What is rheumatoid arthritis?

It is a chronic condition wherein the disorder affects other organs and areas other than joints and causes inflammatory reaction damaging the body systems that includes blood vessels, lungs, skin and even the heart. The disorder is an autoimmune response of the body that occurs when the body attacks its own tissues.

Osteoarthritis differs from rheumatoid arthritis as other parts of the body too are affected beyond the normal wear and tear, painful swelling that results in joint deformity and bone erosion.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms related to rheumatoid arthritis are as follows that will help you identify the onset of it or rather help you understand if you are a sufferer too:

• Excessive joint and stiffness that is worst each morning or becomes worse after episodes of inactivity
• Loss of appetite followed by fever and fatigue
• Swollen joints that are warm and tender
• Smaller joints like fingers and hands, toes of the feet showing the signs

With the progress of the disease the symptoms begin spreading to other parts of the body and other areas like elbows, wrists, knees, ankles, hips, elbows and even shoulders. The symptoms are spread to both the sides.

Other symptoms

It is often the case that some people show different symptoms other than the common symptoms, these may be the following with the affected areas that are other than the joints:

• Skin
• Eyes
• Lungs
• Heart
• Kidneys
• Salivary glands
• Nerve tissue
• Bone marrow
• Blood vessels

When to see an Orthopedic Surgeon?

The signs and symptoms differ with each patient and similarly the severity of the disease too is unique to each patient. Some may experience symptoms that come and go, while others keep suffering for months and years at a stretch. It is essential to consult an orthopedic surgeon for pain management, similarly seeking help from pain management and rehabilitation doctor is the best way to approach and eliminate the disease.

Treatment

These can be treated well by an orthopedic surgeon, pain rehabilitation and management by the doctor, physiotherapy and other combination therapy by a physiotherapist and a rheumatologist. The quality of life will improve as the condition improves with proper treatment.