What Are The Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Some Common Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis Include:

1. Pain in the hands or the feet. This is more common in the proximal joints, as compared to the distal joints

2. Tender, warm and swollen joints

3. The appearance of rheumatoid nodules, which are firm bumps of tissue under the skin or arms

4. Morning stiffness that may last for hours

5. Unusual fatigue

6. Unexplained fever

7. Unexplained weight loss

The pain from rheumatoid arthritis can occur in many joint locations in the body, such as the hands, wrists, knees, feet, ankles, elbows, hips and shoulders, as the disease progresses. These pains can come and go and seem to travel to different areas from time to time.

How Rheumatoid Arthritis is Diagnosed:

Once these rheumatoid arthritis symptoms manifest, a checkup with a health professional is indicated.

There are many exams and tests that can be done in order for rheumatoid arthritis to be diagnosed. One test or exam by itself may not be enough to make a definitive diagnosis, especially during the early stages of the condition.

Physical Exam Indications Include:

1. Checking for visible signs of joint swelling, stiffness, or redness

2. Inspecting for fluid retention, inflammation and warmth in the joints

3. Moving the joints back and forth to test their ranges of motion

4. Looking for tender areas near or around the joints

5. Looking for rheumatoid nodules near the joints

6. Checking for an elevated body temperature

7. Examining for swollen lymph nodes

These Tests May Help Determine If You Have Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Blood tests can help measure the amount of inflammation and antibodies present in the patient's body, as well as determine the status of general systems. These include complete blood counts and liver and kidney function.

I like the Rheumatoid Arthritis Expanded Profile, which has 4 different tests in one panel. It is over 90% accurate for determining if you have rheumatoid arthritis.

The Rheumatoid Arthritis Expanded Profile Includes:

1. C -Reactive Protein - is used as a test for inflammatory diseases.

2. Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide (CCP) Antibodies - When considered in conjunction with other laboratory and clinical findings, this test is an aid in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Approximately 70% of RA patients are positive for anti-CCP IgG, while only 2% of random blood donors and control subjects are positive.

3. Rheumatoid Arthritis Factor -tests for antibodies that are produced if you have rheumatoid arthritis.

4. Sedimentation Rate - Could be associated with infections, inflammatory states, autoimmune disorders and plasma cell dyscrasias.

A rheumatoid arthritis patient can also undergo x-rays, which may show damage to the joints which are products of inflammation. The changes are usually visible in x-rays of the feet, before they appear in other joints.

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan can also be used to check for bone damage that x-rays cannot show. Ultrasound scans can be used as well, but these tests are not widely being used.

This link can provide additional information on the causes of, prevention of and natural treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. There is also a rheumatoid arthritis diet.

Read More