What are rheumatoid arthritis symptoms?

Reena was an athlete since her school days. Even after her college, she dedicated her morning hours for jogging and exercise. She was ideal for many females coming to park daily for workout. Since last few day she was not happy with her morning workout as she started experiencing pain and stiffness in her joints, especially in joints of her hands and feet. She would experience it especially during morning hours.

Initially she ignored the pain and stiffness but later she observed swelling over the affected joints. She consulted her family doctor, who advised few blood tests for her. Her Rheumatoid factor test was positive along with increase in her white blood cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

Positive Rheumatoid factor along with symptoms like multiple joint pain, swelling and morning stiffness confirms the diagnosis of Rheumatoid arthritis. Increased white blood cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate are indications of active inflammatory response in the body.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. This condition can also affect the tissues surrounding the joints (muscles, tendons, ligaments).

Rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, causing painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity.
In some people, the condition can also damage a wide variety of body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels.
The disease is three times more common in women as compared to men.

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Course of the disease

The course of RA varies from patient to patient. There are stages when the disease is active which is called as a Flare-up. In between the flare-ups are episodes when the patient is absolutely free from symptoms, such periods are called Remissions.

Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when immune system attacks synovium — lining of membranes that surround joints. The resulting inflammation thickens the synovium, which can eventually destroy the cartilage and bone within the joint; tendons and ligaments that hold the joint together weaken and stretch. Gradually, the joint loses its shape and alignment.

Which joints are affected?

Early rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect your smaller joints first — particularly joints that attach your fingers to your hands and your toes to your feet.

As the disease progresses, symptoms often spread to the wrists, knees, ankles, elbows, hips and shoulders.

In most cases, symptoms occur in the same joints on both sides of your body (Symmetrical affection of joints).

What are the common symptoms of RA?

Joint pain and tenderness.
Stiffness of joints usually worse in the mornings (morning stiffness) and after inactivity
Redness and swelling of the affected joints
Muscular pain
Fatigue, fever and weight loss

In progressive cases at later stages:

Over time rheumatoid arthritis can cause joints to deform and shift out of place.
Deformity of hands: swan-neck deformity and boutonniere deformity.
Claw toe deformity: Toes are either bent upward from the joints, downward at the middle joint, or downward at the top toe joint and curl under the foot.
Firm bumps of tissue most commonly form around pressure points, such as the elbows. However, these nodules can form anywhere in the body, including the lungs. (Rheumatoid nodules)
Anemia
Rheumatoid arthritis can affect other body parts as well in later stages when left untreated. It can affect skin, eyes, heart, lungs, heart, blood vessels, kidney and glands.

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If treated in early stage, the progress of the disease can be controlled effectively. Homeopathy offers excellent treatment for the cases of RA, especially for those who have not developed joint deformities. Pain control is very effective with homeopathy and this is without any side effect whatsoever. Treatment can also have a role to play in controlling the progress of the condition to some extent and in delaying the onset of complications. Homeopathy is very strongly suggested for all cases of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Get in touch with us to know how Dr. Rajesh Shah’s research based homeopathy treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis at Life Force can help you. You can give us a call at +91-22-66888888 or drop in an email at info@lifeforce.in or contact us here.

-Dr. Aparna Hingmire Associate Doctor to Dr Rajesh Shah, Team LifeForce.