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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Overview |
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Arthritis means inflammation of the joints. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a common form of arthritis affecting up to 1% of the adult UK population. It is an autoimmune disease with a strong inflammatory component which causes joints to degenerate and erode. More than twice as many women as men are affected by the disease and about 60% of a population's variation in liability to RA can be accounted for by genetic factors.
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Symptoms and Diagnosis |
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RA varies from person to person in the way it affects an individual's joints. Some people have little or no damage to joints, or suffer only very minor damage to a few joints. RA usually starts by affecting the small joints of the hands and feet, spreading later to the larger joints.
The joints most frequently affected by RA include the knuckles and middle joints of fingers, wrists, shoulders, knees, ankles, middle joints of toes and balls of the feet. Joints which are affected less frequently are the elbows, hips and neck.
In addition, RA can affect the tendons and, in a few people, can also cause inflammation of the lungs and blood vessels. Some people with RA feel generally ill, with overwhelming tiredness or fatigue, which may be as difficult to cope with as the painful joints.
RA symptoms tend to come and go with no particular pattern, with patients experiencing 'flare-ups' when the joints become more inflamed and painful, with months or years in between when there may be little inflammation apparent.
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Treatments |
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There is no cure for RA, but modern treatment approaches can be effective at controlling disease activity and reducing long-term disability. Surgery, which is occasionally needed, can encompass minor operations to release a nerve or tendon, through to major operations such as joint replacement.
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What else can I do? |
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- Achieve a balance between rest and exercise
- Use your muscles and joints as much as possible without harming them
- Avoid contact sports such as rugby or football, and other types of violent exercise like squash
- Try gentle activity such as badminton or walking
- Choose your footwear carefully - ensure you wear good shoes with shock-absorbing soles
- Consult a fitness instructor to discuss the benefits of a warm-up routine
- Swimming is an excellent form of exercise - muscles can be exercised with minimal strain on the joints, as the water supports your weight. Aquaerobics is also a good form of exercise for most people.
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Medical Information/Conditions |
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While there may be information on this website related to certain medical conditions and their treatment, should a medical condition exist, you should consider seeing your own physician or healthcare provider. We do not offer personalised medical diagnosis or patient-specific treatment advice. Indeed, only your doctor or other healthcare professional can determine if a medicine described in this (or any) website is appropriate for you.
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