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Rheumatoid
arthritis is a form of arthritis where the body attacks its
own tissues. The underlying cause suspected to be an
infectious agent such as a bacteria, virus, or fungus has
not been identified. It is a disease resulting from an
abnormality of the immune system.
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- Inflammation in and around
joints is the most common finding in this condition. The
inflammation usually begins in the tissue lining the joint
called synovium (synovitis). It can also occur in tissues
around joints including ligaments, tendons, muscles, and
even the skin and blood vessels where deposits of inflamed
tissue can form lumps called rheumatoid nodules (most
commonly seen around the elbow).
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- Typically the inflammation
found in rheumatoid arthritis involves both sides
(symmetric).
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- The most common
joints involved in the upper extremity include the
shoulders, elbows, wrists, and the joints at the base and
middle of the fingers. The last joints of the fingers which
are commonly involved in osteoarthritis are rarely affected
by rheumatoid arthritis.
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- The most commonly affected
joints in the lower extremity include the hips, knees,
ankles and joints at the base of the toes.
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- The neck is the most
commonly affected area in the spine. The low back tends to
be spared.
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- The diagnosis of rheumatoid
arthritis requires 4 of the 7 following symptoms according
to the American
College of Rheumatology:
1. Morning stiffness, lasting for at least 1 hour present
daily for at least 6 weeks
2. Arthritis of 3 or more joints lasting for at least six
weeks
3. Arthritis of the hand joints lasting at least 6
weeks
4. Symmetric arthritis (on both the left and the right)
lasting for at least 6 weeks
5. Rheumatoid nodules
6. Positive Rheumatoid factor (a blood test - 20% of
patients test negative)
7. Joint changes on x-ray
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- More than 75% of rheumatoid
arthritis patients are women. Rheumatoid arthritis is
three times more common in women as in men.
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- Rheumatoid arthritis
affects all races equally.
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- Rheumatoid arthritis can
begin at any age from childhood to old age. The peak onset
however, is between 20 and 40 years old.
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- The treatment for
rheumatoid arthritis is directed at minimizing symptoms as
there is no cure at this time. The focus is on pain relief,
decreasing inflammation, reducing joint destruction, and
maintaining and improving function. This is accomplished
through the appropriate use of:
1. rest and exercise
2. joint protection
3. diet
4. medication and
5. surgery
The application of theses modalities should be supervised by
your family physician, a Rheumatologist, or an Orthopedic
Surgeon in the case of surgery.
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for more information about
rheumatoid arthritis of the neck
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