Hello
And welcome to the One Care Medical Center one of Coimbatore’s fastest growing orthopedic hospital, My name is Dr. Abdul Salam and I am a full-time orthopedic surgeon at OCMC. In today’s short read we are going to discuss on
8 early signs of rheumatoid arthritis
So,
Rheumatoid arthritis is a pretty irritating condition wherein the body own immune system attacks the joints of the body resulting in inflammation. RA as a disease typically affects the wrists, hands, and feet in particular. Prompt identification combined with early treatment will significantly reduce the risk of permanent joint damage
RA has certain early signs. While some of these warning signs can indicate how the person overall feels, some of them are indeed very specific to RA. Spotting these signs can help patients seek prompt treatment
Sign 1:- Slight feverishness
RA causes inflammation. Thus this very inflammation can cause patients to feel unwell, feverish and exhausted.
Sign 2:- Fatigue
Individuals with RA usually feel extremely tired and exhausted. These feelings of fatigue eventually affect an individuals
Day to day activities
Sexual drive
Work productivity
Sign 3:- Loss of weight
Fatigue combined with fever, eventually stresses the patient out and also affects the persons appetite leading to weight loss
Sign 4:- Joint stiffness
Joint stiffness in RA is exceedingly common and can involve one or more joints. The joint of the little finger is usually affected. Early morning stiffness is yet another characteristic of individuals with RA.
Sign 5:- Joint Tenderness and Joint Pain
Tenderness of the joints in the hand and feet is a well-established sigh of RA. The joints may be tender to touch. Joint pain in the finger, wrist, and feet is another warning sign of RA. The inflammation within a joint causes production of excess fluid that adds pressure on the joint capsule thereby irritating the nerve endings and causing pain.
Sign 6:- Redness & Warmth of the Joint
Joint inflammation can give a characteristic red appearance, especially in fair-skinned individuals. The warmth of the joint is usually present before the redness or swelling occurs
Sign 7:- Joint numbness and restricted motion
Excess inflammation numbs the joint due to nerve compression. During RA, joint stiffness and damage can also restrict movements severely.
Sign 8:- Symmetrical joint involvement
People affected by RA report involvement of both same joints on either side of the body. But this rule is not strictly seen for all individuals
Complications:-
Permanent joint deformities can occur if RA is left unchecked. Untreated RA can also lead to lumps called rheumatoid nodules to develop. Patients with RA are also at a greater risk for heart attack and stroke.
Either way, RA is a very troubling condition that should not be ignored. Visit your doctor for the right treatment at the earliest.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article. Please do share it with your friends and loved ones.
Be healthy and be happy
References:-
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319810.php
https://www.healthline.com/health/early-signs-rheumatoid-arthritis