It is always difficult to decide if some symptoms are worth to be checked out or if you have nothing to worry about. We all have felt some strange pains and weird twinges from time to time and have wondered what it was, Most of the time these symptoms just go away. But sometimes it takes longer or the pain is more severe, when the symptoms last for a significant time you might think about a chronic condition like rheumatoid arthritis and you need to see a doctor and have the symptoms checked.
When it really are rheumatoid arthritis symptoms there are many treatment options but early detection is very important so don't wait to long. It is possible to reduce the effects of this disease but how do you figure out what are harmless aches or pains an what can actually be rheumatoid arthritis symptoms?
Most common symptoms
Some of the most common rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are
- joint swelling
- joint nodules or hard bumps that appear near joints
- pain
- weight loss
- fever
- fatigue
- morning stiffness of the joints
Everybody has more or less stiffness in the joints in the morning but when you also have other symptoms it can also be a effect of rheumatoid arthritis and it might be an indication of something more severe than just the regular stiffness.
Pain and swelling of joints are the two most well known symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. The hard bumps or so called nodules are visible when the surrounding muscles are flexed and you when you have them you can best look near the elbows as this is the place where they typically appear. The swellings and the intensity of the joint pain can vary from day to day because of a number of factors.
When you have rheumatoid arthritis you will have good and bad days and you never now in front what day it is going to be. The fevers, weight loss and fatigue effect the whole body and these are the symptoms that make it very difficult to make plans and to carry out your daily activities.
Get The Right Treatment
When the symptoms getting more progressively worse or last longer then a week or two in one joint, you need to consult your doctor to get your symptoms checked out. This disease can move quickly and when you don't get the right treatment it can result in severe joint deformities and even in problems with vital organs. Your doctor needs to stay closely informed so you can get the right treatment.
Anti inflammatory drugs and pain killers are drugs that can control some of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and there are some other drugs that can help reduce any long term damage like joint deformities and to the organs but they do not help for pain and swelling.
When you have rheumatoid arthritis you need to know that doctors can only reduce the effects that this illness has on your life and treat some of the symptoms but there is no real cure. There are also alternative treatments that you can consider but these are also not a cure. At our website we also provide information about alternative rheumatoid like foods that help with rheumatoid arthritis.