Rheumatoid Arthritis : Tips on Pain Relief and Prevention



Definition:

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease marked by stiffness and inflammation of the joints, weakness, loss of mobility, and deformity.

Statistics:

Rheumatoid arthritis is two to three times more common in women than in men and generally strikes between the ages of 20 and 50. But rheumatoid arthritis can also affect young children and adults older than age 50.

What Are the Symptoms?

- Pain and swelling in your joints, especially in the smaller joints of your hands and feet.
- Generalized aching or stiffness of the joints and muscles, especially after sleep or after periods of rest
- Loss of motion of the affected joints
- Loss of strength in muscles attached to the affected joints
- Fatigue, which can be severe during a flare-up
- Low-grade fever
- Deformity of your joints over time
- General sense of not feeling well (malaise)

Diagnose:

There is no single laboratory test that can be used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. Health professionals diagnose rheumatoid arthritis by examining your joints and evaluating your symptoms, medical history, and results of several tests.

Treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis has no cure. Early aggressive treatment of rheumatoid arthritis can help to manage the disease, and better control the pain, stiffness, and fatigue.