Rheumatoid Arthritis

Arthritis, that dreaded household name we all know and hate. Unfortunately this very common inflammatory condition affects 46 million people according to webmd.com. But did you know there are over 100 different types of arthritis? The two most popular types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Although the effect on your joints is similar there are many differences between the two conditions. Osteoarthritis comes from years of wear and tear. There is nothing you can do to avoid this it’s just a part of life. Contrary, rheumatoid arthritis comes from a person’s immune system not working properly. People who are diagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis are usually disabled within a decade. The best way to prevent the progression is early detection! The sooner you find out you have this, the sooner a plan can be made and treatment introduced.

Because rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease there are many symptoms throughout the body that may not be recognized as RA right off the bat. Some symptoms include unexplained weight loss, morning stiffness, fatigues, low fever, weakness, and loss of appetite. At first these symptoms seem to point to a viral infection but it may not be as it seems. The effect on the joint can be one of the last areas to be affected so early detection is key!

If you are experiencing pain, redness, warmth, swelling and decreased motion in your joints you should speak to your doctor who may refer you to a rheumatologist. There are many treatment options once diagnosis is complete however the sooner the diagnosis the sooner you can try and get some control of your RA.

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