Rheumatoid arthritis can be a very painful condition that unfortunately doesn’t have a known cure at this point. This results from the immune system attacking the body’s joints, causing inflammation and pain. In some cases, the immune system causes damage to organs as well. Professionals are unsure why the immune system reacts in this manner, nor do they know how to completely end the disease. However, in recent years tremendous progress has been made to limit the advancement of rheumatoid arthritis and managing the symptoms. Not only are adults affected, but children are as well which is referred to as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Symptoms
Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms frequently start in smaller joints and work their way toward larger ones. Swelling and joint pain are common symptoms, as well as stiffness after sitting or lying down, and red hands. Additional symptoms could include a low grade fever, fatigue, and weight loss. If you are currently experiencing any of these symptoms, make it a priority to see a doctor as soon as you can to get properly diagnosed. The sooner rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed and treatment begins, the more effective the treatment options can be.
Diagnoses
A number of tests are available to help in providing the correct diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. For instance, a blood test can be administered to measure the erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels, which refers to the presence of inflammation in the body. Another blood test used is one that looks for specific antibodies in the bloodstream that may mean the person has the disease.
However, this test may not always provide the answer since some don’t have these antibodies, yet still were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. A joint fluid sample may be taken by the doctor if the disease is suspected. X-rays may also be ordered to determine how much damage has been done to the joints.
Treatment Options
The treatment can start as soon as the official diagnoses has been made. The purpose of medications is to manage pain and delay the advancement of the arthritis. In recent years, new medications have become available and have shown to be useful for improving the quality of life for patients. However, if joint damage becomes too severe, surgery may also be recommended to allow the patient to use a particular joint once again. Rheumatoid arthritis therapy has also proven to be effective.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful disease that affects many children and adults. Since there is no rheumatoid arthritis cure, patients have to learn to live with it. The good news is that advances in treatment for this disease has allowed many rheumatoid arthritis sufferers to enjoy a higher quality of life with less pain.
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