Rheumatoid Arthritis is an auto-immune disease that can be very progressive and cause a lot of physical damage to a person joints. The cause of any auto-immune disease is connected to the immune system. The job of the immune system is to protect the body from disease. When the immune system detects that there is an illness or disease present, it will send out signals to eliminate the threat to the body. When an auto-immune disease occurs, the immune system is attacking good tissue for no apparent reason. There are many different auto-immune diseases and these are chronic health problems.

Rheumatoid Arthritis affects the joints and the surrounding cartilage around the joints. These areas become inflamed and are very tender, they can also be difficult to move due to the inflammation. People with Rheumatoid Arthritis experience severe morning stiffness and pain. The joints can also appear red and warm to the touch, all of these symptoms are clues that a patient has Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis can also have other conditions that occur due to the damage being done by the Arthritis. Tendinitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis can be related and a patient can have both at the same time.

The Connection Between Tendinitis And Rheumatoid Arthritis

When looking at the connection between Tendinitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis, it is apparent why these two medical conditions can co-exist. Tendinitis is caused by an irritation to the tendon which is a thick cord that attaches the bone to the muscle. The tendon can become inflamed due to repetitive movements such as those done with activities like Tennis, Golf or even scrubbing the floor. Sometimes even an infection can cause this reaction in a tendon.

As we age, our tendons become less elastic and this too can contribute to Tendinitis. People over 40 are more at risk for Tendinitis due to this aging elasticity in the tendons.

Tendinitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis can go hand in hand too, because as the joints become inflamed this can then put pressure on the Tendon and result in it becoming swollen too. Tendinitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis can be present at the same time and cause even more pain to an already swollen and painful area. Any area can be affected by Tendinitis, this includes the base of the thumb, the shoulder, the elbow, knees and even the Achilles Tendon.

Often the treatment for Tendinitis includes resting the affected area and placing ice on the swelling. For some patients that suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis the ice can have an adverse reaction and cause more pain. When Tendinitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis are present, a doctor may suggest steroid injections into the inflamed site to help reduce the pain and swelling of the area and this is an effective treatment.