Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation in joints and surrounding tissue. Because it can also affect multiple organs of the body, rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a systemic illness. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic illness, but patients may experience long periods without symptoms. Importantly, rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive illness that has the potential to cause joint destruction and functional disability.
What are the causes of rheumatoid arthritis?
The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, although viruses, bacteria, and fungi are suspects. Some experts think that the tendency to develop rheumatoid arthritis may be genetic. Others believe that infections and environmental factors trigger autoimmune diseases such as RA. Interestingly, scientists have reported that smoking tobacco increases the risk of developing the disease.
What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?
When body tissues are inflamed, the disease is in a flare, but remissions can last for years. Flare symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Lack of appetite
- Low-grade fever
- Muscle and joint aches
- Stiff, swollen, and painful joints
Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis
A thorough diagnosis involves obtaining a detailed history of your condition and performing an examination of affected and adjacent areas. To ensure the most accurate diagnosis, we also offer such options as open MRIs, and CT scans. Other tests may include X-rays, blood tests, an EMG, and a discography.
We will review the history of symptoms; examine the joints for inflammation and deformity; the skin for rheumatoid nodules; and other parts of the body for inflammation. We’ll look at the pattern of symptoms and inflamed joints, and possibly blood and X-ray findings - patients with RA often have abnormal blood antibodies and if the disease has progressed, X-rays will show telltale bony erosions in the joints. We may also perform an office procedure to withdraw and analyze fluid to look for contributing and inflammatory conditions.
Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis
While there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, the goal of treatment is to reduce joint inflammation and pain, maximize joint function, and prevent joint destruction and deformity.
The best treatment for RA involves a combination of medications, rest, joint-strengthening exercises, joint protection, and education. Early medical intervention is important since aggressive management can improve function, stop joint damage, and prevent disability.
In addition to traditional approaches, we embrace non-traditional treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, meditation/relaxation, and Qui-Gong. Our goal is to return you to good health without pain.
In some patients with severe joint deformity, surgery may be necessary, especially when conservative measures fail to control pain and improve function. In most cases, surgery is performed on an outpatient basis using minimally invasive procedures, which reduces pain, risk, recovery time, and expense.