What Are the Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Joint pain and stiffness. Weakness. Fatigue.
These are a few of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is an autoimmune disease. Those with RA have difficulty completing everyday tasks, and the pain and weakness dramatically affects their quality of life.
We’ll examine what are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and how Raleigh Adult Medicine can help you.
What Are the Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
- Pain, aching or stiffness in more than one joint
- Tenderness
- Joint swelling
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Unintentional weight loss
- Weakness
The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are found on both sides of the body. In addition, the symptoms are not constant. There are times when you are in remission, or when the symptoms get better. When the symptoms get worse, that is called a flare.
What Is the Main Cause of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Research is ongoing into the details, but in general, the disease is a result of an autoimmune response. This occurs when your body’s immune system “attacks” healthy tissue.
What Places You at Risk for Developing Rheumatoid Arthritis?
There are factors that place you at greater risk of developing this disease. These factors include:
- Genetics/family history
- Age (although RA can develop at any age, the older you get, the greater your risk)
- Sex (RA is more common in women)
- Obesity
- Smoking
- If female, never giving birth
- Exposure to secondhand smoke
What Are the Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Where Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Usually Start?
During its earliest stages, rheumatoid arthritis affects smaller joints. It typically starts with the joints in your fingers and toes. During later stages of the disease, you may develop symptoms in your:
- Wrists
- Knees
- Hips
- Ankles
- Shoulders
- Elbows
Can Rheumatoid Arthritis Just Come on Suddenly?
This varies from person to person, but typically, signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis build gradually over a period of time. In some cases, these signs may be intermittent, meaning that you’ll have periods of time with no indication of the disease, but then a flare-up of the symptoms.
How Is Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated?
The key to successfully treating rheumatoid arthritis is using medications called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Of course, each treatment is tailored to meet the specific needs of every individual patient. Additional medications may be included in your treatment regimen to help control symptoms and slow disease progression. These medications may include NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen or naproxen), corticosteroids (such as Prednisone), or biologic agents that may be given as an injection or infusion.
In addition to medication, self-management strategies can also help reduce the pain and swelling associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
What Are Some Self-Management Strategies to Help with Rheumatoid Arthritis?
While you’ll need medication management, there are some things you can do to help minimize the impact of rheumatoid arthritis on your life.
These include:
- Stop smoking, if you smoke
- Lose weight if you are obese (not sure, check out this body mass index calculator
- Get physically active. If you are not sure how to start an appropriate exercise program, just ask us! We’ll be glad to help.
- Educate yourself about rheumatoid arthritis and strategies that can help you
Do You Have Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis? Raleigh Adult Medicine Can Help
Our rheumatologist in Raleigh, Dr. Priyank Chaudhary, is dedicated to helping those with rheumatoid arthritis by providing comprehensive, compassionate care. He treats patients for non-surgical evaluation and treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in addition to other rheumatic diseases such as:
- Gout
- Lupus
- Joint pain
- Inflammation
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Priyank Chaudhary, simply let your nurse, physician or front office staff member know that you are interested in a referral. We’ll help relieve the pain of rheumatoid arthritis so you can return to the activities you love.
For more than 20 years, Raleigh Adult Medicine has served as the Triangle area’s premier internal medicine provider. We tailor our treatments to provide the finest personalized health care available for each stage of your adult life. Contact us to schedule an appointment.
