If you experience persistent pain in your joints, you should consult a doctor for evaluation. Persistent joint pains should not be ignored thinking “it will pass’’.
Early symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthrirtis you should watch out for include:
Pain in small joints of hands feet and wrists in a symmetric fashion, meaning, same joints on both sides of the body may be affected. Symptoms are concerning for rheumatoid arthritis if lasting longer than 6-8 weeks.
Morning stiffness in joints lasting more than 30-60 minutes, also stiffness in joints following inactivity. Unlike in Osteoarthritis – stiffness improves with physical activity.
Swelling and warmth in joints with difficulty moving the joints due to pain. This may affect simple activities of daily living difficult.
Fatigue is a significant feature of early rheumatoid arthritis and also during flare up of rheumatoid arthritis, affecting daily activities and work life
Mild persistent fever is a feature of systemic inflammation. Reduced appetite and unintended weight loss can result from chronic inflammation.
Swelling in joints can lead to nerve compression causing numbness and tingling in hands and feet.
rheumatoid arthritis typically affects people of 30-60 years age group, although, no age is exempt from the disease. It is much more common in females.
Early diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and to prevent joint damage. Your doctor may refer you to a rheumatologist who is specialized in treatment of auto immune diseases, for further testing and treatment.
Diagnosis typically involves taking a thorough history, physical examination to evaluate joint swelling, tenderness and range of movement and performing certain tests that include blood tests, sometimes imaging like x-ray or ultrasound scan of joints.
Although there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, it can be very well managed with medications, exercise and healthy lifestyle
