Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune condition that affects the joints. It can cause inflammation, pain, and damage to the joints. People with RA may experience a variety of difficult symptoms, including pain, fatigue, stiffness, and swelling.
They may also have difficulty with everyday activities, such as dressing, walking, and performing household tasks. These issues can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life.
Pain is often the most notable symptom of RA. It can vary in intensity, from mild discomfort to severe, debilitating pain. It may be localized to a specific area or felt throughout the body. Generally, pain is worse in the mornings and tends to lessen during the day.
Fatigue is also common with RA. It is a profound exhaustion that may be moderate or severe and is often accompanied by feeling weak, unwell, and having difficulty with even simple activities.
Stiffness is another common symptom. It often occurs in the mornings and may last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. Stiffness can make it difficult to move the joints, as well as to perform daily activities.
Those with RA may also experience swelling and inflammation. This can occur in any of the body’s joints and is usually accompanied by redness and warmth. Swelling and inflammation can be accompanied by intense pain and can cause a person to become immobile.
Living with RA can be a challenging experience for many people. RA can affect daily activities and make it difficult to perform at home or at work. It can also interfere with relationships and lead to feelings of isolation, depression, and frustration.
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How does rheumatoid arthritis make you feel?
Rheumatoid arthritis can bring pain, fatigue, and discomfort to those affected. It can cause achy joints and muscles, swelling, tenderness, and stiffness, which often appear over several weeks or months.
These symptoms may be worse in the morning or after periods of inactivity. People can also suffer from fatigue, weight loss, inflammation, and joint deformity as a result of the condition. In some cases, people with RA can experience depression or anxiety due to their symptoms.
Additionally, rheumatoid arthritis can affect other areas of the body, such as the eyes, heart, lungs, and skin. Therefore, the exact symptoms experienced due to rheumatoid arthritis and their severity can vary widely from person to person.
How do you explain what rheumatoid arthritis feels like?
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in the joints, specifically the small joints in the hands and feet. The cause of this inflammation is an overactive immune system, which mistakenly attacks the healthy tissues in the joints.
This can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the affected area. Many people describe the pain and stiffness of rheumatoid arthritis as a burning sensation, as if something is being pushed deeper and deeper into the joint.
The swelling can cause severe joint pain and a feeling of tightness in the area. It is often accompanied by fatigue, especially in the morning. Additionally, as the disease progresses, the cartilage and bones of the joint can become damaged, resulting in joint deformities, instability and decreased mobility.
As the condition worsens, individuals can also experience fever, anemia, and weight loss. All of these symptoms can interfere with one’s daily life and cause a great deal of distress and distress.
What are the top 10 symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?
The top 10 symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
1. Joint pain and swelling: Joints may become swollen, causing visible inflammation, along with pain and tenderness.
2. Reduced range of motion: The joints can become so stiff and swollen that the sufferer has difficulty with simple movements and tasks.
3. Fatigue: Exhaustion and fatigue are common complaints of those with RA.
4. Morning stiffness: The joints may be even more inflamed in the morning, and it can take a while to “warm up” the joints and get moving.
5. Joint erosion: The inflammation of the joints can cause them to erode over time, causing deformity and disability.
6. Rheumatoid nodules: Swollen, pea-sized bumps can form beneath the skin around affected joints.
7. Fever: A low-grade fever is common with RA, or may even be the first symptom of the condition.
8. Loss of appetite: Many RA sufferers experience a lack of appetite, and additionally may experience unintentional weight loss.
9. Anemia: Anemia due to a lack of iron is common in RA sufferers as inflammation in the gut can lead to poor absorption of nutrients.
10. Dry eyes and mouth: Due to the systemic nature of RA, it can affect other organs, such as the eyes and mouth. Dryness, itching, a gritty sensation may be experienced in the eyes, and mouth and throat dryness may be experienced, along with a burning sensation.
What triggers rheumatoid arthritis flare ups?
Rheumatoid arthritis flare ups can be triggered by both internal and external factors. Common external factors that can cause flares include fluctuations in weather, low levels of physical activity, stress, and other illness or infections.
Internal factors that can trigger flares in those with rheumatoid arthritis include changes in hormonal levels, changes in diet or eating habits, changes in sleep patterns, and overdoing physical activities.
It is important to note that flares can basically happen at any time, with any number of varying triggers and intensities. Therefore, it is important to talk to your doctor and keep a diary of symptoms to help identify any triggers that may influence the frequency and severity of flares.
How do you describe rheumatoid arthritis in the hands?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that affects the joints, resulting in inflammation, joint damage, and swelling. In the hands, RA usually affects the fingers, wrist and the base of the thumb.
These joints may become swollen and feel stiff, warm, and tender. In more severe cases, RA may cause deformities of the joints and fingers. In addition to joint pain and stiffness, other common symptoms of RA in the hands can include swelling, tenderness, and a cracking or popping sound when moving the joint.
Over time, RA in the hands can cause long-term joint damage, and in some cases, it may prevent individuals from being able to properly mov the hands.
