Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Answer 1

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory joint disease that affects millions of adults, usually appearing between the ages of 40 and 60. While this affliction can present in dozens of different ways and requires a professional physician to properly diagnose, there are several symptoms that occur in most patients at some point in the diseases' progression. Men and women suffering from the symptoms described in this guide may find that rheumatoid arthritis is the culprit.

Rheumatoid arthritis starts out small.

The earliest indications of RA often include difficulty in performing small or precise movements with ones' hands and wrists. Older adults may notice their hands feeling clumsy when attempting even simple tasks, such as opening jars or tying shoes. Pain and soreness in the hands and feet, especially in the morning hours, are another sign that joints are strained. Joints may also appear red, swollen or tender to the touch.

Later developments.

As RA progresses, pain and stiffness become more severe; increased inflammation damages tissues and bone, reducing flexibility and increasing irritation in affected joints. Further complications can develop as inflammation spreads to larger organs, causing dryness of the eyes and mouth, chest pains, trouble breathing, pinched nerves and rheumatoid nodules (lumps beneath the skin at frequently moving joints).

Dormancy makes diagnois difficult.

It is important to realize that rheumatoid arthritis does not usually produce a continuous display of symptoms, making it easy to incorrectly identify certain effects as having non-chronic origins. RA can lie dormant for years in between episodes of inflammation, known as "flares"; treatment is still recommended to slow the degenerative process of RA even when patients are not experiencing active symptoms.

Rheumatoid arthritis remains a chronic condition even during periods when no symptoms are visibly occurring.

While rheumatoid arthritis is a common and potentially debilitating condition, with proper attention to the symptoms described here it is possible to diagnose and treat RA early on in the diseases' progression, ensuring the least possible damage to joints, muscles and bones.

Answer 2

The often intermittent nature of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increases the difficulty of diagnosing the disease. Periods of active symptoms are often followed by asymptomatic periods, known as remission. During these remission periods, which can last for periods ranging from a week to several years, patients have no symptoms, or very mild symptoms, and generally report feeling well. When the disease again becomes active, known as relapse, the following symptoms are commonly observed:

Morning Stiffness

Morning stiffness lasting over an hour is a trademark symptom of RA; this differentiates the disease from other forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, which typically have morning stiffness periods which last only a half an hour or less.

Flu-Like Symptoms

Fatigue, loss of energy, muscle and joint paint, decreased appetite, weight loss, low-grade fever and stiffness are often among the first symptoms noted. These symptoms are often initially attributed to the flu, but when they fail to subside for an extended period, further investigation reveals the true underlying condition.

Swollen, Tender Joints

During periods of disease activity, joints that are red, swollen, tender and warm to the touch are commonly reported. As the disease advances, these symptoms become nearly universal. In fact, persistence of these symptoms for a period in excess of six months is one of the main factors in the diagnosis of RA. The inflammation typically presents first in smaller joints, often the joints at the base of the fingers and toes. As the disease progresses, the swelling often manifests in the ankles and wrists, but can occur in any joint. Additionally, the swelling associated with RA is typically symmetric, affecting the same joints on both sides of the body simultaneously.

Rheumatoid Nodules

Rheumatoid nodules, which occur in 20 to 35 percent of all adults with RA, are firm, flesh-colored lumps. The nodules are most often observed on the arms and near afflicted joints, but can form in many places. Although the nodules are sometimes reported to be painful, it is more common for them to be painless. Nodules occurring in vital organs, such as the heart or lungs, have also been observed; this is the most serious manifestation of the nodules, as they can affect organ function.

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can vary significantly in severity among patients, and because of the tendency to come and go, patients may often not seek treatment as early as they should. Patients should advise their doctor of any flu-like symptoms that linger or persistent swelling and discomfort in their joints.