Rheumatoid Joint Pain

Laboratory Test: There are several blood tests that can diagnosis Rheumatoid arthritis but the most common ones are:

“Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of chronic arthritis that occurs in joints on both sides of the body, such as both hands, both wrists, or both knees. This symmetry helps distinguish rheumatoid arthritis from other types of arthritis”. If a joint is deemed as arthritic that means that there is inflammation within the joint. Inflammation within a joint can cause swelling, redness, warmth and pain within that joint. Rheumatoid arthritis primarily affects the joints, but may also affect the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, blood, or nerves. Rheumatoid arthritis can present itself in many different ways. For some, joint symptoms develop gradually over several years, while others may develop quickly. Some people are affected by rheumatoid arthritis for a short

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic syndrome that is characterized by inflammation of the peripheral joints, but it may also involve the lungs, heart, blood vessels, and eyes. The prevalence of this autoimmune disease is between 0.3% to 1.5% of the population in the United States (Feinberg, pp 815). It affects women two to three times more often than men, and the onset of RA is usually between 25 and 50 years of age, but it can occur at any age (Reed, pp 584). RA can be diagnosed by establishing the presence of persistent joint pain, swelling in a symmetric distribution, and prolonged morning stiffness. RA usually affects multiple joints, such as the hands, wrists, knees, elbows, feet, shoulders, hips, and small hand joints. RA is

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in the general family of lupus. For reasons that are not understood, in rheumatoid arthritis the immune system goes awry and begins attacking tissues, especially cartilage in the joints. Various joints become red, hot, and swollen under the onslaught. The pattern of inflammation is usually symmetrical, occurring on both sides of the body. Other symptoms include inflammation of the eyes, nodules (or lumps) under the skin, and a general feeling of malaise.

A history and physical is the first thing exam that us done and based on those findings more tests are completed. A complete blood count is done to check for anemia which can be common in a RA patient and the white blood count. Positive RF occurs in approximately 80% of patients, and titers rise during active disease (Lewis et al., 2011). The RF is done to check how much in the blood and circulation throughout the body. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are done to check for active local and systemic inflammation. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) titers are also seen in some RA patients (Lewis et al., 2011). ANA checks for the bad antibodies that are attacking the joints. Synovial fluid analysis is used to help diagnosis inflammation, pain and swelling. Increase in the fluid of the patient with RA and it may be a marker of progressive joint damage (Lewis et al., 2011). X-rays are done to check for swelling, bone demineralization, narrowing of the joint, subluxation and deformity (Lewis et al., 2011). Bone scans are done to detect joint changes. These tests are done at the beginning of the disease process and throughout to check on the progression of

Like with any disease, signs and symptoms can be experienced differently based on the individual. Rheumatoid Arthritis has a few that are common with the majority of people; joint pain, tenderness, swelling, and stiffness are inevitable. As the disease grows more severe, deformity and loss of the joints range of motion can occur.

Rheumatoid arthritis frequently affects the wrists and fingers; it rarely presents anywhere else in the body. It is associated with significant and prolonged morning stiffness of the affected joints, which are often overtly warm and swollen. Radiographs show bone erosion as opposed to formation. If it is still difficult to differentiate between rheumatoid arthritis and OA, laboratory findings, like elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, positive serologies (such as for rheumatoid factor), or elevated white blood cell count are great indicators for rheumatoid arthritis versus

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an inflammatory and autoimmune disease that occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy joints, causing horrific symptoms such as immense pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of physical function (What is rheumatoid arthritis (RA)?). Joint pain which affects over seventy million Americans each year, can be discomfort, pain, or inflammation arising from any part of a joint, including cartilage, bone, ligaments, tendons, or muscles (Rheumatoid Arthritis.). It is very common in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis, which is inflammation or pain from within the joint itself. It can be mild, causing soreness only after certain activities, or it can be severe making even limited movement, particularly bearing

