Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms (RA) is usually an autoimmune disease that creates pain and inflammation of one's joints. Other parts of one's body can also be affected. Inflammation causes the joints to start to be painful and swollen and movement could be restricted. Stiffness within the joints is common, especially after you get up. The inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis can result in damage to the joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms usually starts in middle life, with onset generally occurring involving the ages of 35 to 64, and affects 2.5 % of Australia s population. Roughly 57 % of folks with rheumatoid arthritis are women.
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

Some of the most common problems of rheumatoid arthritis include:



Swelling, pain and heat within the joints
Stiffness within the joints, especially after you get up
Persistent fatigue
Sleep troubles on account of pain
Weak muscles
The same joints on two sides of one's body are usually affected.

Seek advice timely
It is important to seek health advice at the outset of the path of the condition. Early treatment will allow you to manage pain more effectively and minimise long-term joint damage.

Everyone who experiences pain and swelling in one if not more joints should discuss this regarding their doctor. When you are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis or suspected with having the condition, you most likely are referenced a medical specialist known as the rheumatologist.

An immunity attack

The source or triggers of rheumatoid arthritis generally are not yet fully understood. We do be aware that rheumatoid arthritis is usually an autoimmune disease. The conventional role of one's body s immunity really should be to wear off infections, however when a person has to go to autoimmune disease, your immunity starts attacking the body`s healthy tissues.

In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, your immunity targets the liner of one's joints, causing inflammation and joint damage. The characteristic swelling happens when the joint produces a lot of lubricating (synovial) fluid in response to the inflammation.

A number of people could be more vulnerable to developing rheumatoid arthritis due to heredity factors. Precisely what triggers the body s immunity to attack the joints is unknown.

There's hardly any cure for rheumatoid arthritis. However, there are a lot of strategies you may use to manage the condition and its symptoms.

Managing rheumatoid arthritis

To manage rheumatoid arthritis it truly is useful to understand the nature of one's disease. Self-management courses should help sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis and also other chronic (ongoing) conditions to construct their skills and confidence to live on when using the condition. Arthritis Victoria provides more information of these courses.

Other important guidelines that will help you manage rheumatoid arthritis include:

Medication  a rheumatologist may prescribe several medications based on your symptoms and naturally the severity of your respective condition. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are generally prescribed to lower pain and inflammation.

The disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) absolutely are a special number of medications designed to treat inflammatory arthritis. Biological DMARDs are the newest importance of arthritis medication and seek to stop the disease progressing and causing structural damage to joints.


Aids and equipment  supports encompassng walking aids and specialised cooking utensils reduce joint strain and could give you the option to manage pain and fatigue. An occupational therapist may give you information on aids.

Relaxation techniques  muscle relaxation, distraction, guided imagery and also other techniques will help you manage pain and difficult emotions encompassng anxiety.

Exercise  some staying active will allow you to maintain muscle strength and joint flexibility assisting you and your family in managing pain. Appropriate activities include exercising in warm water, muscle building and Tai chi. You may want to see a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist before you start a workout program.

Physiotherapy a physiotherapist provides information on managing pain and on staying active.
Rest  rest will help you to manage fatigue and is particularly important once your joints are swollen.

Nutrition - while there is no specific ‚¬

Ëœdiet - if you have rheumatoid arthritis, you will need to got a healthy, nutrition plan to retain general health and forestall other medical problems.

Support  a peer support group provides understanding, advice, support and data from others within the similar situation. Contact Arthritis Victoria to find out more.

Complementary therapies encompassng massage or acupuncture could be helpful. Speak to your doctor or rheumatologist before commencing any treatment.

Joint surgery