Chronic bone tissue inflammation is one of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. It happens when the immune system goes out of kilter and mistakenly attacks the joints. The affected area is then subjected to intense pain that is almost always permanent. If rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are left alone and untreated, the problem could become worse and result in the loss of mobility. This means that anybody suffering from the condition could become disabled for life.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
It is important that rheumatoid arthritis is identified and diagnosed at the onset. If you think you have it, take a look at these signs and symptoms and compare them with yours.
1. Swelling, pain, stiffness, redness, and a warm sensation on the joints. There are a lot of joints in the body. Following that concept, rheumatoid arthritis can possibly strike anywhere. If you feel any chronic pain on any part of your body, more particularly in the knees, neck, and shoulders, it is possible you have arthritis. Chronic pain means that the pain recurs from time to time.
There are various forms of arthritis. The pain you are feeling doesn't necessarily mean that you already have the condition. However, it would still be best to see a doctor just to be sure.
2. There seems to be some thickening in the lining of your joints. When the pain on your joints has waned, but the affected area doesn't feel like the way it did before the condition started, you should go see a health care specialist right away. You never know, the pain may be away, but you might already be developing actual and recurring rheumatoid arthritis. It could just be resting until its next attack.
3. Loss of movement. Once you feel that your motor skills are affected by the chronic pains you are experiencing, then you must be on the advanced stages of rheumatoid arthritis already. By this time, you should have the right kind of medications prescribed so that every time you feel the pain, you have something to relieve it.
Tests Done To Identify Rheumatoid Arthritis
There are different ways to test if a person definitely has rheumatoid arthritis. Here are some of the more popular methods doctors and professional health care practitioners use to confirm its presence.
1. You will be asked to get an X-ray. Most complaints of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are told to get an X-ray as a first step in a series of tests, because it gives the doctor a general view of your internals. It is not 100% accurate, however, though it can help rule out other potential illnesses. If you do have rheumatoid arthritis, the X-ray can also determine how deep the problem is and where it's likely to be heading.
2. Specific diagnoses for rheumatoid arthritis are usually done with the help of a Latex Test. The purpose of this test is to look for the antibody called the rheumatoid factor, which can be found in the blood. The body's natural response to inflammations and pain on the joints and joint-linings is to secrete this substance. Thus, when the diagnostic test results reveal a presence of rheumatoid factor in the patient's blood, he or she is confirmed to have arthritis.
3. Sedimentation Rate Testing. After the doctor has rightfully determined that their patients are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, then the next thing they need to find out would be the blood's sedimentation rate. To do this test, a blood sample is drawn and is made to settle for some time. If the sedimentation rate is high, then it means that the patient is suffering from an active type of inflammation.
Of course, other forms of tests may be conducted to determine the presence of rheumatoid arthritis and the ones mentioned above are simply the most widely used. If you think you have rheumatoid arthritis, see your doctor right away before it escalates into something that will be difficult to bear and treat. As with sports, your best defense is a good offense -- eat right, live right, and get regular checkups.
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