Arthritis is a common disease that affects millions of people all over the world. There are different types of arthritis and different degrees. Recognizing rheumatoid arthritis symptoms can be a little difficult sometimes because there are so many different things to look for. However, symptoms always affect one or more of the joints. In some people the larger joints are affected the most such as the hips and shoulders. More commonly the smaller joints are affected such as the fingers, hands, wrists, ankles, knees, elbows and so forth. Normally, rheumatoid arthritis affects several joints at one time. Below are some of the signs that might indicate you have you condition.
Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation in the joints. This causes the affected area to swell and become red and tender and usually will feel warm to the touch. Another symptom is stiffness in the joints. The range of motion will be limited or reduced from what it once was in the past. Most of the time, you will notice the stiffness of the joints in the early morning when you first wake up. Later in the day you may feel less stiff as you loosen up the joints from activity. Of course, one of the most recognizable of all rheumatoid arthritis symptoms is the pain that you may experience.
The amount of pain that you feel will depend on each individual and will be determined by the seriousness of your condition. This disease can be very painful and hard to live with each day. If you overuse the joint you will experience a lot of pain and it is also caused from the swelling and inflammation. Many people with this condition will get hard bumps called nodules, appearing on the elbows, fingers and other joints. People that suffer from rheumatoid arthritis normally feel tired all the time no matter how much sleep they get and they run a high fever often.
Having rheumatoid arthritis can cause you to lose weight because it reduces your appetite. Losing too much weight can also cause health problems and make you sick. Many times people don't even know they have this disease because the symptoms start out slow and increase with time and age. It can also go into remission and so the person may think they are fine and that maybe they just worked to hard for awhile. Unfortunately, it can also come back. Over time rheumatoid arthritis can cause a lot of problems and do a lot of damage to your joints. By learning what symptoms to look for you can see your doctor and get the help you need if you have this medical condition. About
The Author...
Read More From James Kronefield
|
