Rheumatoid Arthritis: Sym
ptoms, Causes and Treatments
Rheumatoid arthritis, also referred to as RA, is a chronic inflammatory disorder that will typically affect the small joints in a person’s hands and feet. This inflammation may result in deformed and painful joints, which could eventually lead to a partial or complete loss of function. Rheumatoid arthritis is a relatively common condition, affecting up to 1% of adults in the developed world and up to 50 per 100,000 people in developing nations each year.
Symptoms
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include tender and swollen joints, morning stiffness that may last for hours, firm bumps of the tissue under the skin of your arms and legs, as well as fatigue, fever and weight loss in extreme cases. All of these symptoms could lead to a partial or complete loss of function of these joints if left untreated.
Causes
The cause of rheumatoid arthritis isn’t entirely understood, but doctors have discovered that it occurs when your immune system attacks your synovium, which is the lining of the membranes that surround all joints. This attack causes the synovium to inflame and thicken, which can destroy the cartilage and bone within the joint. It can also cause the joint to lose its shape and alignment over time, resulting in deformation. The main issue with rheumatoid arthritis is that doctors aren’t entirely sure what causes this process. The disorder has been commonly linked with genetics, which cause people to become more susceptible to infections that may lead to rheumatoid arthritis.
Treatments
There is currently no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but many treatments make living with the disorder possible. Treatment works best when started early and aggressively, as the disorder becomes much harder to treat the longer it has affected a person. Many medications are available that reduce the inflammation and slow down the spread, stopping symptoms before they become bad. Almost all rheumatoid arthritis medications must be prescribed by a doctor, and many have potentially serious side effects. Due to this, a doctor will usually start a patient on a weaker form, before moving onto something stronger. If medication fails to stop inflammation, a doctor may consider surgery to repair or restore your ability to use a joint. Surgery options include total joint replacement, tendon repair or joint fusion. Therapy is also an extremely common form of treatment, as it will help ease the pain. Joint exercises and other daily tasks may fight off the inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Electronic Signal Treatment may also be used to fight inflammation in some cases, as electric currents could potentially ease inflammation and bring about relief.
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Sources
Diseases and Conditions: Rheumatoid Arthritis. Mayo Clinic Website. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/basics/definition/con-20014868
Anti-inflammatory effects of electronic signal treatment. NCBI Database. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19057635
Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis.org Website. http://www.arthritis.org/arthritis-facts/disease-center/rheumatoid-arthritis.php
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