RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an inflammatory arthritis and an autoimmune disease. For reasons unbeknownst to us, in rheumatoid arthritis, our immune system – which is designed to protect our health by attacking foreign cells such as viruses and bacteria – instead attacks our healthy cells and tissue, specifically the thin membrane that lines the joints called synovium. This results in a build up of fluid in the joints, causing pain and inflammation that occurs throughout the body.

Some people have flares – bouts of intense pain and others have long periods of remission – no disease activity or symptoms at all. Symptoms may include joint warmth, decreased range of motion, inflammation, swelling, and pain in the areas around the affected joints. The condition is symmetrical, which means that if one joint is affected on one side of the body, the corresponding joint is affected on the other side. It is a chronic disease, which means it cannot be cured. Treatment goals are aimed at decreasing inflammation, relieving pain, and improving quality of life.

Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an inflammatory arthritis and an autoimmune disease. This can happen in any joint, including the hand and wrists. RA is characterized by the swelling of the joint lining and the degradation of the healthy joint surface. For reasons that are still not completely understood, in RA our immune system – which is designed to protect our health by attacking foreign cells such as viruses and bacteria – instead attacks our healthy cells and tissue, specifically the thin membrane that lines the joints called synovium. This results in a buildup of fluid in the joints, causing pain and inflammation that occurs throughout the body.

Some people have flares in which there are bouts of intense pain, and others have long periods of remission in which there is no disease activity or symptoms at all. Symptoms may include joint warmth, decreased range of motion, inflammation, swelling, and pain in the areas around the affected joints. Physical deformities of the joint are also common. Typically, the condition is symmetrical, which means that if one joint is affected on one side of the body, the corresponding joint is affected on the other side. Because it is a chronic disease, it cannot be cured but can be managed in order to keep pain at a minimum and to improve functionality.

Treatment goals are aimed at decreasing inflammation, relieving pain, and improving quality of life. Medications are used to relieve painful symptoms and potentially modify the progression of the disease. Exercise is also important to preserve and improve joint function. If the RA gets severe and conservative treatment does not work, joint replacement surgery may be an option to restore function.