Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
I was just reading this article and thought most of you would benefit. The website is in this link but I'm pasting the article too.
http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/features/10-serious-rheumatoid-arthritis-symptoms
10 Serious RA Symptoms to Never Ignore
There's more than joint pain to watch out for.
By Shahreen Abedin
WebMD Feature
Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, DO, MS
Painful, swollen joints are a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis. But for people with RA, it's not the only thing to watch out for.
A result of the bodys immune system attacking its own tissues, rheumatoid arthritis requires more than just managing the pain. Other symptoms that might seem unrelated to the condition may pose a threat.
This is a disease process, not just something that happens in the joints, rheumatologist Joan Bathon, MD, tells WebMD. It can be in all your tissues, causing problems wherever inflammation occurs. Bathon serves as chief of rheumatology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.
People with more severe rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to have other complications. But it can also happen in milder cases.
Here are the top 10 symptoms rheumatoid arthritis patients should never ignore.
1. Shortness of breath or chest pain
Because rheumatoid arthritis can affect the blood vessels and muscle of the heart, people with the condition are at a greater risk for heart attacks and heart failure.
Chest pains or shortness of breath are big red flags, says rheumatologist Brian Mandell, MD, PhD, of Cleveland Clinics Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Center.
If youre getting winded easily, you could also have a lung infection. Or you could have some form of interstitial lung disease, which causes lungs to become inflamed and scarred, Mandell says. Fluid might also be surrounding the lungs, which would require drugs and drainage to treat.
Seek medical attention immediately if youre having these problems, even if you've never had heart or lung issues before.
2. Numbness or tingling
Rheumatoid arthritis can cause connective tissues in the hand or foot to become inflamed and push up against a nerve, causing numbness and tingling. As a result, you might experience weakness or clumsiness, or even nerve damage.
This type of swelling can happen in tissues throughout the body. But it most commonly occurs around the wrist area, causing carpal tunnel syndrome, Mandell says.
If you experience numbness or tingling, you need to be evaluated by your rheumatologist or another health care provider right away to determine the cause
3. Inability to move or raise your hand or foot
Compared to numbness or tingling, suddenly not being able to raise or move a hand or foot is a much more severe complication of rheumatoid arthritis.
Its also a rarer occurrence, involving damage to nerves that are connected to muscles.
Its like having a heart attack for the nerves, Bathon tells WebMD. She advises seeking emergency treatment for this symptom; not doing so could lead to permanent paralysis.
4. Spots on or around your fingertips
Little red or black spots on or around the fingernails may mean that the tissue in those areas has died from inflamed small blood vessels. Although very uncommon, the spots can signal an advanced form of inflammation, says Bathon, who suggests promptly seeing a rheumatologist.
If the symptom goes untreated, it may ultimately lead to losing fingers or toes.
5. Red, inflamed eyes
Blood vessels in the eyes are another common target of rheumatoid arthritis, especially among people with more serious forms of the disease.
If the outer layer of your eye feels dry or irritated, eye drops can usually treat the problem, Mandell says.
However, sudden severe pain and redness of the eyes could mean deeper parts of the eye are affected. Thats a very serious complication, so see a doctor immediately if that happens, Mandell says.
6. Tummy troubles
If you take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen or naproxen to treat your rheumatoid arthritis, you are at risk for stomach problems.
These drugs can cause stomach ulcers, which could in turn make the stomach bleed or form a hole in its wall.
When taking an NSAID, report any tummy pain, black or bloody bowel movements, or nausea to your doctor right away.
7. High fever and other signs of infection
Another problem from rheumatoid arthritis treatment is infection related to biologic drugs such as certolizumab (Cimzia), etanercept (Enbrel), adalimumab (Humira), infliximab (Remicade), and golimumab (Simponi),
The most telling sign of an infection is high fever (greater than 101 or 102 degrees Fahrenheit), Bathon says. Others are an unexplained cough, or an area of the skin that is extremely hot, red, swollen, or more painful than usual.
This type of infection can spread very quickly and is usually tough to control, because rheumatoid arthritis patients have compromised immune systems to begin with. That gives them a lower tolerance for infection, Bathon says.
If you suspect an infection, see a doctor immediately, even if it means a trip to the ER, she says.
8. Feeling blah
Simply not feeling well could also signify infection. Specifically, symptoms like loss of energy, night sweats, sudden weight loss, unexplained fatigue, or a low-grade fever might mean its time to see your doctor and perhaps re-evaluate your treatment regimen.
So dont ignore your body when its telling you something isnt right, Mandell says
9. Bone fracture
A bone fracture in someone with rheumatoid arthritis may reveal underlying osteoporosis, especially among women.
Because of its inflammatory nature, rheumatoid arthritis can cause bone loss. On top of that, the risks of fracture can skyrocket if youre taking prednisone, a common treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
In addition to exercising and following a diet rich in calcium and Vitamin D, people with rheumatoid arthritis should consider having a bone density test to detect osteoporosis soon after their RA diagnosis.
10. Suddenly bruising easily
If you find youre suddenly bruising very easily, you could be experiencing a complication from rheumatoid arthritis that lowers your blood platelet count, Mandell says.
That could either be because of your treatment, or due to the disease itself.
Be sure to see your doctor soon so you can get a blood platelet count, as well as other tests. When blood platelet counts are very low, you are at increased risk of bruising and may experience serious bleeding.
http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/features/10-serious-rheumatoid-arthritis-symptoms
10 Serious RA Symptoms to Never Ignore
There's more than joint pain to watch out for.
