DEFINITION - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that can cause joint pain and damage throughout your body.
The joint damage that RA causes usually happens on both sides of the body.
So, if a joint is affected in one of your arms or legs, the same joint in the other arm or leg will probably be affected, too. This is one way that doctors distinguish RA from other forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis (OA).
Treatments work best when RA is diagnosed early, so it’s important to learn the signs. Read on to learn everything you want to know about RA, from types and symptoms to home remedies, diets, and other treatments.
SYMPTOM -RA is a chronic disease marked by symptoms of inflammation and pain in the joints. These symptoms and signs occur during periods known as flares or exacerbations. Other times are known as periods of remission — this is when symptoms disappear completely.
While RA symptoms can affect several organs in the body, the joint symptoms of RA include:
joint pain
joint swelling
joint stiffness
loss of joint function and deformities
Rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis - Diagnosing RA can take time and may require multiple lab tests to confirm clinical examination findings. Your healthcare provider will use several tools to diagnose RA.
First, they’ll ask about your symptoms and medical history. They’ll also perform a physical exam of your joints. This will include:
looking for swelling and redness
examining joint function and range of motion
touching the affected joints to check for warmth and tenderness
testing your reflexes and muscle strength
TREATMENT AT WONG MEDICAL CENTRE - 1. ICE TO REDUCE SWELLING AND PAIN 2. HERB MEDICATION 3. PHYSIOTHERAPY EXERCISES FOR STRENGHTENING MUSCLE AROUND THE AFFECTED SITE.
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