- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- What is Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Palindromic Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Seropositive Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Prognosis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Causes
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Early Symptoms
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
- Rheumatoid Arthritis and Pregnancy
- Pathophysiology of Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Natural Remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Blood Test For Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Exercises For Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Is Rheumatoid Arthritis Hereditary
- Methotrexate for Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis Vs Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Pannus Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Pathogenesis Of Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis in Children
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Nodules
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain
- Signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Types Of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms come and go, which depends on the amount of tissue inflammation. When the tissues in the body are inflamed, the disease is active and symptoms are depicted prominently and when the tissue inflammation is subsided, the disease is inactive or in remission, and so are the symptoms. Remissions can take place either spontaneously or as a result of treatment and can last for weeks, months or even years. During this period, the symptoms totally disappear and patient feels well. When the disease is active, symptoms start showing again. This return of disease and symptoms is known as a flare. The course of the disease among the affected persons varies and periods of flares and remissions are specific.
In the period of activeness of the disease, the symptoms may include fatigue, lack of appetite, loss of energy, low-grade fever and stiffness and pain in muscles and joints. Stiffness of muscles and joints are observed prominently in the morning and after long period of inactivity. During flares, joints often become red, painful, swollen and tender. This is because the synovium, which is the lining of the joint tissues, is inflamed and produces excessive synovial fluid (fluid in the joints). Thickness of synovium also occurs with inflammation, which is called synovitis.
The disease usually affects multiple joints in a symmetrical fashion, i.e. both sides of the body. Early symptoms may be difficult to understand. Usually, the small joints of wrists and hands are involved. Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in the hands produce difficulty in simple daily activities, such as holding jars, twisting knobs, etc. Small joints of feet too are involved and present difficulty in walking, particularly in the morning while getting up from the bed. If only one joint is affected, the arthritis can imitate the joint inflammation caused during other types of arthritis.
Chronic inflammation can lead to destruction of body tissues, such as bone and cartilage. This results in loss of cartilage and erosion and weakness of muscles and bones, which gives rise to deformity, destruction and function loss of joints. In rare cases, RA also affects the cricoarytenoid joint, i.e. the joint of the vocal cord, which is responsible for tightening of the cord for changing tone. Children with RA show joint symptoms like limping, crying, irritability and poor appetite.
RA is a systemic disease and therefore, body parts other than the joints, are also affected by it. Sjogren’s syndrome is a condition in which glands of eyes and mouth are inflamed making them dry. Dryness of eyes can give rise to corneal abrasion, while inflammation of the sclerae (white part) of the eye, i.e. scleritis, can be very hazardous for the eye.
Lung lining too can be inflamed due to RA and is called pleuritis. It gives rise to chest pain, while deep breathing, shortened breath or coughing. Even the lung tissue itself is inflamed or scarred and sometimes rheumatoid nodules are produced inside the lungs.
Pericarditis, i.e. the inflammation of a lining around heart, can also be caused due to RA and gives rise to chest pain, the intensity of which changes while lying down or bending forth. RA may also show symptoms like decrease in red (anemia) and white blood cells. Reduced white blood cells are associated with enlarged spleen (Felty’s syndrome) and can increase the chances of infection.
Rheumatoid nodules are a symptom of RA and are formed over pressure points like fingers and elbows. Occasionally they can be infected. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused in RA due to pinching of nerves in the wrists. Yet another, but rare, complication is vasculitis, i.e. blood vessel inflammation, and is caused when the RA is long-standing. Vasculitis can hamper the blood supply to tissues leading to necrosis, or cell death. This can be initially identified from small blackened areas around nail beds or as leg ulcers. Any of the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms should not be ignored and should be treated immediately so as to get rid of the disease as far as possible.