Rheumatoid Arthritis

More than only your joints may be impacted by the chronic inflammatory disease known as rheumatoid arthritis. Skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels are just a few of the systems in the body that might sustain harm from the illness in certain individuals.

An autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body's tissues.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, generating a painful swelling that can eventually lead to bone erosion and joint deformity, unlike the wear-and-tear deterioration of osteoarthritis.

Symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis: 

• Tender, warm, swollen joints
• Joint stiffness that is usually worse in the mornings and after inactivity
• Fatigue, fever and loss of appetite

Smaller joints, such as those connecting your fingers to your hands and your toes to your feet, are typically the first to be affected by early-stage rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients also experience non-joint signs and symptoms in about 40% of cases. Potentially impacted areas include: 

• Skin
• Eyes
• Lungs
• Heart
• Kidneys
• Salivary glands
• Nerve tissue
• Bone marrow
• Blood vessels

Causes of Rheumatoid arthritis: An autoimmune condition is rheumatoid arthritis. Your immune system often aids in defending your body against illness and infection. Your immune system targets the healthy joint tissue when you have rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, it may result in health issues with your skin, eyes, nerves, heart, and lungs.

Doctors don't know what starts this process, although a genetic component appears likely. While your genes don't actually cause rheumatoid arthritis, they can make you more likely to react to environmental factors such as infection with certain viruses and bacteria that may trigger the disease.

Diagnosis and Tests of Rheumatoid arthritis: Rheumatologist diagnose people with rheumatoid arthritis based on a combination of several factors. They’ll do a physical exam and ask you about your medical history and symptoms. Your rheumatologist will order blood tests and imaging tests.

The blood tests look for inflammation and blood proteins (antibodies) that are signs of rheumatoid arthritis. These may include:

• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or “sed rate” confirms inflammation in your joints.
• C-reactive protein (CRP).
• About 80% of people with RA test positive for rheumatoid factor (RF).
• About 60% to 70% of people living with rheumatoid arthritis have antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCP) (proteins).

Your Rheumatologist may order imaging tests to look for signs that your joints are wearing away. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause the ends of the bones within your joints to wear down. The imaging tests may include:

• X-rays.
• Ultrasounds.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

Treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis: If you have been given a Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosis, then you probably have done a lot of research on your condition and what to expect. Top of mind is your treatment options and what you can do to feel better. Like many health conditions, using a multi-pronged approach can be most effective. That means some medications and therapy are often used together. For some, surgery is also an option if joint damage has reached a point where intervention is necessary. Your primary physician will prescribe a treatment plan that will include therapy.

• Occupational therapy: Occupational therapy isn’t just related to your profession, it’s about helping you to stay independent. The goa here is to limit the strain on your joints and help you discover new ways to move your body while protecting your joints. It’s often during occupational therapy that the use of assistive tools and devices may come into play and become a part of your independent living program.

• Rheumatoid Arthritis physical therapy: The goal of Manual physical therapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is to use exercise to improve strength and overall fitness to support your joint strength and health. Over time, you’ll see an increase in strength that takes the pressure off of your joints and improved flexibility will allow you to do more or to maintain your movement abilities longer.

• Manual therapy: Manual therapy is a hands-on approach to treating your affected joints and the surrounding soft tissue. The approach here is not just to work on areas where you’re currently having issues but to focus on the body as a whole and devise ways to accommodate daily aches and limitations by strengthening surrounding areas.

• Therapeutic Assistive Devices. 

If you’re ready to take the next step in managing your rheumatoid arthritis with expert physical therapy, look no further than Spine Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Centre (SPTRC). Specializing in a range of orthopedic and neurological conditions, we’re committed to helping you regain your strength, mobility, and the joy of active living. Appointment to learn more about our services and how we can support your journey to better health.