Rheumatoid arthritis is a serious condition affecting a lot of people in the world today and causing joint pain. This conditions comes about when the body sees its own cells as foreign material in the body and thus attacks the body’s own cells around the joints. This causes a lot of pain around the joints and if not dealt with promptly, this disease causes a lot of joint pain and affect quality of life while limiting life expectancy. One of the things to note about rheumatoid arthritis is that it strikes at any age and can cause a lot of pain if not adequately dealt with. To adequately deal with the disease, it is important to note some signs and symptoms of joint pain which point to rheumatoid arthritis to get the best quality of life.
One of the most common signs and symptoms of joint pain which is caused by rheumatoid arthritis is one or more fingers which are swollen at the knuckles. This is mainly seen at the middle of the knuckles of the hands. This is most commonly seen in both hands. The swelling is tender and soft as opposed to being bony in nature. It is also common to feel a warmth being emanated from the joint which has reddened.
The other common symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is swollen knuckles which have been so for the last six weeks or more without any clear reason why the swelling is occurring. In some people, there is pain in the knuckles without any swelling and there is no clear explanation why the swelling has come about. In some people, large joints may be involved such as the knee joint, ankles, elbows and shoulders but there is swelling and joint pain in at least two of the said joints.
Feet are also a common target of rheumatoid arthritis and more so the base of the feet. Many people with rheumatoid arthritis complain that they feel as if they are walking on small balls under the foot, especially early in the morning when one gets out of bed.
Another common signs and symptoms of joint pain is that you may notice bumps on the elbows. There is also a general body illness with most people complaining of feeling under the weather. There have been cases where flu-like symptoms have been recorded as well as low-grade fevers. Nodules forming under the skin is also one of the common signs and symptoms of joint pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. These nodules are referred to as rheumatoid nodules.
In rheumatoid arthritis, there is also a common feeling of joints being stiff for well over an hour, especially in the morning. It is also hard for people with rheumatoid arthritis to make a fist. There is also some tenderness recorded at the top of the fist. In the case where elbows are involved, it is quite painful to have them outstretched. It is important to note that if the hip joints are painful, then this should be as a result of osteoarthritis and not rheumatoid arthritis. This is reported as pain in the hip or the groin area.
When the various signs and symptoms have been looked at to gauge whether it’s a case of rheumatoid arthritis, the only confirmatory way of gauging and getting the desired joint pain relief is through a blood test. This is the surest way of knowing the specific arthritis case you suffer from. This is done through a lab test which will have been ordered by your own medical practitioner after ascertaining the aforementioned issued listed previously.
For one to enjoy joint pain relief, there are various tests that are carried out for an effective rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis. These include the measurement of rheumatoid factors in blood and another for testing inflammation. If rheumatoid factors and inflammation factors are seen in the blood, then a case of rheumatoid arthritis is confirmed.
When a confirmation of rheumatoid arthritis is done, it is advisable that you sit down with them and have a candid talk about the treatment options, their side effects and how best to lead a normal life with the condition. As always, the earlier a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is done, the better it is as it allows for quick resolution. If too much time is taken before the diagnosis, permanent joint damage can occur. Though rheumatoid arthritis does not have a cure as yet, it is quite important to make use of the available medication to stop the spread of the condition and manage the pain and damage the disease may have caused.
References
https://medium.com/@daisygrace/3-powerful-drinks-to-treat-arthritis-and-joint-pain-cb5271a14c9b#.bsq67xm0w
http://www.examiner.com/article/twenty-proven-vitamins-and-minerals-that-are-effective-for-joint-pain
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