An autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis causes chronic inflammation of joints. It begins slowly with minor symptoms that keep recurring. It progresses over a period weeks or months. Rheumatoid arthritis signs are different for different people. People experiencing signs of rheumatoid arthritis might experience bouts of disease called as flare-ups and inactive periods which are referred to as remissions.
Let us look at different rheumatoid arthritis signs which are more or less common in almost everyone who experiences it:
- Joint pain
One of the most common rheumatoid arthritis signs, joint pain occurs after joint stiffness, during movement or while resting. It affects both the sides of the body. The most common parts of pain are fingers and wrists. The patient might also experience pain in the knees, ankles, feet, and shoulders. - Joint stiffness
Irrespective of whether you are active or not, joint stiffness begins in the joint in the limbs and gradually develops in other multiple joints in a matter of two days. - Morning stiffness
One of the early rheumatoid arthritis signs, morning stiffness lasts for a few minutes. If the stiffness lasts for a long duration, then it is probably a symptom of inflammatory arthritis. Prolonged stiffness when suffering from rheumatoid arthritis could also be due to inactivity. - Minor joint swelling
Minor joint swelling usually makes the joint look bigger than usual. The swelling also causes the joints to feel warm to touch. Flare-ups, in this case, lasts from a few days to a couple of weeks. The pattern is expected to increase with time. - Fever
One of the early rheumatoid arthritis signs can also be the fever. This fever can be mistaken for several other diseases. If the fever persists, then consult the doctor at the earliest.The symptoms mentioned above could leave the patient with a low-grade fever. This is an early sign of rheumatoid arthritis. A fever higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit could be a sign of some other form of illness or infection.
- Tingling sensation of numbness
Inflammation being one of the rheumatoid arthritis signs creates a pressure on the nerves. This causes numbness or a burning sensation in the affected area. This is referred to as carpal syndrome. The joints in this case might also produce a squeaking or a crackling sound. This is due to the damaged cartilage that grinds against the bones. - Difficulty in achieving full range of motion
Inflammation causes tendons and ligaments to become unstable or deformed. With the progression of the disease, the person may find it difficult to bend or straighten the joints. The range of motion can also be affected due to pain associated with it. Hence, it is important to keep yourself active with regular, gentle exercise.
Other early signs of rheumatoid arthritis include general weakness, dry mouth, inflamed eyes, dry mouth, eye discharge, loss appetite and weight loss.
Beyond these symptoms, there are some uncommon rheumatoid arthritis signs. Rheumatoid arthritis can spread in other organs of the body such as skin, lungs, eyes, kidney, mouth, and even the heart. listed below are some of the unusual symptoms which you should be aware:
- Cardiovascular diseases
Rheumatoid arthritis is known to spread in the heart. As a result, it can damage your heart, heart lining and even the blood vessels. It leads to a condition called as atherosclerosis, which can results in cholesterol build up in the blood vessels leading to heart attacks and stroke. Person suffering from the same may experience chest pain or restriction. - Lung diseases
The inflammation caused due to rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of the lungs and can cause scarring. There are cases in which people suffering from RA have developed interstitial lung disease (ILD). ILD can lead to heart failure. Inflammation in the lungs causes complications such as bronchitis, pleurisy and other pulmonary complications. Its symptoms include shortness of breath and reduced oxygen in the blood. This makes it one of the most unusual rheumatoid arthritis signs. - Dry eyes and dry mouth
Rheumatoid arthritis in the eyes causes scleritis which causes inflammation in the sclera. Uveitis causes inflammation between the retina and the sclera of the eye. Since it is an autoimmune disease, the immune system attacks the glands that produce saliva and tears causing dryness and tissue scarring. This increases the risk of developing ulcers in the mouth. Since the mouth runs dry, there are chances of oral bacterial infections which eventually lead to tooth decay and gum diseases.
The main goal of treating rheumatoid arthritis signs is to control inflammation, relieve pain, and reduce disability caused due to rheumatoid arthritis. The treatment usually involves medications, physical therapy. Minor signs of rheumatoid arthritis can be controlled with regular exercise. Aggressive treatment to correct joint damage could be done to slow down or stop the deterioration.
To reduce pain due to inflammation, your doctor might prescribe over-the-counter NSAID’s (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to suppress the inflammation due to arthritis and DMARD’s (Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs) to curb the immune system. Even though they are over-the-counter medicines, it is important that you consume them only after consulting your doctor.
