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Disease Symptom Tips :: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Understanding Rheumatoid Diseases and Arthritis
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When thinking about how rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects certain people, particular joints and why it causes some of the symptoms that it does, it's important to recognize that no two patients or people with RA are the same. The severity of the disease will vary from person to person and even from joint to joint.
For answers to your questions about rheumatoid arthritis and how inflammations can affect a patient, keep reading.
What is inflammation with RA?
Our bodies have natural defense mechanisms that are made to fight illness and disease, those defenses are called the immune system. Inflammation is a common process that our bodies use to reduce the effects of injury and prevent infection.
For example, whenever we cut or burn ourselves or bump into something, inflammation can occur. The symptoms and signs of inflammation are typically pain, warmth, swelling and redness. Under normal conditions, white blood cells will interact with each other to achieve controlled inflammation.
The inflammation that happens with RA still involves those same white blood cells, but the cause of the inflammation is unknown. For example, it could be an unknown virus or an antigen (something that's foreign to the body) that has affected the body's immune system.
With RA, the body is continuously launching a swelling and inflammation response. That inflammation can be painful and debilitating.
What do the different stages of RA mean?
The different stages of RA refer to the level or degree of inflammation. With Stage 1 RA, many patients have no arthritic symptoms. Their joints seem normal and they're doing okay. In Stage 2, this is when people who have RA first experience their symptoms. They will experience minor levels of swelling and inflammation which can be uncomfortable.
In Stage 3 RA, there is an evidential increase in the number of cells and the level of inflammation. This increases the amount of snyovial fluid in the joints and will add to a patient's feelings of stiffness and limited motion. They may also experience heat, pain, swelling and stiffness.
In Stage 4 RA, the inflamed synovium will grow and spread over the tops of the joint cartilage. This can destroy collagen and cause the bone to even break down. In Stage 5 RA, the disease can erode through cartilage and bone as it produces more enzymes. Once the cartilage is eroded, the patient has no hope of regaining normal, smooth joint motion.
What are the early symptoms of RA?
The early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include swelling, pain, warmth and stiffness (particularly in the morning) in the joints and somewhat restricted range of motion.
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