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A Few Common Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
Also known as Still's disease when it attacks children, rheumatoid arthritis is a condition causing inflammation of joints as well as associated swelling, pain and stiffness. A person with such a disease is at risk of the body's own immune system attacking its joint tissues and breaking down collagen, cartilage and even the bone or other organs. It is different for different people and will also fluctuate over time, and symptoms may improve only to return once again.
Joint Stiffness
Joint stiffness is the most common rheumatoid arthritis symptom which occurs in the morning, and in most instances, affects the hands or feet. To suspect a condition as being rheumatoid arthritis, there should be stiffness that prolongs for an hour or more, or there may be swelling as well as pain lasting for over six weeks. Also, discomfort of the joints is known to occur in both the hands or feet, and not just one.
In its early stages, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may include fever, disproportionate amount of tiredness as well as pea-sized lumps known as "nodules" that the patient can feel under his or her skin. There are other rheumatoid arthritis symptoms such as anemia, loss of appetite, as well as accumulating fluids in the ankle or to the rear of the knee. The symptoms in children are shaking chills as well as pink rashes that follow the characteristic pain as well as swelling in the joints.
A person will know when he or she has rheumatoid arthritis when symptoms and signs such as gradual fatigue, morning stiffness as well as widespread muscle aches and weakness begin to appear, which eventually translate into joint pain. It is not wise to ignore these early rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and signs since its treatment usually means a lifetime of taking medications, physical therapy, exercise, education as well as even surgery. The earlier the condition is diagnosed through timely action being taken when rheumatoid arthritis symptoms appear, the better the chances for delaying joint destruction.
Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms such as limited range of movement will cause the patient to have a reduction in the normal distance as well as direction through which their joints are able to move. It may cause motion to be limited by a mechanical problem within the joint or by swelling of tissues around the joint or by stiffness of muscles or simply through pain. These and other rheumatoid arthritis symptoms such as deformities of hand and feet, skin redness or inflammation, paleness, swollen glands and numbness or tingling should be cause of worry that requires timely and appropriate diagnosis.
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