What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common chronic autoimmune diseases. An autoimmune condition prevents your body from fighting unhealthy cells and tissue and instead fights the healthy cells. This condition can happen anywhere in the body and typically happens on both sides of your body. You may have symptoms in your hands, knees, ankles or any other joint that last anywhere from an hour to days.
What causes rheumatoid arthritis?
Since rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition, it’s likely that the cause of it is due to genetics, hormones or environmental triggers. The exact cause has not been determined. It has been found that viruses or bacteria could be a trigger to the disease as well.
What are symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?
The symptoms experienced from rheumatoid arthritis vary between everyone that is diagnosed. The severity and frequency of flare ups will also vary from person to person. Some of the more common symptoms include stiff or swollen joints and joints that are warm to the touch. Additional symptoms you could experience include fatigue, weakness or a fever.
How is rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed?
Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis will likely start with a physical exam as well as reviewing your health history. The full diagnosis process may also include blood tests and image testing (MRI, X-ray, ultrasound, etc.) to help provide the full picture of where the disease is occurring in your body as well as the severity. These tests are also done in order to rule out other diseases.
What are treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis??
There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis and joint damage typically happens in the first two years of having the disease so it is essential to see a board-certified rheumatologist as soon as symptoms appear. While the treatment methods won’t cure rheumatoid arthritis, they will help ease symptoms. It’s possible that you will have to try multiple different treatment options and plans throughout your lifetime. The first option you will likely be provided is a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) such as methotrexate or sulfasalazine. Physical therapy may also be provided as an option. For more severe cases, surgery may be required.