Rheumatoid Arthritis had a couple of different names such as arthritis deformans, and rheumatoid gout (Mandal, 2009). However with the studies conducted by Alfred Garrod, he was able to make a clear distinction between Rheumatoid Arthritis and osteoarthritis and gout (Mandal, 2009). Rheumatoid Arthritis has been around for quite some time, and it seems as if it is very prevalent in the present times as well.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease and is a chronic type of arthritis that occurs in the joints. RA is autoimmune disease where the immune system is not working properly and in the case of RA involves one’s immune cells attacking healthy joint tissue. Symptoms of this condition include joint pain, joint swelling, stiffening of the joints after long periods of inactivity and/or sitting, rheumatoid nodules, flare ups and fatigue. If someone is diagnosed with RA they will have to live with the condition for the rest of their life and instead of looking for a “cure” should find ways to manage their condition so they can live more comfortably. Fortunately there are many options of treatment to choose from for RA patients.

There is a difference between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a complex disease with many different symptoms. Even though both cause joint pain they are both chronic and non-curable diseases, they both have different causes, symptoms, and prognoses. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder and osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that is the results of increased wear on joints. It is estimated that 27 million American have Osteoarthritis. Certain jobs or things that require repetitive motion can cause the cartilage to wear down. The different symptoms of osteoarthritis symptoms are joint pain that last less than thirty minutes in the morning, possible spine and hip pain, and joint

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease and chronic inflammatory illness that causes the body’s immune system to attack its joints rather than the usual foreign substances such as viruses and bacteria (Arthritis Foundation, 2015; Mayo Foundation, 1998-2015). Unlike wear-and-tear osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis attacks the lining of the joints and often other body tissues such as the heart, skin, eyes and lungs (Arthritis Foundation, 2015; May Foundation, 1998-2015). Due to the body’s normal immune response, redness, inflammation, pain, and swelling, arise and can ultimately result in the destruction of bone and joint, causing for deformity (Mayo Foundation, 1998-2015). In the United States, about 1.5 million people have Rheumatoid Arthritis (Arthritis Foundation, 2015). Within this population, women are three times more likely to experience this than men. It has been noted to commonly occur between the ages of 30-60 for women and later in life for men (Arthritis Foundation, 2015). Men may be protected by hormonal factors and require a stronger genetic component to develop disease. Rheumatoid Arthritis is thought to stem from a combination of genetic susceptibility and exposure to an appropriate environmental trigger. (Ollier, W. E., Harrison, B., & Symmons, D. 2001). Within the aspect of genetics it is most likely hereditary. Although infectious triggers of RA have long been suspected, no definitive evidence has been obtained. Previous blood transfusion,

Rheumatic arthritis (RA) is a chronic, progressive disorder that commonly presents a group of mechanically related disorders concerning the degenerative nature of joints that is specifically affecting the articular cartilage and subchondral bone (1). Thus, causing a dip in the quality of life in RA patients. The aetiology for RA is unclear, however, a combination of hereditary susceptibility causes a reaction that causes severe inflammation in the synovial membrane (1). However, other factors such as the immunological, hormonal and environmental factors plays a role in development of RA (2). The pathology of RA is characterised by an insidious order of biological events that will eventually lead to articular cartilage destruction and secondary changes in surrounding tissues (1). The pathological changes to joints consequently lead to structural deformity and functional disability. The clinical presentation of RA patients are often intermittent joint pain, worse on movement; stiffness; and, limited range of motion (ROM) and joint instability, either due to loss of articular cartilage, or effusions into the joint cavity (1-3).

A symptom is what the patient feels. One symptom of rheumatoid arthritis would be morning stiffness. (Burbage, 2008, p. 27) Along with flare-ups of severe pain in the joints and soft tissues.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) has been a popular disease to study because it can affect any one person regardless of gender, age, and ethnicity. There are several causes of this disease and even still new causes are being discovered every day as scientists are seeking new routes of treatment. Rheumatoid Arthritis affects specific parts of the body such as the synovial membrane, particular types of cells, the skeletal system, and the cartilage located throughout the body. There are treatments that look to prevent Rheumatoid Arthritis in the early stages. Future research holds new and improved possibilities for Rheumatoid Arthritis.