By Shahreen Abedin
WebMD Feature
Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, DO, MS
Painful, swollen joints are a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis. But for people with RA, it's not the only thing to watch out for.
A result of the bodys immune system attacking its own tissues, rheumatoid arthritis requires more than just managing the pain. Other symptoms that might seem unrelated to the condition may pose a threat.
This is a disease process, not just something that happens in the joints, rheumatologist Joan Bathon, MD, tells WebMD. It can be in all your tissues, causing problems wherever inflammation occurs. Bathon serves as chief of rheumatology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.
People with more severe rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to have other complications. But it can also happen in milder cases.
Here are the top 10 symptoms rheumatoid arthritis patients should never ignore.
1. Shortness of breath or chest pain
Because rheumatoid arthritis can affect the blood vessels and muscle of the heart, people with the condition are at a greater risk for heart attacks and heart failure.
Chest pains or shortness of breath are big red flags, says rheumatologist Brian Mandell, MD, PhD, of Cleveland Clinics Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Center.
If youre getting winded easily, you could also have a lung infection. Or you could have some form of interstitial lung disease, which causes lungs to become inflamed and scarred, Mandell says. Fluid might also be surrounding the lungs, which would require drugs and drainage to treat.
Seek medical attention immediately if youre having these problems, even if you've never had heart or lung issues before.
2. Numbness or tingling
Rheumatoid arthritis can cause connective tissues in the hand or foot to become inflamed and push up against a nerve, causing numbness and tingling. As a result, you might experience weakness or clumsiness, or even nerve damage.
This type of swelling can happen in tissues throughout the body. But it most commonly occurs around the wrist area, causing carpal tunnel syndrome, Mandell says.
If you experience numbness or tingling, you need to be evaluated by your rheumatologist or another health care provider right away to determine the cause
3. Inability to move or raise your hand or foot
Compared to numbness or tingling, suddenly not being able to raise or move a hand or foot is a much more severe complication of rheumatoid arthritis.
Its also a rarer occurrence, involving damage to nerves that are connected to muscles.
Its like having a heart attack for the nerves, Bathon tells WebMD. She advises seeking emergency treatment for this symptom; not doing so could lead to permanent paralysis.
4. Spots on or around your fingertips
Little red or black spots on or around the fingernails may mean that the tissue in those areas has died from inflamed small blood vessels. Although very uncommon, the spots can signal an advanced form of inflammation, says Bathon, who suggests promptly seeing a rheumatologist.
If the symptom goes untreated, it may ultimately lead to losing fingers or toes.
5. Red, inflamed eyes
Blood vessels in the eyes are another common target of rheumatoid arthritis, especially among people with more serious forms of the disease.
If the outer layer of your eye feels dry or irritated, eye drops can usually treat the problem, Mandell says.
However, sudden severe pain and redness of the eyes could mean deeper parts of the eye are affected. Thats a very serious complication, so see a doctor immediately if that happens, Mandell says.
6. Tummy troubles
If you take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen or naproxen to treat your rheumatoid arthritis, you are at risk for stomach problems.
These drugs can cause stomach ulcers, which could in turn make the stomach bleed or form a hole in its wall.
When taking an NSAID, report any tummy pain, black or bloody bowel movements, or nausea to your doctor right away.
7. High fever and other signs of infection
Another problem from rheumatoid arthritis treatment is infection related to biologic drugs such as certolizumab (Cimzia), etanercept (Enbrel), adalimumab (Humira), infliximab (Remicade), and golimumab (Simponi),
The most telling sign of an infection is high fever (greater than 101 or 102 degrees Fahrenheit), Bathon says. Others are an unexplained cough, or an area of the skin that is extremely hot, red, swollen, or more painful than usual.
This type of infection can spread very quickly and is usually tough to control, because rheumatoid arthritis patients have compromised immune systems to begin with. That gives them a lower tolerance for infection, Bathon says.
If you suspect an infection, see a doctor immediately, even if it means a trip to the ER, she says.
8. Feeling blah
Simply not feeling well could also signify infection. Specifically, symptoms like loss of energy, night sweats, sudden weight loss, unexplained fatigue, or a low-grade fever might mean its time to see your doctor and perhaps re-evaluate your treatment regimen.
So dont ignore your body when its telling you something isnt right, Mandell says
9. Bone fracture
A bone fracture in someone with rheumatoid arthritis may reveal underlying osteoporosis, especially among women.
Because of its inflammatory nature, rheumatoid arthritis can cause bone loss. On top of that, the risks of fracture can skyrocket if youre taking prednisone, a common treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
In addition to exercising and following a diet rich in calcium and Vitamin D, people with rheumatoid arthritis should consider having a bone density test to detect osteoporosis soon after their RA diagnosis.
10. Suddenly bruising easily
If you find youre suddenly bruising very easily, you could be experiencing a complication from rheumatoid arthritis that lowers your blood platelet count, Mandell says.
That could either be because of your treatment, or due to the disease itself.
Be sure to see your doctor soon so you can get a blood platelet count, as well as other tests. When blood platelet counts are very low, you are at increased risk of bruising and may experience serious bleeding.
Education is always a good thing.
I'm still learning & appreciate when others share whst they come across.
Sammy