You May Need Extra Tests If You Have Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
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As seen in our last article there are many similarities in the different types of arthritis, with the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms however about 15 percent of the patients develop the ailment of attacking other organs in the body as well. Normally rheumatoid arthritis attacks joints and causes the destructions of the cartilage. But in 15 percent of the cases it also attacks organs this can lead to extreme pain and disabling symptoms. Most of the time there are blood tests necessary to diagnose the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms properly.
The most common of the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms is joint pain caused by the membrane surrounding the joint becoming inflamed. While it can affect nearly every joint in the body, it most commonly attacks the smaller joints in the hands, feet and the cervical spine. Severe rheumatoid arthritis symptoms often leave patients with painful movement and can be debilitating.
Although the smaller joints are the usual target, when it attacks larger joints such as the knees, elbows and hips movement may become so painful as to be impossible. There may also be swelling in the skin surrounding the joints, accompanied by tenderness. However, in many patients many of the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms will be worse when they first get out of bed, lessening after an hour or so of painful movement.
For many people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis early symptoms may also include swelling of the skin, especially around the joints, due in part to small blood vessels near the surface of the skin being affected by the disease. Those who wake up in the mornings with stiffness, swelling and severe pain that sees to lesson the longer they are awake, may be showing rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and should contact their doctor for confirmation.
Rare rheumatoid arthritis symptoms
There are also some complications that, although considered rare, that can be devastating to the patient. Hardening of blood vessels, kidney problems and heart disease have all been attributed to this form of arthritis. It is a fact that about one third of the deaths in patients with rheumatoid arthritis have been attributed to heart disease. It is of the up most importance you get a early diagnosis and the appropriate treatment after the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are diagnosed.
Joint degeneration is most of the time not one of the early signs of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. The longer they have this disease the more the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in the joints will be visible and apparent also in x-rays.
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2 Responses to “You May Need Extra Tests If You Have Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms”
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June 27th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
[…] When the pain and swelling in the joints fails to lessen throughout the day, it could be one of the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. When the patient first visits the doctor and it is suspected they are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, a blood test may be needed to make an accurate diagnosis, to detect any infection in the cartilage. While similar to other arthritis symptoms, rheumatoid arthritis can be crippling and disabling for sufferers to enjoy a normal lifestyle without appropriate treatment. […]
June 27th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Hi,
I work with CreakyJoints, a nonprofit online community dedicated to helping people with arthritis live their lives to the fullest. Check us out at www.creakyjoints.org. We have produced a 12-minute video called “Another Hope: RA Infusion Therapy,” which contains introductory, non-brand specific information about infusion therapy, how it works, and its benefits. You can watch it or download it for free on our site. We are trying to get the word out about this resource. Would you be willing to mention it in a future post? Please email me for more details and thanks in advance for your consideration.