Rheumatoid Arthritis

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to attack healthy cells and trigger inflammation. This disease can affect many tissues in your body, including the eyes, skin, and blood vessels. But rheumatoid arthritis most often affects the tissues that line your joints (synovium).

When rheumatoid arthritis affects your joints, the inflammation causes the synovium to thicken. This causes painful swelling and eventually destroys the cartilage and bone in the affected joint. Rheumatoid arthritis may lead to joint deformity and reduced range of motion. 

How do I know if I have rheumatoid arthritis?

You can have rheumatoid arthritis in many joints at the same time, and it often affects both sides of your body. For example, you may have pain and swelling in both knees at the same time. This is one of the distinguishing factors between rheumatoid arthritis and other types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis. 

Other signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:

• Swelling, redness, and warmth in multiple joints
• Joint pain and tenderness 
• Joint deformity
• Stiffness and limited range of motion

If your doctor suspects you have rheumatoid arthritis, they may take a series of tests to confirm the diagnosis. This may include blood tests and imaging tests, such as an X-ray or an ultrasound. 

What treatments are available for rheumatoid arthritis?

There’s no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but your Rheumatology Solutions physician creates an individualized treatment plan to help you manage your symptoms. Depending on your specific needs, treatment for rheumatoid arthritis may include:

• Medications
• Therapeutic injections
• Physical therapy
• Regular exercise and stretching
• Assistive devices like braces and canes
• IV infusions

The team at Rheumatology Solutions always begins with the most conservative approaches to treatment. Treatment recommendations will be modified based upon your individual response. Our treatment goal is low disease activity and remission. 

For expert care of rheumatoid arthritis, call Rheumatology Solutions, or request an appointment online today.