Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes symptoms such as pain, redness and swelling in the affected joints, as well as stiffness and difficulty in moving these joints for at least 1 hour after waking up.
The treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis is guided by the rheumatologist and includes the use of medicines, diet and physical therapy, which relieve pain and improve quality of life. But it has no cure and treatment must be done for life.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
The first symptoms usually include fever, tiredness, joint pain, malaise that can appear and disappear without major complications or explanation. They usually appear weeks or months before the most classic symptoms appear, such as stiffness and pain and redness in the joints.
If you think you may have rheumatoid arthritis, select what you are feeling:
- 1. Pain in the joints symmetrically (on both sides of the body) Yes No
- 2. Swelling and redness in one or more joints Yes No
- 3. Difficulty moving the joint Yes No
- 4. Decreased strength at the site of the affected joints Yes No
- 5. Joint pain that is worse after waking up Yes No
All of these symptoms appear in the affected joint, but rheumatoid arthritis can end up causing others, such as back pain, due to poor posture and with the development of the disease, other joints, such as the knees, shoulders and cervical can also be affected.
Women are most affected and symptoms can start at around 30 years of age, although it is more common at 40.
How to confirm the diagnosis
Rheumatoid arthritis can be diagnosed by observing the symptoms and performing tests, but it can be difficult to diagnose, especially in the early stage when the symptoms are still not very clear, and can be confused with osteoarthritis or other diseases. Thus, to confirm the rheumatologist can order several tests such as:
- Blood test with rheumatoid factor, which is one of the ones that can indicate the disease, although in some cases the result is a false negative; Antinuclear antibody test; X-ray of the joint to check for arthrosis, being requested especially when there is arthritis symptoms in the hands or feet; MRI, when arthritis is suspected in the spine; C-reactive protein level, to check the intensity of the inflammation; CT scan, to assess the extent of the inflammation.
In this disease, the body's defense system starts to attack healthy joints, but it is not yet known exactly why this happens. Although the causes of rheumatoid arthritis are not fully known, some factors that influence its development are infection by viruses, bacteria, the genetic factor, trauma and smoking increase the risk of developing the disease.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is usually started with anti-inflammatory remedies, corticosteroid injections and immunosuppressive remedies, which can be used in times of crisis and also outside of crisis.
In addition it is also important:
- Physiotherapy, especially in times of crisis, when there is severe pain and inflammation; Adopt a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods, such as tuna, salmon, garlic or orange; Stretch during the day; Apply hot water bags over the joint; Practice light or moderate exercises in periods outside the crisis, such as water aerobics and Pilates, avoiding strenuous exercises.
Physiotherapy is very important in the treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and includes the use of devices, hot bags, exercises, joint mobilization techniques and strengthening of the muscles involved, helping to prevent deformities and improve the person's movement and daily life.
Ultimately, when the joint is severely compromised and nothing seems to alleviate the symptoms, the doctor may suggest surgery to realign the tendons, replace the joints, remove excess synovial membrane or to join two bones together, so that there is no more joint, as it can be useful on the little finger, for example.
