Joint Pain Arthritis : What is Rheumatoid Arthritis
Thursday 24 January 2013
19:54
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Labels: Immune System , Joint pain arthritis , Rheumatoid arthritis
Labels: Immune System , Joint pain arthritis , Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic (long-standing) joint disease that damages the joints of the body. The damage is caused by inflammation of the joint lining tissue. Inflammation is normally a response by the body's immune system to "external insults" such as infections, wounds, and foreign substances. In rheumatoid arthritis, the inflammation is misdirected to attack the body’s own joints. In this variant of joint pain arthritis, the inflammation in the joints causes pain, stiffness, and swelling, as well as many other systemic symptoms. If the inflammation is not slowed or stopped, it can permanently damage the affected joints and other tissues. This form of joint pain arthritis is the most severe one as it has systemic consequences.
Rheumatoid Arthritis should not be confused with other forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis or arthritis associated with infections. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This means that the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the tissues it is supposed to protect. The immune system produces specialized cells and chemicals, which are released into the bloodstream and begin to attack body tissues. Inflammation of the synovium is called synovitis and is the hallmark of an inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis. As the synovitis expands inside and outside of the joint, it can damage the bone and cartilage of the joint and the surrounding tissues, such as ligaments, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels.
- Rheumatoid arthritis most often affects the smaller joints, such as those of the hands and/or feet, wrists, elbows, knees, and/or ankles. The symptoms often lead to significant discomfort and disability.
- Many people with rheumatoid arthritis have difficulty carrying out normal activities of daily living, such as standing, walking, dressing, washing, using the toilet, preparing food, and carrying out household chores.
Despite significant advances in treatment over the past decades, rheumatoid arthritis continues to be an incurable disease. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has two components, one is to provide pain relief and the other is to combat joint destruction. For managing pain, usual pain killers (Opioids, NSAIDs) are given and for disease limitation, disease modifying agents are prescribed e.g. colchicines, sulfasalazine, methotrexate etc. These agents have low safety index and should be taken in strict supervision of a Rheumatologist. In flared up forms, steroids also have to be used. Joint pain arthritis is seen in children also and termed as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. This disease should be managed in supervision and follow up of a trained Rheumatologist with regular physical examination, investigations and thorough clinical assessment.
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