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Rheumatoid Arthritis: Joints
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Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive, systemic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of the membrane lining in the joints. This inflammation causes a loss of joint shape and function, resulting in pain, stiffness and swelling, ultimately leading to irreversible joint destruction and disability. Characteristics of RA include redness, swelling, pain and movement limitation around joints of the hands, feet, elbows, knees and neck that leads to loss of function. In addition, the systemic symptoms of RA include fatigue, decreased hemoglobin and osteoporosis and may contribute to shortening life expectancy by affecting major organ systems. After 10 years, less than 50% of patients can continue to work or function normally on a daily basis. RA affects more than 21 million people worldwide with approximately 2.1 million people affected in the United States.
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Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem autoimmune disorder. It is commonly polyarticular; that is, it affects many joints. Inflammation, soft tissue swelling, and the involvement of multiple joints are common signs and symptoms that distinguish rheumatoid and other inflammmatory arthritis from non-inflammatory arthritis such as osteoarthritis. The joints are usually affected initially asymmetrically and then in a symmetrical fashion as the disease progresses. The pain generally improves with use of the affected joints, and there is usually stiffness of all joints in the morning that lasts over one hour. Thus, the pain of rheumatoid arthritis is usually worse in the morning compared to the classic pain of osteoarthritis where the pain worsens over the day as the joints are used
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Rheumatoid arthritis affects 2.1 million Americans. It is a chronic, often painful disease characterized by joint inflammation, usually beginning in the hands, wrists, knees, and feet. The disease affects women more often than men. Initial RA symptoms include joint pain and fatigue. As the disease progresses, joints usually become more swollen, inflamed, and stiff. When inflammation persists or does not respond to treatment, it can destroy nearby cartilage, bone, tendons and ligaments, leading to permanent disability.
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Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and sometimes joint deformity. It occurs most commonly in the fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, jaw, hips, knees, and toes. It usually affects the same joint on both sides of the body (for example, both hips). Rheumatoid arthritis often appears first in early adulthood or middle age. However, sometimes it does not occur until the later years. There may be one single attack, but more often the condition comes and goes in repeated episodes.
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Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation, pain, and swelling of joints. Persistent inflammation over time can damage affected joints. The severity can vary from mild to severe. Treatments include disease modifying drugs to suppress inflammation which can slow down the progression of the disease, and medication to ease pain. The earlier treatment is started, the less joint damage is likely to occur. Surgery is needed in some cases if a joint becomes badly damaged.
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is what is called an autoimmune disease. In this type of disease, a person's immune system (the system in the body responsible for fighting disease) mistakenly attacks the person's own body. In RA, the parts attacked are the linings of the joints (places in the body where two bones connect). The reasons that this happens are complex and not fully understood. RA causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in a person's joints and problems with functioning. However, RA affects different people in different ways, in terms of the symptoms they have, how serious the symptoms are, and how long the symptoms last.
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