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[J142]Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

by Jeff Foster, Jef

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an auto immune disease, which is characterized by inflammation in the lining of the joints and only affects 1 to 2 percent of the population. This disease often begins with middle aged individuals and is more common in women than men; however, don't be fooled... rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can also develop in children and young adults.

Early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to assess, because the symptoms may go in and out of remission providing a challenge for your healthcare provider. Keeping a journal of symptoms may help your doctor to better diagnose the symptoms you are experiencing.

Symptoms for rheumatoid arthritis can differ from individual to individual, and there is no single test for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis. The most common complaint heard by medical practitioners is the daily joint pain and the significant level of pain, both of which can adversely impact your quality of life and ability to take care of even the most basic daily tasks.

You may often experience significant stiffness in the morning, in and around the joints, lasting for more than thirty minutes, swelling in the wrists, knuckles, or the individual finger joints. You may also experience a feeling of warmth over the inflamed joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect many other joints, such as the jaw, elbows, shoulders, feet and ankles.

Rheumatoid arthritis occurs in a symmetrical pattern, for example if the right knee is affected, then the left knee will be affected also. Although it is quite common for an individual to be more inflamed and affected than another. Extreme fatigue, weight loss, fever, swollen, red and warm joints and an overall feeling of malaise are common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, however, the common goal is to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, stop or slow down joint damage and improve the ability to function on a daily basis. There are many exciting new advances in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

So there is simply no reason not to seek treatment. If you believe that you are experiencing some of the common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, then set up an appointment with your healthcare provider and discuss your symptoms. Early and aggressive treatment is the best plan of attack when attempting to get hold of this disease.

Learning more about the common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis is the most important step to take to learn more about this crippling disease. Cliché yes, but it is so true…knowledge is power!

Common Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms :

Pain and aching in and around your joints, particularly the hands feet and knees

Joint stiffness especially in the morning and after sitting or lying for a long time

Swollen joints particularly hands feet and knees

Loss of joint function and mobility

Fatigue

Muscle weakness which comes from stiff joints and less physical activity

Weight loss

Difficulty sleeping because joints are painful

Feeling generally unwell and nauseous

How is Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosed?

Rheumatoid arthritis may be diagnosed by a medical professional after one or more of the following:

A thorough physical examination and assessment by your doctor

A review of your medical history

Various blood tests

X-rays which are used to see if you have any joint or cartilage damage

Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Living with rheumatoid arthritis will mean having to make adjustments to how things were and will be in the future. It will mean having to manage pain and discomfort. This will most likely include medicine, physical activity, caring for your joints, using heat and cold to your advantage, and learning new ways of generally coping each day.

Learning to Live With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Arthritis of any type is a challenge that will take a lot of time and patience. It can be hard making changes to the way you do your everyday things. But ultimately the results are well worth it, you may have less pain, more movement and a greater enjoyment of life. You may also reduce the chance of further long term damage to your joints.

Many suggestions for management of your arthritis in the future may be explored and explained by your local State representative medical advisory office. There are courses available that have been thoroughly researched and have been shown to reduce pain, improve quality of life, reduce disability and further reduce the dependency of medical interaction.

Article Source : Pg. 19

About Author

Both Jeff Foster & Steve Knowles are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Jeff Foster has sinced written about articles on various topics from Constipation Causes, Acid Reflux and Employment. For more important information on be sure visit arthritis-life.com where you'll find information arthritis issues such as. Jeff Foster's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.

Steve Knowles has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, LASIK Surgery and Food and Drink. Much more information about can be found at. Steve Knowles's top article generates over 6600 views. to your Favourites.