Some Obvious Signs Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Signs of rheumatoid arthritis come and go, according to the extent of tissue inflammation. When the particular parts are influenced, the condition is in its active phase. When the impact settles down, there is inactivity in the manifestation. This is known as remission of symptoms. Remissions are unplanned or may occur with medicines and can continue for weeks, months and sometimes for years too. In this period, symptoms vanish totally. But with the relapse of rheumatoid arthritis, they appear again. This phase is termed as a flare. Duration of flares and remissions vary as per individual patient.

Signs of rheumatoid arthritis, in the active stage of the disease, are fatigue, energy-loss, appetite-loss, mild fever, muscle and joint pain, and stiffness. Hardness of the muscles and joints is predominant during morning and following a prolonged period of immobility. Usually during the phase of flares, joints turn reddish, swollen, aching and sensitive to touch. This is owing to the damage to synovium, that is the bordering layer of the joints, which gives rise to superfluous production of synovial fluid. There is also thickening of joints, along with inflammation. In children, signs of rheumatoid arthritis are upset appetite, crying, irritability and limping. 

RA usually affects multiple joints in symmetrical fashion, that is, similar sort of joints on either side of the body are influenced. In the beginning, the symptoms may be not so severe. In general small joints of both wrists and hands are influenced. If hands are influenced, signs, like difficulty in easy day-to-day activities, are seen. This is applicable to the small joints of feet too, results of which are pain at the time of walking, especially in the early morning hours after getting up.

In rare circumstances only one joint is influenced and then signs of rheumatoid arthritis are identical with the signs in joint infection or gout. Chronic inflammation can damage body tissues, such as bone and cartilage. This leads to loss of cartilage and wearing away and weakening of bones and muscles, which in the longer gives rise to joint abnormality, destruction and loss of function.

Infrequently rheumatoid arthritis takes hold of the vocal cord joint, named as cricoarytenoid joint. This leads to roughness of voice.

Because this is a systemic disease, its inflammation can clutch organs besides joints. If glands of eyes and mouth are influenced, these organs turn out to be dehydrated. This condition is called Sjogren’s syndrome. Corneal scuff can take place due to dehydration of eyes. The situation of inflammation of the white part of the eye, called scleritis, is extremely dangerous for the eye.

When coating of lungs is affected, it is called pleuritis and it gives chest pain while deep breathing, shortened breath, or coughing. The lung in itself too can be inflamed and harmed, and at times rheumatoid nodules take place in the lungs.

If pericardium, i.e coating of heart is inflamed, it is known as pericarditis, and it brings about chest pain too. This pain is more intense at the time of lying down and bowing further.

Fall in red blood corpuscles, i.e. anemia, as well as in white blood cells, can occur owing to rheumatoid arthritis. With the lessening of WBCs, chances of infection are multiplied. It is associated with puffed-up spleen too, which is called Felty’s syndrome.

Rheumatoid nodules arise under the skin of fingers and elbows as well, where they are generally pressurized. Although they don’t lead to symptoms, at times they may become infected.

More signs of rheumatoid arthritis consist of carpal tunnel syndrome, in which nerves of wrists are twisted, and vasuclitis, i.e. inflammation of blood vessels. Vasculitis can impair blood supply to tissues and thus can give rise to cell death, named as necrosis. This is apparent from tiny blackened blots down the nail beds or leg ulcers.