range from mild discomfort to severe pain. There are self help remedies to deal with the discomfort and help manage the pain or it may be necessary to use prescription medication to reduce pain and discomfort.

If joint pain and stiffness persists, it is time to see your Doctor, who may refer you to a Doctor that specializes in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed by the persistence of pain and joint discomfort and the xrays, ultrasound and MRI’s that disclose soft tissue swelling, bony erosions and loss of joint space.

Blood tests are also used when rheumatoid arthritis is suspected. The blood work is analyzed for the rheumatoid factor (RF), which is a non specific antibody. An initial RF test does not necessarily rule out rheumatoid arthritis, especially in the early stages.

The progression of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are monitored by calculating the disease activity and producing a score. The score also takes into account the response to treatment as experienced by the patient. Although the activity score is not entirely accurate, it is an indicator of how the rheumatoid arthritis is progressing. The equation used in calculating the disease activity score is quite complicated, and not something for the faint of heart or mathematically challenged. In reality, the arthritis sufferer just has to keep track of their rheumatoid arthritis symptoms to know how they are doing.